Making Broad Shoulders

Body-Building and Physical Culture in Chicago 1890–1920

Bibliographic Data

ID9882145
AuthorsDavid S Churchill (0000-0003-4576-8120, University of Manitoba, corresponding author)
Year2008
Volume48
Issue3
Pages341-370
Publication date2008-08-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueHistory of Education Quarterly (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0018-2680 • E-ISSN: 1748-5959
PublisherCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1111/j.1748-5959.2008.00155.x
OpenAlexW1982408396
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited25

In February 1899, the Committee of Physical Culture of the Chicago Public School Board approved an intensive “anthropometric” study of all children enrolled in the city's public schools. The study was a detailed attempt to measure the height, weight, strength, lung capacity, hearing, and general fitness of Chicago's student population. Through 1899 and 1900, thousands of Chicago's primary, grammar, and high school students had their bodies closely scrutinized, measured, weighed, tested, and, in a few cases, diagrammed. What the School Board members wanted to know was the “fitness” of the student body. Were Chicago public school students—many recently arrived immigrants from eastern and southern Europe—vital and vigorous children who could become energetic modern workers and citizens (Figure 1)

Anthropometry · Grammar school · Immigration · Medical education · Pedagogy · Physical culture · Physical fitness · Physical therapy · Political science · Population · Shoulders · Sociology · Demography · French Historical and Cultural Studies · Historical Education Studies Worldwide · Historical Gender and Feminism Studies · Law · Medicine · Psychology · Gerontology

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