Description: Sir Francis Galton was an influential mentor for the educational psychologists who supplied crucial doctrine to American eugenics from 1903 to 1930. Yet the nature of his influence has never been specified. The psychologists' own claim as to the Galton's contribution -- that he provided sufficient justification for their absolutist hereditarianism -- was clearly disingenuous. Rather, he appears to have functioned as a model for these figures, who were informed by their perceptions of Galton's ulterior purposes in constructing eugenics as he did. Any of various features in the 45-year-long course of that development could have encouraged these particular legatees to appreciate both Galton and his product as surreptitious stanchers of democracy.
Review Quotes: "[A] fascinating analysis...Future Galton scholars, of whatever epistemological persuasion, will need to engage seriously with [Sweeney's] class-based interpretation of both Galton and his American adherents."--John C. Waller "British Journal for the History of Science"