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US passed immigration law banning "undesirables"
US passed an act establishing criteria for allowing immigrants into the United States. Among the criteria were the rights to deny any passengers entry into the country if they appeared to be lunatics, unable to take care of themselves, or convicts. Read full Act here "The Ellis Island Medical Inspection Video." History.com. A&E Television Networks, 2012. Web. 4 Dec. 2015. -
Franics Galton first defines Eugenics
Sir Franics Galton, a relative of Charles Darwin, first proposed the definition of eugenics in 1883, and later refined it in 1904. He encouraged people with beauty and intelliengence to choose partners of the same traits. He was a famous statistian and a geographer in his lifetime. Lombardo, Paul A. A Century of Eugenics in America from the Indiana Experiment to the Human Genome Era. Bloomington: Indiana UP, 2011. Print. -
Connecticut becomes first state to enact marriage laws prohibiting anyone from marrying someone who was epileptic
Connecticut is the first state to pass a law regulating marriage. for eugenics This law prohibited marriage for anyone who was epileptic, imbecile or feeble-minded, in hopes that only those with money, intellience, and beauty would pass on their traits. Shortly after Connecticut passed this law, other states followed suit. Singleton, Marilyn. "The ‘Science’ of Eugenics: America’s Moral Detour." Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons 19.4 (2014): 122-25. Print. -
Michigan becomes first state to propose Sexual Sterilization law
Michigan became the first state in the US to propose a sterilization law to sterilize criminials and the feeble minded. However, the law did not recieve enough support, and did not pass. This action planted the seed of eugenics into other states' mind about sterilization. Kaelber, Lutz. "Michigan." Eugenics. 2011. Web. 3 Dec. 2015. Kaelber, Lutz. "Michigan." Eugenics. 2011. Web. 3 Dec. 2015. -
Surgical Treatment of Habitual Criminals published
Dr. Alber Ochsner performed the first documented vasctomy in the United States on criminals. He declared in his writings that this will stop the procreation of criminals, and also encouraged doing it for those that are "perverts and imbeciles."
Read the entire article here
OCHSNER AJ. SURGICAL TREATMENT OF HABITUAL CRIMINALS.. JAMA. 1899;XXXII(16):867-868. doi:10.1001/jama.1899.92450430021001d. -
Carnegie Institution's station for experimental evolution opens
Charles Davenport pushes through to set up a biological experimental station to study evolution through testing done on plants and animals. This played into the Eugenics movement in America because a lot of eugenist used their data for their research. Watson, Elizabeth. "History of the Carnegie Library Building at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory." History of the Library. Web. 4 Dec. 2015. -
Indiana passes involuntary sterilization law
Indiana was the first to pass a law involving sterilization in the world. This law targeted towards "’confirmed criminals’, ‘idiots’, ‘imbeciles’, and ‘rapists.'” Two years later the governor threatened to end funding, and was put down in 1921 by the Supreme Court. Kaelber, Lutz. "Indiana." Eugenics. 2011. Web. 3 Dec. 2015. "Indiana Eugenics: History and Legacy." Indiana Eugenics: History and Legacy. 2015. Web. 3 Dec. 2015. -
Washington becomes second state to enact a sexual sterilization law
Washington's law only applied to criminals that were convicted of a sexual crime. It claimed that the court can punish the defendant with sterilization to prevent procreation. Kaelber, Lutz. "Washington." Eugenics. 2011. Web. 3 Dec. 2015. -
California passes its first sterilization law
California had the most sterilizations out of any state, and carried out approximately one third of all sterilizations nationwide. This law did not specifically pertain to a certain group of people, but most of the sterilizations were performed on prisoners. The passing of this law was focused on preventing procreation of undesirable traits and overcrowding in the prisons. Kaelber, Lutz. "California." Eugenics. 2011. Web. 3 Dec. 2015. -
US eugenics record established
The US eugenics record was a center for eugenic research to study the human heredity and genetic data on human traits. It remained active until 1944 when all of the data was transferred to Charles Fremont Dight Institute for the Promotion of Human Genetics. "Archives." Eugenics Record Office. 2015. Web. 4 Dec. 2015. -
Nevada passed a sexual sterilization law targeting men who were charged for sexual crimes
This law provided that if a man is convicted of rape and/or child molestation, then he will be punished with mandatory sterilization. However, no one was sterilized under law. "International Eugenics Congresses." Curators of the University of Missouri, 16 Mar. 2012. Web. 3 Dec. 2015. Kaelber, Lutz. "Nevada." Eugenics. 2011. Web. 3 Dec. 2015. -
New York City passes sexual sterilization legislation.
New York became the 8th state to pass a sterilization law. The law was ruled unconstitutional in 1918, stopping all sterilizations. During this time there were 42 sterilizations that took place, and all of them were on women who were declared mentally ill. Kaelber, Lutz. "New York." Eugenics. 2011. Web. 3 Dec. 2015. -
Studies of Deborah Kallikak was published
Psychologist Henry Goddard published his findings on the Kallikak family who he declared feeble minded and a degenerate family. This gave rise to support eugenics activites. (8).
Read the Studies by Henry Goddard Here "Henry Goddard's The Kallikak Family." 2012. Web. 3 Dec. 2015. -
Michigan enacts forced sterilization law
This is the first law concerning steriliztion to pass in Michigan. It was concerned with the mentally ill and insane people. However, under this particular law, only one person was sterilized. Most of the sterilizations occured under two laws that were later passed in 1923 and 1929. Kaelber, Lutz. "Michigan." Eugenics. 2011. Web. 3 Dec. 2015. -
Nebraska passes sterilization legistlation
Nebraska passed a sexual sterilization law that pertained to feeble-minded and insane criminals of the state institutions. It was not completely involuntary as the prisoners who were believed to be degenerate had a choice: be sterilizated and released, or turn down the sterilization and stay in prison for life. Kaelber, Lutz. "Nebraska." Eugenics. 2011. Web. 3 Dec. 2015. -
Margaret Sanger started what is now known as Planned Parenthood
Margaret Sanger was one of the most prominent feminist in the history of early America. She was a nurse, and used her medical knowledge to educate women on sex with her column, "What every girl should know." She later coined the term "birth control," and started Planned Parenthood. This plays into the Eugenics movement because the birth control can prevent degenerate families from having children. (1, 2) -
The Black Stork comes out
A movie portraying a man and woman desiring to get married is film. However, an eugenist on the film convinces them that if they get married, their children will be unsuitable for soicety and severely disfunctioned. At the end of the movie, the eugenist is right, and the couple produces a child that shortly dies due to birth defects. Harbin, Terry. "The Black Stork." The Black Stork. 2011. Web. 3 Dec. 2015. -
South Dakota passes sexual sterilization legislation, with amendments in 1925 and 1943
South Dakota was the 17th state to pass a sexual sterilization law. The states that it acts to "prevent procreation of idiots, imbeciles, and feeble-minded persons." Only one place in South Dakota was permited to perform the sterilizations, and that was the State Institution for Feeble-Minded in Redfield. Almost 800 sterilizations were performed. Kaelber, Lutz. "South Dakota." Eugenics. 2011. Web. 3 Dec. 2015. -
Idaho passed its first sterilization law
This law only applied to those in institutions. The act was vetoed one year later by the Govenor as he thought that it lacked scientific merit. Another act came into play in 1925 and did not limit sterilizations to those in institutions. Kaelber, Lutz. "Idaho." Eugenics. 2011. Web. 3 Dec. 2015. -
North Carolina passes its first sexual sterilization law
Though North Carolina pushed its first sexual sterilization law through, it was never put to used because many people feared that it was unconstitutional. A later law in 1929 passed that claimed it protected the mentally disabled from becoming parents as they might not be fit to handle it was put to use. Kaelber, Lutz. "North Carolina." Eugenics. 2011. Web. 3 Dec. 2015. -
First Complaint Filed Against Marie
The first complaint was filed against Marie, a seven year old, saying that she slept with men, ran wild among lumber yards, and has poor hygeine. This started a long line of court dates and IQ testing, which eventually lead to the segration of Marie from the rest of her peers. (3) Journal of Policy History, Jul2007, Vol. 19 Issue 3, p253-281, 29p, 3 Black and White Photographs, 1 Chart
Black and White Photograph; found on p258 -
Alabama passes sexual sterilization legislation
This law created the Alabama home to allow sterilizations to take place. It was aimed at sterilizing anybody who could produce a children with a strong liklihood of crime or idiocracy. 224 people were sterilized under this law. Kaelber, Lutz. "Alabama." Eugenics. 2011. Web. 3 Dec. 2015. -
Pennsylvania passes sterilization law
Pennsylvania had the first sterilization performed in 1889, and a total of 7 failed attempts to pass. This law was aimed for the imbecilies of the state and claimed that sterilization improved their mental and physical well-being. Kaelber, Lutz. "Pennsylvania." Eugenics. 2011. Web. 3 Dec. 2015. -
Harry Laughlin publishes Eugenical Sterization in the US
Harry Laughlin compose an intensive study as to why most of the states in the US were not participiating in sterilization of the mentally ill. He claimed in his book that the laws passed by the States were poorly written so they were uneffective. "OnViewCurated Content from the Center for the History of Medicine's Extraordinary Collections." Omeka RSS. 2015. Web. 4 Dec. 2015. -
Delaware passes sexual sterilization legislation
Delaware passed this law because a large amount of its residents were concerned about the lack of provision for the mentally ill. When the law was first passed, it was aimed for the criminally insane, and later it was revised to include those that are mentally insane as well. Kaelber, Lutz. "Delaware." Eugenics. 2011. Web. 3 Dec. 2015. -
Montana passes sexual sterilization legislation
This law was passed to prevent the procreation of degenerates in Montana. If the patient did not consent to the sterilization, a hearing must take place, and the board of the institution had the final say about the sterilization process. Kaelber, Lutz. "Montana." Eugenics. 2011. Web. 3 Dec. 2015. -
State of Virginia passes the Racial Integrity Act
The Racial Integrity Act was a series of laws that prohibited the marriage of colored and white people. It forced Virginia Residents to identify themselves as "colored" or "white." The State claimed that it protected the "whiteness" of its residents. “Instructions for Registration/Racial Integrity laws,” Piedmont Virginia Digital History: The Land Between the Rivers , accessed December 3, 2015. -
President Coolidge signs Johnson-Reed Act into law
This Act completely excluded dsygenic immigrants from Italy or European Jews. President Coolidge defended the act by saying that "America must remain American." "The Immigration Act of 1924 (The Johnson-Reed Act) - 1921–1936 - Milestones - Office of the Historian." The Immigration Act of 1924 (The Johnson-Reed Act) - 1921–1936 - Milestones - Office of the Historian. Web. 3 Dec. 2015. -
Idaho legislature passes “An act to create a state board of eugenics”
This act did not just limit the sterilizations to those in institutions, but also to the residents of Idaho. It also made the sterilizations mandatory, and not voluntary. Sterilizations were carried out by the State Board of Eugenics, that were created by this act. Kaelber, Lutz. "Idaho." Eugenics. 2011. Web. 3 Dec. 2015. -
Utah, 23rd state to pass sexual sterilization legislation
Utah passed the law for criminals of sexual crimes, imbeciles, and the feeble minded. It claimed that they could not choose to do it and it was involuntary as long as the legal process was upheld. Kaelber, Lutz. "Utah." Eugenics. 2011. Web. 3 Dec. 2015. -
Minnesota passes sexual steriliation law
This law was focused on the mentally insane or ill persons of the state of Minnesota that have been hospitalized for at least six months. The law was formally voluntary. Minnesota also passed a marriage law around the same time, prohibiting anyone under 45 to get married if they were likely to father degenerate children. Kaelber, Lutz. "Minnesota." Eugenics. 2011. Web. 3 Dec. 2015. -
Buck v Bell
The US Supreme Court upheld the law saying that it was constitutional to allow sterilizations of people consideted genetically unfit. The Nazis later used this case in their defense at the Nuremburg Trials. Read the court's case files here Wolfe, Brendan. "Buck v. Bell (1927)." Encyclopedia Virginia. Virginia Foundation for the Humanities, 4 Nov. 2015. Web. 3 Dec. 2015. -
Mississppi passess sexual sterilization legislation
This law was for the persons of heritary insanity in the state institution. Before the sterilization could occur, the board of the instution had to obtain family and/or the patient's consent. If not, a hearing had to be held. This law was passed prior to the Great Depression, which halted the sterilizations due to lack of money. Kaelber, Lutz. "Mississippi." Eugenics. 2011. Web. 3 Dec. 2015. -
Vermont passes sexual sterilization law
Though this law was aimed for the feeble-minded in state institutions, it also applied for the residents of Vermont. Physicians advocated for the law saying it benefitted both the patients and society. Kaelber, Lutz. "Vermont." Eugenics. 2011. Web. 3 Dec. 2015. "Eugenics Survey in Vermont: Law and Policy: Eugenics Project: A Documentary History, UVM." Eugenics Survey in Vermont: Law and Policy: Eugenics Project: A Documentary History, UVM. 2015. Web. 3 Dec. 2015. -
A Bill of Divorcement
This 1932 movie portrays a mental asylum escapee attempting to return to his family. His daughter was planning on getting married at this time, but is told that she can never get married or have children as there is a history of mental illness in her family. The escapee was also told that he is a man who should have never had any children. Kalyana, Cyrstal. "A BILL OF DIVORCEMENT ( 1932 )." In The Good Old Days Of Classic Hollywood. 14 Aug. 2015. Web. 4 Dec. 2015. -
South Carolina is the second to last state to pass sterilization legislation
It was limited to only the feeble-minded of state institutions. The board of the institution had to prove that the patient would be the parent of a degenerate before they could sterilize the patient legally. Kaelber, Lutz. "South Carolina." Eugenics. 2011. Web. 3 Dec. 2015. -
Alabama repeals sexual sterilization legislation
The act was deemed unconstitutional by Alabama State Supreme Court because a sterilized victim would not have the right to appeal against the sterilization. Though it was rewritten several times after it was repealed, the law was never passed through again. Kaelber, Lutz. "Alabama." Eugenics. 2011. Web. 3 Dec. 2015. -
Skinner v Oklahoma
Under the Oklahoma Habitual Criminal Sterilization Act of 1935, Oklahoma can sterilize any prisoner that has been found guilty of three crimes. Skinner challenged that as he was found guilty of chicken stealing. US Supreme Court declared it constitutional. Read more about the case here
"Harlan Fiske Stone | Chief Justice of United States Supreme Court." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, 2015. -
Immigration and Naturalization Act states that aliens can be denied immigration due to mental or physical defects
This Act was design to exclude immigrants coming to America that appeared to be intellectually inferior and unlawful. They only wanted those that will fit into America's society and political structure, (10). Read full Act here -
Loving v Virgina
Mildred Jeter, a black girl, and Richard Loving, a white man, wanted to get married, but it was illegal in Virginia. They later got married in Washington D.C. and when they returned to Virginia, they were arrested. The Supreme Court voted bnas on interracial marriage unconstitutional, (11). Read more about the case here -
Sterilization of Elaine Riddick Jessie
Elaine was the daughter of two alcholics and grew up in poverty. She was raped by a man in her neighborhood and became pregnant. People started to label her as feeble-minded, and at the age of 13, she was sterilized. (4). Snyderman, Nancy. "State of Shame: N.C. Sterilization Survivors Fight for Justice." NBCNews.com. 7 Nov. 2011. Web. 3 Dec. 2015. -
Indiana repeals sterilization legislation
Indiana passed Public Law No. 60, which repealed all of the sexual sterilization in the state of Indiana. The Law was approved by Governor Otis Bowen. By the time the law was appealed, there was a total of about 2500 sterilizations that took place. Kaelber, Lutz. "Indiana." Eugenics. 2011. Web. 3 Dec. 2015. Kaelber, Lutz. "Indiana." Eugenics. 2011. Web. 3 Dec. 2015. -
Oregon repeals its sterilization laws
Oregon repealed the 1923 sexual sterilization law to establish legal eugenics. Later in 2002, the governor gave a lengthy apology and uncovered some unknown cases of the sterilizations, including a death of a woman from a hysterectomy. Kaelber, Lutz. "Indiana." Eugenics. 2011. Web. 3 Dec. 2015. -
Project Preventation Starts
Barbara Harris starts Project Preventation after she adopted a 8-month year old daughter that tested positive for PCP, heroin, and crack because her mother was on it when she was pregnant with her. Barbara offers $300 to women who do drugs to take birth control to prevent them from having children. (5). Murray, Rheanna. "Group Pays Drug Addicts to Get Sterilized or Receive Long-term Birth Control, Sparks Criticism." New York Daily News 9 May 2012. -
Human Genome Project begins
The Human Genome Project begins, which is the largest governmental funded project since the Apollo Moon Mission. This project focused on mapping out the entire human genome to better understand how diseases and cancer may be treated. However, in the past, knowledge on genetic material has been misused to further eugenics. "About the Human Genome Project." About the Human Genome Project. 2015. Web. 3 Dec. 2015. -
Bell Curve Book comes out
This book suggested that intelligence was the main predictor for all socio-economic factors such as whether the person would later commit a crime, have a baby out of wedlock, and the job performance. They also discussed the differences in racial intelliengce. Goodnow, Natalie. "'The Bell Curve' 20 Years Later: A Q&A with Charles Murray." AEI. 16 Oct. 2014. Web. 3 Dec. 2015. -
Virginia becomes the first state to issue a formal apology for sterilization
Gov. Mark R. Warner issued a formal apology for Virginia's decision to forcibly sterilize thousands of people in the state of Virginia. The date of his apology coincided with the ruling of Buck v Bell, as that was a major case concerning sterilization in Virginia. William Branigin. "Warner Apologizes To Victims Of Eugenics; Woman Who Challenged Sterilizations Honored." The Washington Post. Washingtonpost Newsweek Interactive. 2002. HighBeam Research. 3 Dec 2015 -
North Carolina Offically repeals eugenics legislation
The Senate voted to throw out the law, and a week before the House voted to discard it as well. Before the law was repealed, 7,600 people were sterilized in the sate of North Carolina, and the last time it was put into effect was 1974. (7). Kaelber, Lutz. "North Carolina." Eugenics. 2011. Web. 3 Dec. 2015. -
Molloy v Meier
Molloy ordered genetic testing for her unborn child when she was pregnant for Fragile X syndrome. The testing came back negative though she did indeed have it. She sued the physicians because she wouldn't have had another kid had she known she was a carrier. The court ruled in her favor saying that she had the right to abort based on genetic testing. (6). Read more about the case here
