A reading list on eugenics

eugenics

This is an annotated bibliography for books I am reading on eugenics and its connections to psychology and society.

Author

Matt Crump

Published

June 28, 2022

Last knit: 2023-08-04

Eugenics and related ideological systems continue to influence psychology and society. I am using this post as an annotated bibliography to gather my book-based reading list about eugenics. The full list is at the bottom. I plan to update this list over time as I find more to read on the topic.

Scientific Pollyannaism: From Inquisition to Positive Psychology

Yakushko, O. (2019). Scientific Pollyannaism: From Inquisition to Positive Psychology. Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-15982-5

Citation key for Yakushko (2019): yakushkoScientificPollyannaismInquisition2019

One of my favorite books. Critical on many aspects of psychology, a transformational read. Chapters on eugenics are excellent. A large number of early psychologists were also deeply involved in the eugenics movement for well over a half-century.

Even the Rat Was White: A Historical View of Psychology

Guthrie, R. V. (2004). Even the rat was white: A historical view of psychology (Classic ed.). Pearson Allyn and Bacon.

Citation key for Guthrie (2004): guthrieEvenRatWas2004a

For the Betterment of the Race - The Rise and Fall of the International Movement for Eugenics and Racial Hygiene

Kühl, S. (2013). For the Betterment of the Race - The Rise and Fall of the International Movement for Eugenics and Racial Hygiene. Palgrave Macmillan.

Citation key for Kühl (2013): kuhlBettermentRaceRise2013

Establishes the international scope and scale, along with shifting ideologies within the eugenics movement.

The Oxford Handbook of the History of Eugenics

The Oxford Handbook of the History of Eugenics. (2010). In A. Bashford & P. Levine (Eds.), The Oxford Handbook of the History of Eugenics. Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780195373141.001.0001

Citation key for Bashford and Levine (2010): bashfordOxfordHandbookHistory2010

Multiple authors contribute chapters. Individual coverage of eugenics in regional/national contexts. Individual coverage of eugenics in societal contexts: e.g., health care, women’s rights, science, genetics, etc.

Our Own Master Race: Eugenics in Canada, 1885-1945

McLaren, A. (2014). Our own master race: Eugenics in Canada, 1885-1945. University of Toronto Press. https://doi.org/10.3138/9781442623316

Citation key for McLaren (2014): mclarenOurOwnMaster2014

Excellent history of the eugenics movement in Canada, including thorough linkages between prominent Canadian eugenicists and their influence on major provincial and national institutions.

Disaster Education ‘Race’, Equity and Pedagogy

Preston, J. (2012). Disaster education ’race’, equity and pedagogy (1st ed. 2012.). Sense Publishers.

Citation key for Preston (2012): prestonDisasterEducationRace2012

Disaster education refers to state produced information related to survival following disasters, such as nuclear Armageddon. This book is really fascinating. The history of disaster education material is deeply mired in eugenics and white supremacy. Chapters also include useful contextual excursions.

Eugenics, Race and Intelligence in Education

Chitty, C. (2007). Eugenics, Race and Intelligence in Education. Continuum International Publishing.

Citation key for Chitty (2007): chittyEugenicsRaceIntelligence2007

A historical analysis of the UK education system in terms of eugenics and class struggles.

Popular Eugenics: National Efficiency and American Mass Culture in the 1930s

Currell, S., & Cogdell, C. (2006). Popular Eugenics: National Efficiency and American Mass Culture in the 1930s. Ohio University Press.

Citation key for Currell and Cogdell (2006): currellPopularEugenicsNational2006

Multiple authors contribute chapters on US eugenic culture in the 1930s. Very interesting read, especially the visual eugenics chapters.

The Eugenic Mind Project | The MIT Press

Wilson, R. A. (2017). The Eugenic Mind Project | The MIT Press. MIT Press.

Citation key for Wilson (2017): wilsonEugenicMindProject2017

Standpointing eugenics and focus on the Alberta, Canada context.

The Funding of Scientific Racism: Wickliffe Draper and the Pioneer Fund

Tucker, W. H. (2007). The Funding of Scientific Racism: Wickliffe Draper and the Pioneer Fund. University of Illinois Press.

Citation key for Tucker (2007): tuckerFundingScientificRacism2007

Title says it all. Fills in many gaps about funding sources for racist science, including much funding for many racist psychologists.

Inheriting Shame: The Story of Eugenics and Racism in America

Selden, S. (1999). Inheriting Shame: The Story of Eugenics and Racism in America. Teachers College Press.

Citation key for Selden (1999): seldenInheritingShameStory1999

Another cogent introduction to the eugenics movement in the USA, with extra focus on how eugenics set the framework for the American education system.

The Science and Politics of IQ

Kamin, L. J. (1974). The science and politics of IQ. Psychology Press.

Citation key for Kamin (1974): kaminSciencePoliticsIQ1974

Leo Kamin’s arguments against intelligence testing.

American Eugenics: Race, Queer Anatomy, and the Science of Nationalism

Ordover, N. (2003). American Eugenics: Race, Queer Anatomy, and the Science of Nationalism (NED - New edition). University of Minnesota Press. https://doi.org/10.5749/j.ctttt7tz

Citation key for Ordover (2003): ordoverAmericanEugenicsRace2003

Part I: National Hygiene

Historical overview and critical analysis eugenics ideology and policy in America. Chapters focus on immigration policy set by eugenics agendas, funding of scientific racism by the Pioneer fund, and racist eugenic fear mongering.

Part II: Queer Anatomy: 100 years of diagnosis, Dissection, and Political Strategy

” ”

Still need to read

Psychiatry and the Legacies of Eugenics: Historical Studies of Alberta and Beyond

Stahnisch, F. W., & Kurbegovic, E. (2020). Psychiatry and the Legacies of Eugenics: Historical Studies of Alberta and Beyond. Athabasca University Press.

Citation key for Stahnisch and Kurbegovic (2020): stahnischPsychiatryLegaciesEugenics2020

Segregation’s Science Eugenics and Society in Virginia

Dorr, G. M. (2008). Segregation’s science eugenics and society in Virginia. University of Virginia Press.

Citation key for Dorr (2008): dorrSegregationScienceEugenics2008

Pure America: Eugenics and the Making of Modern Virginia

Catte, E. (2021). Pure America: Eugenics and the Making of Modern Virginia. Belt Publishing.

Citation key for Catte (2021): cattePureAmericaEugenics2021

Race and Empire Eugenics in Colonial Kenya

Campbell, C. (2007). Race and empire eugenics in colonial Kenya. University Press.

Citation key for Campbell (2007): campbellRaceEmpireEugenics2007

Preaching Eugenics Religious Leaders and the American Eugenics Movement

Rosen, C. (2004). Preaching eugenics religious leaders and the American eugenics movement. Oxford University Press.

Citation key for Rosen (2004): rosenPreachingEugenicsReligious2004

Building a Better Race Gender, Sexuality, and Eugenics from the Turn of the Century to the Baby Boom

Kline, W. (2001). Building a better race gender, sexuality, and eugenics from the turn of the century to the baby boom. University of California Press.

Citation key for Kline (2001): klineBuildingBetterRace2001

Better for All the World: The Secret History of Forced Sterilization and America’s Quest for Racial Purity

Bruinius, H. (2006). Better for all the world: The secret history of forced sterilization and America’s quest for racial purity (1st ed.). Knopf.

Citation key for Bruinius (2006): bruiniusBetterAllWorld2006

Black Men, Intergenerational Colonialism, and Behavioral Health: A Noose Across Nations

Grant Jr, D. E. (2019). Black Men, Intergenerational Colonialism, and Behavioral Health: A Noose Across Nations. Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-21114-1

Citation key for Grant Jr (2019): grantjrBlackMenIntergenerational2019

Fit to Be Citizens?: Public Health and Race in Los Angeles, 1879-1939.

Molina, N. (2006). Fit to Be Citizens?: Public Health and Race in Los Angeles, 1879-1939. University of California Press. https://doi.org/10.1525/9780520939202

Citation key for Molina (2006): molinaFitBeCitizens2006

Abortion in the American Imagination: Before Life and Choice, 1880-1940

Weingarten, K. (2014). Abortion in the American imagination: Before life and choice, 1880-1940. Rutgers University Press.

Citation key for Weingarten (2014): weingartenAbortionAmericanImagination2014

The Wellborn Science: Eugenics in Germany, France, Brazil, and Russia

Adams, M. B. (1990). The Wellborn Science: Eugenics in Germany, France, Brazil, and Russia (pp. x–x). Oxford University Press, Incorporated.

Citation key for Adams (1990): adamsWellbornScienceEugenics1990

Fit to Be Tied: Sterilization and Reproductive Rights in America, 1950-1980

Kluchin, R. M., Kluchin, R., & Golden, J. (2009). Fit to Be Tied: Sterilization and Reproductive Rights in America, 1950-1980 (pp. xi–xi). Rutgers University Press.

Citation key for Kluchin, Kluchin, and Golden (2009): kluchinFitBeTied2009

The Moral Property of Women: A History of Birth Control Politics in America

Gordon, L. (2002). The Moral Property of Women: A History of Birth Control Politics in America. University of Illinois Press. https://doi.org/10.5406/j.ctt3fh3j5

Citation key for Gordon (2002): gordonMoralPropertyWomen2002

Whiteness and Class in Education

Preston, J. (2007). Whiteness and Class in Education (1. Aufl., pp. x–x). Springer Netherlands. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-6108-0

Citation key for Preston (2007): prestonWhitenessClassEducation2007

Eugenic Feminism: Reproductive Nationalism in the United States and India

Nadkarni, A. (2014). Eugenic Feminism: Reproductive Nationalism in the United States and India. University of Minnesota Press. https://doi.org/10.5749/j.ctt6wr7s6

Citation key for Nadkarni (2014): nadkarniEugenicFeminismReproductive2014

A Century of Eugenics in America: From the Indiana Experiment to the Human Genome Era

Lombardo, P. A., Logan, A., & Mehlman, M. J. (2011). A Century of Eugenics in America: From the Indiana Experiment to the Human Genome Era (pp. xi–xi). Indiana University Press.

Citation key for Lombardo, Logan, and Mehlman (2011): lombardoCenturyEugenicsAmerica2011

Art, Sex and Eugenics: Corpus Delecti

Brauer, F., & Callen, A. (2008). Art, sex and eugenics: Corpus delecti. Ashgate.

Citation key for Brauer and Callen (2008): brauerArtSexEugenics2008

Three Generations, No Imbeciles: Eugenics, the Supreme Court, and Buck v. Bell

Lombardo, P. A. (2010). Three Generations, No Imbeciles: Eugenics, the Supreme Court, and Buck v. Bell. Johns Hopkins University Press.

Citation key for Lombardo (2010): lombardoThreeGenerationsNo2010

In Reckless Hands: Skinner v. Oklahoma and the near Triumph of American Eugenics

Nourse, V. F. (2008). In reckless hands: Skinner v. Oklahoma and the near triumph of American eugenics (1st ed.). W.W. Norton & Co.

Citation key for Nourse (2008): nourseRecklessHandsSkinner2008

War against the Weak: Eugenics and America’s Campaign to Create a Master Race

Black, E. (2003). War against the weak: Eugenics and America’s campaign to create a master race. Four Walls Eight Windows.

Citation key for Black (2003): blackWarWeakEugenics2003

Imbeciles: The Supreme Court, American Eugenics, and the Sterilization of Carrie Buck

Cohen, A. (2016). Imbeciles: The Supreme Court, American eugenics, and the sterilization of Carrie Buck. Penguin Press.

Citation key for Cohen (2016): cohenImbecilesSupremeCourt2016

The Disability Rights Movement: From Charity to Confrontation

Fleischer, D. Z., & Zames, F. (2011). The disability rights movement: From charity to confrontation (Updated edition.). Temple University Press.

Citation key for Fleischer and Zames (2011): fleischerDisabilityRightsMovement2011

Breeding Contempt: The History of Coerced Sterilization in the United States

Largent, M. A., & Largent, M. (2007). Breeding Contempt: The History of Coerced Sterilization in the United States. Rutgers University Press.

Citation key for Largent and Largent (2007): largentBreedingContemptHistory2007

References

Adams, Mark B. 1990. The Wellborn Science: Eugenics in Germany, France, Brazil, and Russia. Cary: Oxford University Press, Incorporated.

Bashford, Alison, and Philippa Levine, eds. 2010. The Oxford Handbook of the History of Eugenics. The Oxford Handbook of the History of Eugenics. Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780195373141.001.0001.

Black, Edwin. 2003. War Against the Weak: Eugenics and America’s Campaign to Create a Master Race. New York: Four Walls Eight Windows.

Brauer, Fae, and Anthea Callen. 2008. Art, Sex and Eugenics: Corpus Delecti. Aldershot, England ; Ashgate.

Bruinius, Harry. 2006. Better for All the World: The Secret History of Forced Sterilization and America’s Quest for Racial Purity. 1st ed. New York: Knopf.

Campbell, Chloe. 2007. Race and Empire Eugenics in Colonial Kenya. Studies in Imperialism. Manchester: University Press.

Catte, Elizabeth. 2021. Pure America: Eugenics and the Making of Modern Virginia. Belt Publishing.

Chase, Allan. 1977. The Legacy of Malthus: The Social Costs of the New Scientific Racism. 1st ed. New York: Knopf.

Chitty, Clyde. 2007. Eugenics, Race and Intelligence in Education. London: Continuum International Publishing.

Cohen, Adam. 2016. Imbeciles: The Supreme Court, American Eugenics, and the Sterilization of Carrie Buck. New York: Penguin Press.

Currell, Susan, and Christina Cogdell. 2006. Popular Eugenics: National Efficiency and American Mass Culture in the 1930s. Athens: Ohio University Press.

Dorr, Gregory Michael. 2008. Segregation’s Science Eugenics and Society in Virginia. Carter G. Woodson Institute Series. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press.

Fleischer, Doris Zames, and Frieda Zames. 2011. The Disability Rights Movement: From Charity to Confrontation. Updated edition. Disability in the Modern World (Text). Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Temple University Press.

Gordon, Linda. 2002. The Moral Property of Women: A History of Birth Control Politics in America. Baltimore: University of Illinois Press. https://doi.org/10.5406/j.ctt3fh3j5.

Grant Jr, Donald E. 2019. Black Men, Intergenerational Colonialism, and Behavioral Health: A Noose Across Nations. Cham: Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-21114-1.

Guthrie, Robert V. 2004. Even the Rat Was White: A Historical View of Psychology. Classic ed. Montreal [Que.] ; Pearson Allyn and Bacon.

Kamin, Leon J. 1974. The Science and Politics of IQ. Psychology Press.

Kline, Wendy. 2001. Building a Better Race Gender, Sexuality, and Eugenics from the Turn of the Century to the Baby Boom. Berkeley: University of California Press.

Kluchin, Rebecca M., Rebecca Kluchin, and Janet Golden. 2009. Fit to Be Tied: Sterilization and Reproductive Rights in America, 1950-1980. Critical Issues in Health and Medicine. Piscataway: Rutgers University Press.

Kühl, S. 2013. For the Betterment of the Race - The Rise and Fall of the International Movement for Eugenics and Racial Hygiene. Palgrave Macmillan.

Largent, Mark A., and Mark Largent. 2007. Breeding Contempt: The History of Coerced Sterilization in the United States. New Brunswick: Rutgers University Press.

Lombardo, Paul A. 2010. Three Generations, No Imbeciles: Eugenics, the Supreme Court, and Buck v. Bell. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press.

Lombardo, Paul A., Angela Logan, and Maxwell J. Mehlman. 2011. A Century of Eugenics in America: From the Indiana Experiment to the Human Genome Era. Bioethics and the Humanities. Bloomington: Indiana University Press.

McLaren, Angus. 2014. Our Own Master Race: Eugenics in Canada, 1885-1945. Canadian Social History Series. Toronto, Ontario ; University of Toronto Press. https://doi.org/10.3138/9781442623316.

Molina, Natalia. 2006. Fit to Be Citizens?: Public Health and Race in Los Angeles, 1879-1939. American Crossroads. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press. https://doi.org/10.1525/9780520939202.

Moss, Laurence S. 2009. Social Inequality, Analytical Egalitarianism and the March Towards Eugenic Explanations in the Social Sciences. 1. Aufl. AJES - Studies in Economic Reform and Social Justice. Hoboken: Wiley-Blackwell.

Nadkarni, Asha. 2014. Eugenic Feminism: Reproductive Nationalism in the United States and India. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press. https://doi.org/10.5749/j.ctt6wr7s6.

Nourse, Victoria F. 2008. In Reckless Hands: Skinner v. Oklahoma and the Near Triumph of American Eugenics. 1st ed. New York: W.W. Norton & Co.

O’Brien, Gerald, and Walton Schalick. 2015. Framing the Moron: The Social Construction of Feeble-Mindedness in the American Eugenic Era. Disability History. Manchester: University Press.

Ordover, Nancy. 2003. American Eugenics: Race, Queer Anatomy, and the Science of Nationalism. NED - New edition. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press. https://doi.org/10.5749/j.ctttt7tz.

Pisciotta, Alexander W. 1994. Benevolent Repression: Social Control and the American Reformatory-Prison Movement. New York: University Press. https://doi.org/10.18574/9780814768914.

Preston, John. 2007. Whiteness and Class in Education. 1. Aufl. Dordrecht: Springer Netherlands. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-6108-0.

———. 2012. Disaster Education ’Race’, Equity and Pedagogy. 1st ed. 2012. Rotterdam ; Sense Publishers.

Rosen, Christine. 2004. Preaching Eugenics Religious Leaders and the American Eugenics Movement. Oxford ; Oxford University Press.

Selden, Steven. 1999. Inheriting Shame: The Story of Eugenics and Racism in America. New York: Teachers College Press.

Stahnisch, Frank W., and Erna Kurbegovic. 2020. Psychiatry and the Legacies of Eugenics: Historical Studies of Alberta and Beyond. Québec, Canada: Athabasca University Press.

Tucker, William H. 2007. The Funding of Scientific Racism: Wickliffe Draper and the Pioneer Fund. Urbana: University of Illinois Press.

Weingarten, Karen. 2014. Abortion in the American Imagination: Before Life and Choice, 1880-1940. New Brunswick, New Jersey ; Rutgers University Press.

Wilson, Robert A. 2017. The Eugenic Mind Project | The MIT Press. MIT Press.

Yakushko, Oksana. 2019. Scientific Pollyannaism: From Inquisition to Positive Psychology. Cham: Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-15982-5.