 |
|
Harry Laughlin to Wickliffe Preston Draper December 9, 1938 Colonel W. P. Draper, Dear Colonel Draper: I have recently completed the manuscript for "A Survey of the Human Resources of Connecticut" which we brought down to October 1, 1938. Only a few manuscript copies of the report were prepared, as the Commission has not yet released it for publication, but I wanted you to have one copy in order that you might get a firsthand view of some of our newer studies. In this we made an effort towards finding which might be turned to practical use. Our point of view was mainly biological rather than psychological or statistical. We attacked the problem as one interested in the conservation of the natural resources, and made our human study parallel those which have worked out practically in the conservation of plants, animals and agricultural resources. The chairman of the Connecticut Commission is former U.S. Senator Frederic C. Walcott, who is greatly interested in the work. On account of the common interests of yourself and Senator Walcott in race betterment and human biology, I believe that you would find each other's acquaintanceship both enjoyable and profitable. You will be interested to know that the moving picture film "Eugenics in Germany" has proven very popular with senior high school students. Up to date the film has been loaned 28 times. Just now one copy is being used by the Society for Prevention of Blindness in New York, and the other is in the hands of George Smith in Plainfield, N.J., where his advanced students in high school biology found it very interesting. Last spring Mr. Smith used the film with one set of students, and this year a second lot is profiting from it. A film which is run by the school itself excites many times the interest and influence of one seen in the "movie show," (sic!) Most of the high schools now have projection apparatus so that films of this sort fit well into their program. When education is expected to result in practical long-time (sic!) race betterment, the moving picture in the school offers a profitable medium for presenting facts. John B. Trevor of 11 East 91st Street, New York City, for many years has been interested in immigration regulation for the protection of American family-stocks, and is chairman of the Immigration Committee of the Chamber of Commerce of the State of New York. Through his committee Mr. Trevor is again interested in new studies and the preparation of a new paper which his committee can use in presenting their arguments to Congress. It is arranged that I will conduct the research and write the report. The paper will carry some such title as "Conquest by Immigration" or "The American Race" - this has not yet been definitely decided. The last paper which I prepared in this series was dated 1934, and was called "immigration Control." Very faithfully yours, |