Perkins: Work of the Committee is divided into three main parts as follows:‐‐

1. Eugenics Survey (a) Study on key families (b) Study of the waiting list of the State School for the Feebleminded. 2. The Population Studies. Professor Sholes, Chairman of the Sub‐c ommittee. 3. Study of the Care of the Handicapped. Miss Webster, Chairman of the Sub‐committee.

1. The Eugenics Survey. Budget, $6,000, contributed by a private donor. Office 138 Church Street, Burlington.

(a). Key Families.

A study was made of the rural towns recommended by members of the Advisory Committee and others, not only for purposes of this Committee but as a means of offering assistance to other Committees in the selection of their areas. A book was compiled giving population graphs, a brief history of each town, its industries, schools, churches and other appropriate information. Some of the towns were visited in order to supplement the library work by interviews with local people.

In the light of this information a few towns were chosen as being most likely to be studied by other Committees as well as suitable for our work. Considerable field work was then prosecuted in the towns of Sandgate, Williston Lincoln, Bristol, and a smaller amount of work was done in Grand Isle and Franklin Counties and the town of Bridgewater. Lincoln and Bristol have already been used by the Committee on Citizenship and the prospects are good for studies by other Committees in all of the areas in which our field work has been begun.

In each of the towns inquiries were directed toward the selection of certain outstanding families which appeared to have exerted a definite influence upon the progress of the community. Those chosen were all families of long standing in the town, and pedigree studies were made with an evaluation of the social qualities of their members. Qualities of leadership appeared in many individuals and it happens that the families selected seem to have exerted their influence largely on the side of improvement and up‐building rather than the contrary.

This study had already been undertaken in an experimental way as early as September, 1928, and has been carried on almost without interruption by Mrs. Wadman and Miss Rome of the Eugenics office.

(b). Brandon Waiting List.

The request came to the Eugenics Survey from Miss Lena Ross, Superintendent of the Rutland Reformatory for Women, for assistance in solving a serious problem, namely, the social menace and financial drain upon the state caused by short sentences at the Reformatory for women who appeared to be subnormal and who, whether they were married or not, were adding to the population children who were in many cases suspected of being subnormal.

Mrs. Wadman had spent ten full days at the Reformatory giving mental tests to the women, with the results shown in condensed form on the accompanying chart. Investigation strengthened the suspicion that the mothers and the children were subnormal. Of the 44 women tested, 77% had I.Q.'s which fall below normal limits.

A definite and highly practical opportunity for service to the state is within the reach of the Commission in this connection. The problem is, ‐‐How can it be made legal to hold these women at the Reformatory where there is plenty of room and excellent supervision and training instead of releasing them at the expiration of each short term of imprisonment? Many recidivists.

Owing to the limited capacity of the School for Feebleminded at Brandon many persons who were referred to the State Department of Public Welfare as suitable material for the School can not be admitted. A piece of investigation was begun in July and is still under way to find, out what has become of some of these people ‐‐ what has been the result of the state's inability to segregate them. Yet are not ready to draw any generalizations to date, except to say that we agree with Dr. Allen in his conjecture that the most dangerous case amongst the feebleminded are very apt to escape being referred to the state at all.

2. Population Studies. Budget $4,300, This sub‐committee on population changes has employed Miss Genieve Lamson of the faculty of Vassar College for a year's study. Professor Sholes of the Department of Sociology, Middlebury College, is Chairman of the sub‐committee.

Miss Lamson began her work September 17th in the vicinity of Randolph studying farm families with special reference to the social and economic levels, the ancestry, length of residence in this country and in the state.

The waves of migration from Canada and from migration ports that have penetrated into the rural areas of Vermont have in many places resulted in a greater or less degree of substitution of new blood for old. The study will attempt to show the extent to which this substitution appears to have been beneficial or detrimental to agriculture, industry, and community life.

This will be one of the divisions of the Comprehensive Survey that will cooperate with a considerable number of other divisions. The bearing of the racial characteristics of the stock upon religious, educational, industrial, literary and living standards, and other aspects of the general study will necessitate close cooperation with all of these committees. The areas to be investigated will have to be chosen with exceptional care in order that they may be as typical of the entire state as possible.

What sort of Vermonters do the French Canadians or the Finns make? What numbers must be added to the United States Census reports on the numbers of French Canadians, Finns, etc. in order to show the second generation derivations? This question of course implies that in some racial groups more then others there is a tendency to hurry into Americanism, representing themselves as being Americans whereas they have but recently migrated from some other country.

3. Study of the Care of the Handicapped. Budget $4,000. This Committee has employed Miss Mary V. Bolton, formerly with the National Catholic Welfare Conference and the American Red Cross to conduct the field work. The present state, county and town programs for care of paupers, orphans, neglected children, and other unfortunate members of society are being subjected to comparative examination and and evaluation is being attempted of the methods in use in various parts of Vermont, particularly the rural areas, and these are being compared with the similar efforts in the larger centers of Vermont and with those obtained in other states. The study is at present being limited to the Poor Laws as administered by town relief.

The wealth of material already collected by the Bureau of Municipal Affairs of Norwich University under the supervision of Professor Flint, much of the work having been done by him personally, is being drawn upon extensively. The Committee gladly acknowledges its obligation to the State Department of Public Welfare also for unlimited opportunity for the examination of material in its files.

Dyer: Would anyone like to ask Professor Perkins any questions regarding this report? Professor Perkins has been connected with the Eugenics Survey for the last two or three years and is amply qualified to answer any questions along that line. If there are no questions, we will pass on to the next report, which is on Rural‐Urban Relations. Mrs. Coolidge will give this report.