"In reaction to Nazi abuses, eugenics
became almost universally reviled in
many of the nations where it had once
been popular (however, some eugenics
programs, including sterilization,
continued quietly for decades)."
became almost universally reviled in
many of the nations where it had once
been popular (however, some eugenics
programs, including sterilization,
continued quietly for decades)."
Eugenics timeline
by Kevin Begos
1883 Sir Francis Galton coins the word eugenics, meaning "well born"
1907 Indiana passes first eugenics law in U.S.
1909 California passes a eugenics law
1912 First International Congress of Eugenics
1927 U.S. Supreme Court upholds involuntary sterilization in Buck v. Bell
1929 Human Betterment Foundation established in Pasadena, Calif.
1937 Georgia is the 32nd and last state to pass a eugenics law
1937 Sterilization League of New Jersey founded
1943 Sterilization League changes name to Birthright and becomes a national organization; Cecil Gamble makes first major donation
1943 Human Betterment Foundation ceases operation in California, but several of its leaders join Birthright, bringing along their contacts and mailing lists
1947–51 Clarence Gamble funds and launches state Human Betterment League chapters in North Carolina, Iowa, Georgia, Arkansas, Texas and Nebraska
1950 Birthright changes name to Human Betterment Association of America
1962 Human Betterment Association renounces involuntary sterilization
1964 Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee issues "Genocide in Mississippi" to protest involuntary sterilizations in that state
1972 Nixon aides suppress release of new federal guidelines to prevent sterilization abuse
1972–75 Protests over sterilization of Native American women at Indian Health Service hospitals
1973–74 U.S. Senate hearings over use of federal funds to sterilize minors; multiple lawsuits filed by victims
1973 Committee to End Sterilization Abuse founded in NYC, focus on Latina women
1974 Weather Underground bombs San Francisco office of U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare, in part to protest sterilization of two Alabama girls, age 12 and 14
1975 Women in California file involuntary-sterilization suit against Los Angeles County Hospital
1975 New York City reforms medical guidelines to guard against involuntary sterilization
by Kevin Begos
1883 Sir Francis Galton coins the word eugenics, meaning "well born"
1907 Indiana passes first eugenics law in U.S.
1909 California passes a eugenics law
1912 First International Congress of Eugenics
1927 U.S. Supreme Court upholds involuntary sterilization in Buck v. Bell
1929 Human Betterment Foundation established in Pasadena, Calif.
1937 Georgia is the 32nd and last state to pass a eugenics law
1937 Sterilization League of New Jersey founded
1943 Sterilization League changes name to Birthright and becomes a national organization; Cecil Gamble makes first major donation
1943 Human Betterment Foundation ceases operation in California, but several of its leaders join Birthright, bringing along their contacts and mailing lists
1947–51 Clarence Gamble funds and launches state Human Betterment League chapters in North Carolina, Iowa, Georgia, Arkansas, Texas and Nebraska
1950 Birthright changes name to Human Betterment Association of America
1962 Human Betterment Association renounces involuntary sterilization
1964 Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee issues "Genocide in Mississippi" to protest involuntary sterilizations in that state
1972 Nixon aides suppress release of new federal guidelines to prevent sterilization abuse
1972–75 Protests over sterilization of Native American women at Indian Health Service hospitals
1973–74 U.S. Senate hearings over use of federal funds to sterilize minors; multiple lawsuits filed by victims
1973 Committee to End Sterilization Abuse founded in NYC, focus on Latina women
1974 Weather Underground bombs San Francisco office of U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare, in part to protest sterilization of two Alabama girls, age 12 and 14
1975 Women in California file involuntary-sterilization suit against Los Angeles County Hospital
1975 New York City reforms medical guidelines to guard against involuntary sterilization