STUDY OF OLD AMERICANS 



Dr. Ales Hrdlicka 

 Curator, Division of Physical Anthropology, U. S. National Museum, 



Washineton, D. C. 



OF THE many ethnic groups 

 which are now entering into the 

 foi-mation of the American na- 

 tion, the least known to science 

 is that of the old white American. By 

 the "old American" is meant the lineal 

 descendant of American parentage, on 

 both the father's and mother's side, for 

 at least three generations; in other 

 words, he who is not merely himiself a 

 native of the United States, but whose 

 father and mother and both grand- 

 fathers as well as both grandmothers, 

 were born in this country. This old and 

 most important stock has never been 

 studied exclusively. How strong is it 

 in numbers' What physical changes, 

 if any, have been wrought in its repre- 

 sentatives by the new environment, the 

 more strenuous mode of life, and the 

 mixture of the various elements of 

 which it is composed ? Has it been chang- 

 ing so far as its anatomical and physiolo- 

 gical characteristics are concerned har- 

 moniously with the old world stocks 

 from which it arose, or has it progressed 

 differently? Does it tend towards a 

 new subtype of the white race, as has 

 often been suggested? What are the 

 average stature, weight, head and chest 

 dimensions, temperature, pulse rate, 

 respiration and muscular strength of 

 these old Americans? What the pre- 

 vailing color of their eyes and hair? 

 In order to approach a definite answer 

 to these and other questions which are 

 of wide national interest, as well as 

 scientific importance; and in order also 

 to establish much needed standards for 

 future comparisons, there are being 

 carried out in the Division of Physical 

 Anthropology of the U. S. National 

 Museum, a series of scrupulously careful 

 tests and measurements on healthy 

 adult Americans of three or more genera- 

 tions, of both sexes, and of between 24 

 and 60 years of age. Persons fulfilling 



the requirements indicated above and 

 wishing to forward the investigations 

 in question are respectfully invited to 

 present themselves, when convenient, for 

 examination. The study, to be of real 

 value, must extend over at least 200 

 men and 150 women, and it would be 

 difficult to reach these numbers without 

 the voluntary aid of those interested. 

 No selection of subjects is called for 

 outside of the above named stipulations, 

 namely: that they shall be healthy, 

 between 24 and 60 years of age, and on 

 both sides American for at least three 

 generations. The examinations are 

 conducted under my own direction, and 

 those who wish to present themselves 

 for the measurements may do so at any 

 time between 9.00 and 4.30 p. m., or by 

 ap]3ointment after 4.30. The whole 

 examiination lasts but a little over a 

 quarter of an hour, and no unusual 

 exposure of the person is called for, 

 with the exception of removing the 

 shoes while the height of the body is 

 measured, and in ladies the loosening 

 of the hair for the measurements of the 

 head. No names will be published in the 

 final analysis and publication of the 

 data. The original data will be kept in 

 the U. S. National Museum and will be 

 available to all of those who have been 

 measured, and to their children. 



The measurements comprise those of 

 stature, head, face, chest (over the 

 clothing), ear, hand and foot; tests 

 are made of the muscular strength; the 

 temperature, pulse and respiration are 

 recorded; and the examination termi- 

 nates with a few observations of the 

 color of the hair, eyes, and the most 

 distinguishing marks of the features. 



The laboratory of the Division of 

 Physical Anthropology is located in the 

 new building of the National Museum; 

 telephone number. Main 1811, branch 

 89. 



509 



