Text of a lecture delivered to the Sphex Club in Lynchburg. Ellen G. Nygaard's presentation "Home Grown" traces the history of the Central Virginia Training Center (CVTC), originally the Virginia State Epileptic Colony, and its evolution through the 20th century. It outlines the institution's initial role in housing individuals with various deficits and its subsequent involvement in the American Eugenics movement, including involuntary sterilizations legitimized by the Supreme Court case Buck vs. Bell. Nygaard discusses the shift towards more humane and enlightened care for individuals with special needs, emphasizing the ongoing challenge of providing appropriate care in the 21st century.
