This guide provides an introduction to primary sources related to the eugenics movement in the United States during the 19th and 20th centuries. Much of the material is held by the Rubenstein Library, but this guide also includes primary sources that can be found in other Duke libraries and resources available online.
Resources in this guide include archival collections, books, government reports, journals, newspapers, and more that could be used to research eugenics. The guide also lists other topics related to eugenics, like phrenology, craniometry, criminology, and later attempts to curb sterilization abuse, that are worth exploring. In addition, the guide has a special focus on eugenics in North Carolina.
The guide is divided into the following sections:
Please note: this is not a list of all resources related to eugenics at Duke Libraries. There's more to discover - use the search tips included in this guide or ask a librarian for help!
Have you reviewed this guide and want to find more resources? Here are a few tips for searching the library catalog:
To find more archival sources, start by searching the Rubenstein's collection guides. Collection guides provide a description of an archival collection's content and can be keyword searched.
To find additional books, journals, and periodicals, start by searching the library catalog. You can try keyword searching terms associated with the eugenics movement, searching the names of people or groups involved in the movement, or searching for people or publications that you've seen referenced in other sources.
Subject headings are a way to gather related items together in the catalog and can also be used to search the catalog. Some eugenics subject headings include:
Involuntary Sterilization -- United States
As you search, keep in mind that the terms used in eugenics documents have changed over time and you may need to try a variety of different terms. Many of the words and phrases you'll see may be outdated or offensive today (like using "feebleminded" or "defective" to describe people), but you may need to use these in your search. The words and phrases that you see in this guide (as well as the subject headings associated with the listed items) can serve as a starting point.
Pamphlet promoting sterilization distributed by the Human Betterment League of North Carolina. Found here in the Rubenstein Library.
