Digital Image Archive on the American Eugenics Movement (II)

This project will continue development of a "Digital Archive on the American Eugenics Movement." During the initial term of the grant, 1,230 images were collected from three major archives and incorporated into a WWW database; image collection trips to several additional American and European archives will increase the number of images to 2,500. The aim of the archive, without leading the viewer to any 'correct' interpretation of the materials, is to present images with adequate narrative background. To achieve this, eleven 'themes' have been drafted to give the images historical, social, scientific, and ethical context. Brief (1000 words) theme essays serve as an authoritative introduction to the key events, persons, and social conditions that contributed to the development of eugenics. A site guide will be developed that will help users draw parallels between eugenics and modern topics in genetics. The Editorial Advisory Panel (EAP) has played a key role in the development and scripting of the theme essays and in the formulation of an online publication policy. A working group of the EAP will provide leads to other archives of eugenics materials; write essays, commentaries, and biographies for the online publication, as well as for a CD-ROM and 'coffee table' book publication of the Archive; serve as 'lecturers' in moderated online chat presentations and Ask the Expert bulletin board features; and speak at "Eugenics and the New Biology: Perspectives and Parallels," a small, professional meeting to be held at CSHL's Banbury Center. In addition, the project will initiate and modern topics in genetics.