#title Ted Kaczynski's Letters on an Old Colleague's Mental Health Issues
#date 1989
#source Excerpts from an FBI document called [[https://archive.org/details/ac.-teds-autobiographies/AC3.%20Ted%20Kaczynski%E2%80%99s%201979%20Autobiography%20-%20Source%20-%20A%20Review%20and%20Compilation%20of%20the%20Writings%20of%20Ted%20Kaczynski][A Review and Compilation of the Writings of Ted Kaczynski]] (California University Archive Source: Part [[https://harbor.klnpa.org/california/islandora/object/cali%3A1209][#1]], [[https://harbor.klnpa.org/california/islandora/object/cali%3A1212][#2]] & [[https://harbor.klnpa.org/california/islandora/object/cali%3A1213][#3]])
#notes Cabin document #953.
#lang en
#pubdate 2024-06-06T18:15:56.751Z
#authors Ted Kaczynski
#topics Ted's Correspondences Before His Imprisonment

*** From Bagemihl to Ted

February 28, 1989

UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MILWAUKEE
<br>P.O. Box 413. Mi1waukee. Wisconsin

COLLEGE OF LETTERS AND SCIENCE
<br>DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES
<br>(414) 963–4836

Dear Dr. Kaczynski:

Over the years, McMillan became more and more of a recluse. He would not return a friendly greeting from a colleague, so after a while people ceased to greet him. To avoid people he would never take an elevator. His judgement deteriorated.

Someone went to see him about a proposal he had made, suggesting that he change it, and McMillan did not utter a word, so that the man left in embarrassment. I heard that on separate occasions a student and a faculty member had feared that McMillan would become violent. Under these conditions, I did not “give” your letter to him, I put it into his mailbox; but I was skeptical about his answering you. After he resigned, I was told that he and his wife had separated; moved to an apartment, his neighbors complained that he was creating a disturbance shouting, and he was institutionalized for 90 days and released. Since then I have heard nothing about him, except that his physical appearance has deteriorated.

It seems a great tragedy, for at one time he was an excellent and very promising mathematician. He is said to be living in his own world, out of touch with reality; perhaps he has found some sort of refuge there.

Sincerely yours,

/s/ F. Bagemihl

<br>

*** From Ted to Bagemihl

March 8, 1989

Dear Professor Bagemihl:

I’m very sorry to hear about Professor Mc Millan. A couple of years ago I had a very interesting book about schizophrenia; sounds as if that might be McMillan’s problem...If you’re not well-informed about schizophrenia and if McMillan’s case is of sufficient concern to you to make it worth your while, you might want to read that book. The title is <em>Schizophrenia’s, yours and mine</em> ... Whether or not schizophrenia is the cause of McMillan’s problem, you’re right — it’s a great tragedy ...

Sincerely yours ...