Charlotte Fowler Wells

CHARLOTTE FOWLER WELLS A woman of the century (page 768 crop)

Charlotte Fowler Wells (1814–1901) was a prominent figure in the phrenology movement in the United States. Born into the influential Fowler family, who were key proponents of phrenology, Charlotte played a significant role in popularizing this pseudoscience in America during the 19th century. Phrenology, which posits that the shape and size of the skull can determine a person's character and mental abilities, was widely popular in the 1800s despite its lack of scientific basis.

Early Life

Charlotte Fowler was born in 1814, into the Fowler family, who were instrumental in spreading the practice of phrenology across the United States. Her brothers, Orson Squire Fowler and Lorenzo Niles Fowler, were among the most famous phrenologists of their time. The Fowler family believed that phrenology could provide insights into personal development and character improvement.

Career

Charlotte Fowler Wells became deeply involved in the family business, the Fowler & Wells Phrenological Cabinet, a combination of a museum, publishing house, and consultation office located in New York City. This establishment became the center of phrenological study and practice in the United States. Charlotte, alongside her brothers, contributed to the publication of phrenological literature and managed the daily operations of the Cabinet.

In addition to her work at the Phrenological Cabinet, Charlotte was also a prolific writer and editor. She contributed to and edited the American Phrenological Journal, a publication that sought to educate the public on the principles of phrenology and its applications in personal and social reform.

Personal Life

Charlotte Fowler married Silas Wells, another phrenologist, and together they continued to promote phrenology. Despite the scientific community's growing skepticism towards phrenology, Charlotte and her family remained dedicated to its practice and principles throughout their lives.

Legacy

Charlotte Fowler Wells' contributions to the field of phrenology, although now discredited as a science, were significant in the context of 19th-century American culture. She and her family played a key role in the popularization of phrenology, influencing not only public opinion but also the development of early psychological and neurological theories.

After her death in 1901, Charlotte Fowler Wells was remembered as a pioneering woman in the field of phrenology. Her efforts in promoting and managing the Phrenological Cabinet helped establish it as a landmark institution in the history of pseudoscience in America.

See Also

• Phrenology
• Orson Squire Fowler
• Lorenzo Niles Fowler
• History of psychology