A group of Saxon soldiers and their composite

A group of Saxon soldiers and their composite

Bowditch, H. P. (Henry Pickering), 1840-1911

Eugenics

Composite photographs

Portraits

Bowditch reproduced and described this composite image of Saxon soldiers, as well as a composite image of Wend soldiers, in his article, “Are composite photographs typical pictures?” printed in McClure’s magazine in September 1894. Of them he says, “A study of the faces here presented certainly suggests the conclusion that there must be some racial peculiarities showing themselves in the composite portraits. The two composites of each race are clearly more like each other than like those of the other race, and the squarely cut jaw and brow of the Wend composites give the impression of greater vigor and strength of character than the more rounded features of the Saxons.”

Galton admired these composites; some years after Bowditch’s death, they were also displayed at the exhibition at the Second International Congress of Eugenics in 1921.

Portraits of Saxon soldiers and a composite portrait by Henry Pickering Bowditch, published in the McClure's magazine article "Are composite photographs typical pictures?" and displayed at the Second International Congress of Eugenics

Bowditch, H. P. (Henry Pickering), 1840-1911

1892

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Harvard Medical School Archives, uncataloged.

image

1 photographic print, mounted

still image

0001944

Gift of Dr. Harold Bowditch to the Library of Harvard Medical School, 1948