An Investigation of the Attitude
of
Persons on Relief toward Increase in Their Families

Proposed by
The American Eugenics Society

## Reasons for Investigation

Careful studies by the Milbank Fund, the United States Public Health Service, and Professor S. A. Stouffer in Milwaukee show that families on relief now have a birthrate approximately 50 per cent higher than that of families of similar social status who still hold their jobs. The general birthrate is lower than ever before, but among people on relief there appears to have been no drop and more probably a rise. Evidently, then, the birthrate has fallen markedly among the reliable people who are still at work. They are reducing their families in order to pay heavy taxes for the support of the constantly growing families of their less competent or less fortunate neighbors who are out of work.

## Specific Purpose of Investigation

In order to plan wisely concerning this situation we must know not only what is happening to the birthrate, but what frame of mind prevails among the families on relief, especially among the women. Therefore, it is proposed to study typical samples of families on relief in order to answer the following questions:

1. How many children have been born during and before the period when the family was on relief?

2. Did the parents wish to have these children?

3. Do the parents wish more children?

4. What means, if any, have been used to limit the number of children?

5. Do the parents wish for information as to how to limit their families?

January 29, 1935

Mr. Arthur Packard
Rockefeller Center
49 West 49th Street
New York, New York

Dear Mr. Packard:

Although my work has been chiefly a study of the ef-
fect of geographic environment, as illustrated in my book on
Civilization and Climate, I have inevitably found myself in-
creasingly interested in the great problems of population.

During the past few months I have been almost com-
pelled to take an active interest in the problem of what we are
to do to check the rising birthrate among people who are on re-
lief. The worst phase of the matter, to my mind, is that this
rising birthrate among people who, on the whole, belong to the
less competent elements of our population is directly corre-
lated with the falling birthrate among the enterprising people who
are still holding their jobs and paying the taxes which sup-
port the others.

I have reached the point where I want to make an ef-
fort to see some concrete action taken. The first thing to do
is to get a more reliable and extensive set of facts. I should
like to talk with you about this problem. I shall be in New
York on Thursday, January 31. Can you see me at some time that
day after eleven o'clock, or preferably after twelve? I shall
be most grateful if you can wire your answer to me at Yale Uni-
versity as soon as possible.

EH:JS

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DR ELLSWORTH HUNTINGTON, DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SCIENCES:

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SORRY IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE YOU THIS AFTERNOON:
ARTHUR W PACKARD.

1935 NOV 15 AM 11 28

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