Chapter 1 | The Eugenics Crusade

Summary

The script narrates the intriguing story of Ann Cooper Hewitt, a 20-year-old heiress who was secretly sterilized during an appendectomy in 1934, sparking a scandal that linked to the controversial eugenics movement. Eugenics, proposed as a scientific solution to social problems, was rooted in the belief of improving the human race through selective breeding. The narrative delves into the movement's origins with Sir Francis Galton and Charles Benedict Davenport, who aimed to understand heredity for the purpose of controlled human reproduction. The story unfolds against the backdrop of high society, scientific ambition, and the moral complexities of eugenics.

Takeaways

• 🏥 Ann Cooper Hewitt, a wealthy heiress, was unknowingly sterilized during an emergency appendectomy, which sparked a scandal when she filed a lawsuit against the surgeons and her mother.
• 📰 The term 'feebleminded' used by Ann's mother in the lawsuit brought national attention and connected Ann's case to the eugenics movement.
• 🧬 Eugenics was promoted as a scientific solution to social problems, blending hope, aspiration, fear, and sometimes hate.
• 🤔 The misconception that eugenics originated with the Nazis is debunked; it was a movement that had widespread support and was considered part of the scientific mainstream in the early 20th century.
• 🌟 Sir Francis Galton, a pioneer in statistics and a cousin of Charles Darwin, coined the term 'eugenics' and believed in the potential for selective breeding to improve the human race.
• 🔬 Charles Benedict Davenport, inspired by Galton, aimed to understand heredity through scientific research and experimentation.
• 🎓 Davenport established a research station at Cold Spring Harbor, funded by the Carnegie Institution, to study heredity through the breeding of plants and animals.
• 🐔 By observing the offspring of organisms with unique traits, Davenport hoped to uncover the secrets of evolution and heredity.
• 🌱 The research station at Cold Spring Harbor was designed for detailed study and experimentation in genetics, with facilities for various species including chickens, goats, and sheep.
• 💡 Galton and Davenport believed that improving human heredity was of profound moral importance and saw themselves as qualified to contribute to this effort due to their perceived intellectual superiority.

Q & A

Who was Ann Cooper Hewitt and why is her story significant?

Ann Cooper Hewitt was a twenty-year-old heiress to one of the largest fortunes in the United States in 1934. Her story is significant because she was sterilized without her knowledge or consent during an emergency appendectomy, which later became a high-profile scandal linked to the eugenics movement.

What was the term used to describe Ann Cooper Hewitt's condition after her surgery?

Ann Cooper Hewitt was described as 'feebleminded' by her mother, a term that would later connect her case to the eugenics movement.

What is eugenics and how was it perceived in the early 20th century?

Eugenics was a movement that proposed scientific solutions for social problems by controlling human reproduction. It was seen by some as a combination of hope and aspiration, while others viewed it with fear and even hate due to its implications for forced sterilization and racial purity.

Who was Sir Francis Galton and what was his contribution to the concept of eugenics?

Sir Francis Galton was a pioneering statistician who coined the term 'eugenics', derived from Greek words meaning 'well' and 'born'. He believed in the idea of improving the human race through selective breeding and had a significant influence on the development of the eugenics movement.

What was Charles Benedict Davenport's role in the eugenics movement?

Charles Benedict Davenport was an American biologist who was inspired by Galton's work on heredity. He opened a research station at Cold Spring Harbor to study heredity and hoped to unlock the mystery of evolution through selective breeding.

What was the purpose of Davenport's research station at Cold Spring Harbor?

The research station at Cold Spring Harbor was established to conduct experiments on heredity. Davenport aimed to understand how heredity worked by mating organisms with unusual characteristics and studying their offspring over generations.

How did the eugenics movement attempt to address social problems?

The eugenics movement proposed that by controlling who reproduces, society could prevent the birth of individuals deemed 'feebleminded' or with undesirable traits, thereby improving the overall genetic quality of the population.

What was the public's perception of eugenics in the early 20th century?

There was a naïve and optimistic vision of eugenics among the public, with some people believing it could lead to the creation of 'better people' and a stronger society.

How did the Ann Cooper Hewitt case bring attention to the darker side of eugenics?

The Ann Cooper Hewitt case highlighted the unethical practices of forced sterilization under the guise of eugenics, showing the problematic and harmful aspects of the movement.

What misconceptions about eugenics were there, and how did they relate to historical events?

A common misconception is that eugenics originated with the Nazis and was outside the scientific mainstream. However, eugenics had a significant following in the early 20th century and was considered a legitimate scientific pursuit by some.

What was the relationship between Charles Darwin and Francis Galton, and how did it influence Galton's ideas on eugenics?

Francis Galton was Charles Darwin's half-cousin. Galton was influenced by Darwin's theory of natural selection but believed that natural selection wasn't working well enough and that human intervention was needed to improve the human race, leading to his ideas on eugenics.

Outlines

00:00

🏥 Ann Cooper Hewitt's Sterilization Scandal

In August 1934, Ann Cooper Hewitt, a 20-year-old heiress, underwent an emergency appendectomy in a San Francisco hospital. Unbeknownst to her, surgeons also removed a part of her fallopian tubes, making her sterile. This incident, which came to light in 1936 when Ann filed a lawsuit against the surgeons and her mother for sterilization without consent, sparked a national scandal. Her mother defended her actions, claiming it was for 'society's sake' due to Ann being 'feebleminded.' The case linked to the controversial eugenics movement, which aimed to control human reproduction. The video script delves into the history and implications of eugenics, highlighting its roots in the early 20th century and its proponents' belief in improving the human race through selective breeding.

05:02

🧬 The Birth of Eugenics and Charles Davenport's Research

The script introduces Charles Benedict Davenport, an American biologist who visited London in 1902 to meet Sir Francis Galton, the pioneer of eugenics. Galton, known for his work in statistics and quantification, believed in the potential of selective breeding to improve human intelligence and traits. Inspired by Galton's ideas, Davenport aimed to understand heredity through scientific research. With funding from the Carnegie Institution, he established a research station at Cold Spring Harbor, Long Island, in 1903. The station was designed for breeding and analyzing plants and animals to study heredity patterns and the principles of evolution. Davenport's work was part of a broader eugenics movement that sought to apply scientific methods to enhance human genetics, although it would later be criticized for its ethical implications and misuse.

Keywords

💡Ann Cooper Hewitt

Ann Cooper Hewitt was a twenty-year-old heiress who became a central figure in a scandal related to eugenics when she was sterilized without her knowledge or consent during an emergency appendectomy. This event is pivotal to the video's theme as it illustrates the real-life consequences and ethical issues surrounding eugenics, showing how it impacted individuals and their families.

💡Eugenics

Eugenics is a pseudoscientific belief in improving the genetic quality of the human population through selective breeding and sterilization. It is central to the video's theme as it explores the historical context and societal implications of this movement. The term is repeatedly mentioned, including in discussions about its origins, its proponents, and the negative outcomes it led to.

💡Sterilization

Sterilization, in the context of the video, refers to the surgical procedure that rendered Ann Cooper Hewitt incapable of becoming pregnant. It is a key concept as it directly relates to the practice of eugenics, where individuals deemed 'unfit' were often sterilized to prevent them from passing on their genes.

💡Feebleminded

The term 'feebleminded' was used historically to label individuals with intellectual disabilities and was often associated with eugenics, as these individuals were considered unfit for reproduction. In the video, Ann's mother claimed her daughter was 'feebleminded,' which she used as a justification for the sterilization, highlighting the discriminatory nature of eugenics.

💡Charles Benedict Davenport

Charles Benedict Davenport was an American biologist who played a significant role in the development of the eugenics movement in the United States. His establishment of a research station at Cold Spring Harbor is mentioned in the script, showing his dedication to studying heredity and his belief in the potential of eugenics to improve the human race.

💡Francis Galton

Sir Francis Galton was a pioneering statistician who coined the term 'eugenics' and believed in the potential of selective breeding to create a superior human race. His influence on Davenport and the broader eugenics movement is discussed in the video, emphasizing his role in shaping the ideology and practices of eugenics.

💡Heredity

Heredity refers to the genetic transmission of traits from parents to offspring. It is a fundamental concept in the video as it underpins the beliefs and practices of eugenics, which sought to control human reproduction based on the idea of improving genetic traits through selective breeding.

💡Social Problems

The video script mentions that eugenics was proposed as a scientific solution for social problems, suggesting that it was seen as a way to address and prevent issues such as poverty, crime, and disease by improving the genetic quality of the population. This reflects the misguided and harmful assumptions underlying the eugenics movement.

💡Survival of the Fittest

The concept of 'survival of the fittest' comes from Charles Darwin's theory of evolution and refers to the idea that organisms best adapted to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce. In the video, it is mentioned that Galton turned this idea on its head, advocating for human intervention in the process of selection through eugenics.

💡Cold Spring Harbor

Cold Spring Harbor is the location of the research station established by Charles Davenport with funding from the Carnegie Institution. It was purpose-built for the breeding and analyzing of plants and animals to study heredity and evolution. The station represents the practical application of eugenics principles in scientific research.

💡Breeding and Analyzing

Breeding and analyzing refer to the practices of mating organisms with specific characteristics and then studying their offspring over generations. In the context of the video, Davenport used these methods at Cold Spring Harbor to investigate patterns of heredity, which was a key aspect of the eugenics movement's pursuit of understanding and controlling human genetics.

Highlights

Ann Cooper Hewitt, heiress to a large fortune, was unknowingly sterilized during an appendectomy.

Ann filed a lawsuit against the surgeons and her mother for the unauthorized sterilization.

Ann's mother claimed the sterilization was for 'society's sake' due to Ann being 'feebleminded'.

The scandal linked Ann's case to the eugenics movement, aiming to control human reproduction.

Eugenics was seen as a scientific solution to social problems, combining hope and fear.

The movement categorized individuals as 'feebleminded', 'imbecile', or 'idiot'.

Eugenics was not a Nazi-originated doctrine but had roots in mainstream scientific thought.

There was a widespread enthusiasm for eugenics with a vision of improving the human race.

The Eugenics Movement was about creating a stronger society through healthy children.

Charles Benedict Davenport, a Harvard-educated biologist, was interested in the study of evolution.

Davenport met Sir Francis Galton, a pioneering statistician, to discuss heredity.

Galton's work on heredity and quantification influenced Davenport's beliefs on eugenics.

Galton proposed the term 'eugenics', derived from Greek words meaning 'well' and 'born'.

Davenport aimed to understand heredity through a new kind of experimental institution.

Davenport and Galton believed in the moral importance of improving human heredity.

Davenport opened a research station at Cold Spring Harbor for studying heredity in plants and animals.

The research station was designed for breeding and analyzing organisms with unique traits.

Transcripts

[NARRATOR:] On August 18th, 1934,

Twenty-year-old Ann Cooper Hewitt,

Heiress to one of the largest fortunes in the United States,

Was admitted to a San Francisco hospital

For an emergency appendectomy.

She later learned

The surgeons not only had removed her appendix,

But also a length of her fallopian tubes

Rendering her incapable of ever becoming pregnant.

The story of the "sterilized heiress"

Hit the papers just after the New Year in 1936

When Ann filed a half-million dollar damage claim

Against the surgeons and her own mother

for sterilizing her without her knowledge or consent.

Ann's mother denied any wrongdoing.

She'd done what she'd done for "society's sake," she insisted,

Because her daughter was "feebleminded."

It was the sort of bizarre, high-society scandal

That would have captured the national imagination

Under any circumstances.

But that one word, "feebleminded," struck a familiar chord for Americans––

And linked Ann's plight to a decades-old campaign

To control human reproduction,

Known as "eugenics."

[ARCHIVAL:] What is the bearing of the laws of heredity upon human affairs?

Eugenics provides the answers.

[LOMBARDO:] Eugenics was proposed as the scientific solution for social problems.

It was a combination of hope and aspiration on one side

And on the other side it was about fear

And in some cases about hate.

[ARCHIVAL:] They are identified early,

Categorized feebleminded,

Imbecile,

Idiot.

It would have been better by far if they had never been born.

(shouting)

[KEVLES:] People tend to think

That eugenics was a doctrine that originated with the Nazis,

That it was grounded in wild claims

That were far outside the scientific mainstream.

Both of those impressions are fundamentally not true.

[COHEN:] It was almost a mania

That sort of swept through the country.

And there was that kind of naïve, optimistic vision of eugenics

Like, “Hey, let’s all get together and make better people."

[STERN:] The Eugenics Movement was about having healthy children,

About having a stronger society.

There’s nothing wrong with that.

You have to look at the underbelly

Of what was implemented in the name of eugenics

To see what was so problematic about it.

(steamboat whistle blows)

(clatter of horses)

(whistle blows)

[NARRATOR:] In the fall of 1902,

An American biologist named Charles Benedict Davenport

Arrived in London on a sort of pilgrimage.

He was thirty-six, Harvard-educated,

And like many biologists of his generation,

Absorbed with the study of evolution.

He'd been traveling in Europe with his wife,

Collecting seashells for research on species variation,

But this was to be the highlight of the trip:

A meeting with the world-renowned gentleman scientist,

Sir Francis Galton.

A pioneering statistician,

Galton had lived his eighty years by a single motto:

"Whenever you can, count."

His obsession with measurements and patterns

Had led him to create the world's first weather maps,

Established fingerprinting as a means of identification,

And set data-backed parameters for the perfect cup of tea.

Charles Davenport had come to discuss another matter:

Galton's work on heredity.

[MUKHERJEE:] Francis Galton was a great quantifier.

He liked to quantify height,

Hair color.

You know, what is the chest size of an average man?

What is the thigh length of an average man?

Even things like intelligence.

[SPIRO:] Galton had a theory

That talent, as he called it

—what we would call intelligence—

seemed to run in families.

And so it quickly occurred to him,

“If we can get people with high talent to mate with each other,"

"Prevent people with low talent from mating with each other,"

"We will, within a few generations,"

"Create this race of super men.”

[COMFORT:] Francis Galton was borrowing ideas

And kind of riffing off of

The work of his half-cousin Charles Darwin.

[WAILOO:] Darwin believed that evolution was this natural process

That was inevitably leading towards what they called

The “survival of the fittest.”

Galton really turns that idea on its head and says,

“You know, natural selection isn’t working very well."

"We need to do a form of selection."

"We need to intervene.”

[NARRATOR:] To name the effort,

Galton had coined the term "eugenics"

A hybrid derived from two Greek words

Meaning "well" and "born."

Charles Davenport believed, as Galton did,

That selective breeding could transform the human race.

What was needed was a scientific understanding

Of how heredity actually worked

And over dinner at Galton's home,

Davenport declared his intention to get to the bottom of it.

[COMFORT:] Davenport said

"I’m gonna create a new kind of institution,"

"A station for experimental evolution,"

"Not Darwinian natural selection that you just go out and observe,

"But can we figure out how inheritance works?"

"Can we do experiments and find the patterns of heredity?"

(whistle sounds)

[NARRATOR:] When Davenport sailed for home in December 1902,

He carried with him not only a letter of recommendation signed by Galton,

But also, he later wrote,

"A renewed courage for the...study of evolution."

[LEONARD:] Davenport and Galton really did imagine

That the idea of improving human heredity

Was of almost religious significance,

Of profound moral importance.

They also believed they were qualified to breed a better race

Because they believed that they were the best and the brightest.

(chickens clucking)

[NARRATOR:] Scarcely more than a year later,

With funding from the Carnegie Institution,

Davenport opened his research station on the north shore of Long Island,

At Cold Spring Harbor.

Situated on ten acres along Oyster Bay,

The place had been purpose-built

For the breeding and analyzing of plants and animals

Complete with sprawling garden plots,

An aviary,

And a half-dozen tidy enclosures

Housing chickens, goats, and sheep.

By mating organisms with unusual characteristics––

A tailless Manx cat, or a rooster with a black comb––

And then studying their offspring, generation after generation,

Davenport hoped to unlock the mystery of evolution.