OCTOBEB 11, 1912] 



SCIENCE 



481 



Data are especially meager on three groups 

 of subjects : 



1. Antecedent personal history making for 

 knowledge of ancestry, and inheritance, in- 

 cluding salient characteristics of individuals 

 and the family. 



2. Earliest phenomena of growth and de- 

 velopment, including traits, tendencies, tastes, 

 etc., constituting " infant records," which 

 should be carefully registered at the time of 

 observation. 



3. Personal history of each member of the 

 family from birth to present age and from all 

 reputable sources; not only of the phenomena 

 of infantile and later development and 

 changes, but also accurate data on physical 

 and other disorders, illnesses, accidents, re- 

 pairs, corrections, etc. 



Only by the aid of light thus shed is it pos- 

 sible to form present or future determinations. 



In a complete registration many other points 

 should be covered, such as: full and accurate 

 accounts of illnesses, injuries, peculiar phys- 

 ical and mental occurrences, when they occur; 

 and, equally important, the nature and char- 

 acter of repairs or corrections, when made. 

 All these are of vast utility to the individual. 



The foregoing category of findings, if made 

 of a large number of individuals and on a 

 uniform system, would, it is obvious, consti- 

 tute invaluable data for use by the scientific 

 research worker, especially the physiologist, 

 the psychologist, eugenist, human-economist 

 and sundry others. 



There is yet another grouping of facts de- 

 serving of encouragement: no less than what 

 may be included in the term, " special hap- 

 penings." This may embrace the whole realm 

 of momentous incidents, memorabilia, liberally 

 interpreted. Among these may be mentioned 

 lines of education pursued, special types and 

 kinds of training, evidences of predilections, 

 aptitudes as they appear, develop or change; 

 decisions made, purposes carried out well or 

 ill, volitions, vocations, scholastic records, etc. 



Finally it may be said, there are few or 

 none but would welcome and make use, less 

 or more, of such records, did they exist ready 

 made. 



Whatever is thus worthy is worth the effort 

 to construct. It would contribute much to 

 pleasure, satisfaction, sustained and increas- 

 ing interest and self-respect. 



The practical utility of such annals to each 

 one is clear. As a contribution to scientific 

 data a few thousands such would prove price- 

 less. 



I would suggest that the head of each and 

 every family, however small, keep an accurate, 

 succinct record of essential facts and opinions. 

 In order that these should be uniform the book 

 should contain carefully prepared blanks, 

 questionnaires, memoranda of salient points, 

 etc., which should in each instance be covered 

 to make the records complete. 



Such a family history register I have care- 

 fully outlined, with kind help from eminent 

 specialists in biology, psychology, eugenics, 

 economics, euthenics, clinical medicine and 

 genealogy. No family record book has as yet 

 been published which altogether meets popular 

 requirements. The " life history album " of 

 Sir Francis Galton is unsurpassed for purely 

 scientific findings, but not adapted to popular 

 use. There are many excellent " baby books " 

 of limited scope, chiefly sentimental. 



To serve domestic and economic as well as 

 scientific purposes, blanks and questionnaires 

 should cover (concisely) pretty much all points 

 in human interests, otherwise it will be difiicult 

 to induce heads of families to realize the 

 practical advantages accruing, which are of the 

 utmost value, and to take interest in making 

 the notes. 



Wide cooperation is essential ; scattered data 

 are valueless ; many thousands of facts are re- 

 quired. 



In an ideal register several features must be 

 included appealing to sentiment, obvious util- 

 ity and commendable self-complacency. For 

 popular acceptance certain points are desirable, 

 comprising, among others : 



Blanks for index (including marriages, 

 births, deaths, dates, places, etc., with page 

 references to additional inscriptions in the 

 book). 



Chart for genealogy (e. g., to aboiit the 

 eighth generation — direct ascendants' names 



