Harry H. Laughlin
Early Life and Education
Harry Hamilton Laughlin was born on March 11, 1880, in Oskaloosa, Iowa. His parents were Robert Bruce Laughlin and Sarah Ellen Hamilton. He was the eldest of three children. Laughlin completed his high school education in Oskaloosa, after which he pursued his undergraduate studies at Iowa State College. He graduated in 1906 with a Bachelor of Science degree in agriculture.
Career
Laughlin began his career as a high school teacher in Missouri. He taught agriculture and biology for several years before moving into the field of Eugenics. In 1907, he joined the Eugenics Record Office (ERO) at Cold Spring Harbor, New York, as its first superintendent. The ERO was funded by the Carnegie Institution and sought to improve the genetic composition of the human race through selective breeding.
In 1910, Laughlin was appointed the director of the ERO. During his tenure, he conducted extensive research on the heredity of mental and physical traits. He also developed a classification system for mental diseases and defects, which was widely used in the field of eugenics.
Laughlin's work at the ERO led to the development of the Immigration Restriction Act of 1924. This legislation was based on his research, which suggested that certain ethnic groups were genetically inferior and should be prevented from immigrating to the United States. The Act significantly reduced the number of immigrants allowed into the country, particularly from Southern and Eastern Europe.
In 1936, Laughlin was awarded an honorary degree from the University of Heidelberg for his work in the field of eugenics. However, his association with the Nazi regime and his support for their eugenics policies led to widespread criticism. In 1939, the Carnegie Institution withdrew its funding from the ERO, and Laughlin was forced to retire.
Later Life and Death
After his retirement, Laughlin returned to his hometown of Oskaloosa, Iowa. He continued to write and publish on the subject of eugenics until his death on January 26, 1943.
Legacy
Laughlin's work in the field of eugenics has been widely criticized for its pseudoscientific basis and its association with racist and xenophobic ideologies. His research and policies have been linked to the forced sterilization of thousands of individuals in the United States and the restrictive immigration policies of the early 20th century.
Despite the controversy surrounding his work, Laughlin's contributions to the field of eugenics have had a significant impact on the study of genetics and heredity. His research methods and classification systems continue to be used in genetic research and counseling.