University of Edinburgh Archive and Manuscript Collections

"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

"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

"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

"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

"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."

"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.

'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

'This man is "definitely and visibly mental", is 40+ but looks 16, small and undersized. He is illegitimate. He lives with a farmer's widow and does a little work on the farm. Dr says this man is epileptic. His father is half-brother of 19.25.'

"This woman is called "glaikit" by Dr. She is a big strong woman, looks simple. She works as a farm servant. She is illegitimate, her father was a coachman. Housing, 2 roomed lower part of a cottage, damp and tiny, clean. Family relationships inharmonious, much noise and quarrelling. She has not been able to bring her children up properly or to give them the attention they require as she has been out to work all the time."

Relatives in survey: son 2.1

"This girl is said to be an MD. She lives with her mother and has an illegitimate child. They are a queer family and keep to themselves. She is able to work on munitions. Two roomed cottage. Dr says this girl seemed definitely defective though she was able to work on munitions. The Registrar thought she looked quite smart."