Investigating UCL Eugenics

“Investigating UCL Eugenics” is a series of essays investigating specific aspects of eugenics research and advocacy at University College London (UCL). This includes papers produced as part of student research projects in the undergraduate module, HPSC0070 Eugenics in Science and Culture in UCL Department of Science and Technology Studies (STS).

 

Instructions for this essay asked for a specific series of tasks. Each student was assigned one specific publication somehow linked to the history of eugenics research and advocacy at University College London (UCL), or a sister institution nearby. Students were required to structure their essay according to a series of sections: (a) author (place the publication in a biographical context), (b) text (interpret the publication as a historical text), (c) context (place the publication in a relevant historical context or interpretation), and (d) list of references (include a complete, well-organized, and clear list of references). The syllabus provides detailed instruction.

 

Individual posts remain the copyrighted intellectual property of the author and appear here with their permission. The author is the person responsible for post content. Readers are reminded this essay was completed in 2021 during a period of restricted movement and facility closures owing to pandemic restrictions.

Karl Pearson (1907) A First Study of the Statistics of Pulmonary Tuberculosis
Eugenics (historical)

Karl Pearson and the History of Eugenics at UCL

What was the research and advocacy that took place by personnel associated with UCL and its sister institutions? George Forster investigates Karl Pearson (1907) A First Study of the Statistics of Pulmonary Tuberculosis (Studies in […]

Cyril Burt (1955) ‘The Meaning and Assessment of Intelligence’, The Eugenics Review, 47(2), pp. 81-91.
Eugenics (historical)

Cyril Burt in the History of Eugenics at UCL

What was the research and advocacy that took place by personnel associated with UCL and its sister institutions? Beata Luchanskaya investigates Cyril Burt (1955) ‘The Meaning and Assessment of Intelligence’, The Eugenics Review, 47(2), pp. 81-91. […]

John Maynard Smith. 1937. Some economic consequences of a declining population, published in Eugenics Review 29(1): 13-17.
Eugenics (historical)

John Maynard Keynes in the History of Eugenics

What was the research and advocacy that took place by personnel associated with UCL and sister institutions? Seth Jamieson investigates John Maynard Smith. 1937. Some economic consequences of a declining population, published in Eugenics Review 29(1): 13-17. […]

J.W. Brown, Major Greenwood, and Frances Wood (1920) The Fertility of the English Middle Classes. A Statistical Study. Eugenics Review 12(3): 158-211.
Eugenics (historical)

Major Greenwood in the History of Eugenics

What was the research and advocacy that took place by personnel associated with UCL and its sister institutions? Zydon Patel investigates J.W. Brown, Major Greenwood, and Frances Wood (1920) The Fertility of the English Middle […]

Leonard Darwin (1928) What is Eugenics?
Eugenics (historical)

Leonard Darwin in the History of Eugenics

What was the research and advocacy that took place by personnel associated with UCL and other London-based institutions? Su Cheng investigates Leonard Darwin’s (1928) What is Eugenics? Part A: Investigating the Author Two of the most […]

Flinders Petrie. 1907. Janus in Modern Life.
Eugenics (historical)

Flinders Petrie and History of Eugenics at UCL

What was the research and advocacy that took place by personnel associated with UCL and its sister institutions? Tabea Winkler investigates Flinders Petrie. 1907. Janus in Modern Life, focusing on chapter 4, “Revolution or Evolution?”. […]