The history of the eugenics movement in the United States, from its inception in the decades following the Civil War through its height in the first few decades of the 20th century, is traced on this website. As we move into the age of genetics, this movement, that sought to filter "bad" traits from the human population, becomes increasingly important to understand.

The movement's history is told through a narrative divided into eight themes, including social and scientific origins, research methods and traits studied, flaws in these methods, ways in which the movement was popularized, immigration restriction, and marriage and sterilization laws. Each narrative is accompanied by roughly 10 primary sources—reports, articles, charts, legal documents, and photographs. These materials provide a succinct introduction to eugenics in the U.S.

In addition to the narratives, visitors can search or browse the Image Archive, featuring more than 2,000 primary sources, including documents, artwork, photographs, and more. Visitors may browse by topic, object type, time period, or the archive sources' originals are held by, or search by keyword or ID number. Note that primary sources cannot be downloaded from the Flash version of the Archive, though they can be from the HTML version of the site.

Presents more than 200 items—including 51 articles, 28 lectures, 84 letters, and 35 photographs—by and about the Nobel-winning geneticist Barbara McClintock (1902–1992). Through experiments with maize in the 1920s and 1930s, McClintock discovered that genetic changes occur when chromosomes break and recombine, a process called "crossing over." In the 1950s, upon finding that genes "jump" around, she investigated the effects of transposable genetic elements.

The site includes an exhibit divided into seven chronological sections with a 4,000-word essay presenting McClintock's career highlights, accompanied by links to relevant documents and visuals. Materials in the collection can be retrieved through searches—basic and also geared to scientists—and in chronological and alphabetical listings. Valuable for serious students of genetics as well as those studying the history of American science and professional women.