Item – Theses Canada

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OCLC number
911213135
Author
Springer, Sean Patrick,1968-
Title
Eugenics in Ontario : reconsidering Catholicism, the culture of government, and postwar eugenics in the Canadian historiography.
Degree
M.A. -- Trent University, 2012
Publisher
Ottawa : Library and Archives Canada = Bibliothèque et Archives Canada, [2013]
©2012
Description
3 microfiches
Notes
Includes bibliographical references.
Abstract
This case study of eugenics in Ontario between 1927 and 1986 revisits the existing historiographical assumptions about the 1930s eugenics movement's perceived failure, using a range of archival collections and press reports. Despite impressive scholarly works, the Canadian eugenics historiography has often failed to question many of its initial hypotheses. This study challenges prior explanations that attribute much of the perceived failure of eugenicists to Catholic opposition. In Ontario, that opposition has been vastly exaggerated. Conversely, the parsimonious and cautious nature of the provincial political-bureaucratic culture offers a better explanation and reveals aspects of eugenicists' successes not immediately otherwise apparent. Thirdly, this eugenics scholarship shows an unbroken continuity of eugenics from the 1930s into recent times. This case study of Ontario offers an opportunity to question many eugenics historiographical assumptions, not just for Ontario but for any political jurisdiction, whether it had official eugenics policies or not. Key words: eugenics, eugenics historiography, Ontario, Ontario political culture, Catholic eugenics, Catholicism in Ontario, postwar eugenics, neo-eugenics
ISBN
9780494891889
0494891882