University of Edinburgh Archive and Manuscript Collections

Scope and Contents

"This girl had an IQ of 74. She is now a maid. Reconditioned house, 2 rooms and kitchen for 5, clean. Family relations harmonious. Dr considers this girl quite bright with a good vocabulary. [Female informant] says she is a very good girl, supersensitive, always ready to burst into tears, rather slow."

Relatives in survey: 2.53, 2.4, 2.5

Scope and Contents

"Imbecile, cannot walk properly - crawls - can't talk, only a few swear words. Tongue sticks out. Father a ploughman. Seems OK. Mother, 43, a big stout woman, untidy but bright looking. Big, fat and genial. Five siblings, older, OK. Two roomed cottage, very poor. [Male informant] confirms, a backward crowd. Nurse says no mentality at all. PC thinks the rest are OK. Confirms this boy is on Dr's list [of certified defectives]."

Relatives in survey: Brother 3.2

Scope and Contents

"Dull boy, only in Primary 1. Parents farm workers. Poor home, condemned house. Nurse confirms but thinks he looks all right."

Relatives in survey: brother 3.1

Scope and Contents

"This woman is a bad type, used to be a prostitute. Goitre. Mother aged over 50, a character. Father, hare lip and cleft palate, speaks very bad, 60+. Husband a general labourer, dermatitis ++. child with cleft palate and harelip - has had a partial repair. Housing: awful, tiny bedroom and a kitchen like a dungeon. Fairly clean."

Relatives in survey: Husband 11.62, sibling, father

Scope and Contents

"This girl was not bright at school, was slow, just dull. She is now working as a domestic on a farm. [Male informant] says the children are not bright but will be good enough for farm or domestic service. Nurse says this family is a very nice one. Three rooms, clean. Dr says this is a good family, decent parents."

Relatives in survey: 12.8

Scope and Contents

"IQ 7-. nearly illiterate. A grand hand with sheep, now in the army. Lives in a very lonely place and only came to school when he was 7. Queer-looking boy. Clean house, not overcrowded."

Scope and Contents

"This boy had an IQ of 71. He was very backward at shoool, would not stand correction. Has had several jobs. Would not stay in the house unless his mother was there. "Weakness on both sides". House clean, not overcrowded. Dr. is doubtful about the inclusion of this boy."

Sister in study (15.4).

Scope and Contents

"This boy is very backward, chiefly as a result of having been at 11 schools. Can read a bit. Father, ploughman and cattleman. Mother, about 40, queer looking. Sibs: older brother has left school, working on a farm. Younger brother, 7 "completely mental" has something with his spine and has to go to Edinburgh periodically. Three roomed cottage for 5. Seen by P.S.W."

Father (15.6) in study.

Scope and Contents 'This old lady used to be a housekeeper, stole a sum of money and served a term of imprisonment. She is a bad spoken old thing and a disturber of the peace. She lives alone with a dog in a tumble down one roomed cottage with only a tiny bit of window and practically no furniture. [Male informant] has been trying to get her to move but she won't. Brother a waterwatcher, sister a housekeeper, keeps her in clothes. [Male informant] says she is a silly creature, puts stories about. Very...

Scope and Contents

'This man was seen by PSW - seemed simple and almost childish, very talkative about himself. Was 17 years in one job then developed heart trouble, cannot do anything heavy. Was a paid fire watcher for a time, now a cleaner. Takes drops at night for his heart. [Male informant] confirms - he is queer and soft, not 100%. He lives alone in a little wooden hut.'

Relatives in survey: 19.7, 22.3, 19.25