Paul Popenoe

Paul Popenoe, 1931

Paul Bowman Popenoe (October 16, 1888 – June 19, 1979) was an American agronomist, eugenicist, and marriage counselor. He was a prominent figure in the early 20th century eugenics movement in the United States and later became a pioneer in the field of marriage counseling.

Early Life and Education

Paul Popenoe was born in Topeka, Kansas, and grew up in California. He attended the University of Southern California but did not complete his degree. Instead, he pursued studies in agriculture and horticulture.

Career in Eugenics

Popenoe initially worked as an agronomist, focusing on the cultivation of date palms in the Coachella Valley of California. However, he is best known for his work in the field of eugenics. In the early 20th century, Popenoe became a leading advocate for eugenics in the United States, promoting the idea of improving the human race through selective breeding.

He co-authored the book Applied Eugenics with Roswell Hill Johnson in 1918, which became a standard text in the field. Popenoe was also involved with the Human Betterment Foundation, an organization that promoted eugenic sterilization laws in the United States.

Transition to Marriage Counseling

In the 1930s, Popenoe shifted his focus from eugenics to marriage counseling. He founded the American Institute of Family Relations in Los Angeles, which became one of the first organizations dedicated to the study and promotion of healthy marriages. Popenoe's work in this field helped to establish marriage counseling as a recognized profession.

Legacy

Paul Popenoe's legacy is complex, as he made significant contributions to both the controversial field of eugenics and the more socially accepted field of marriage counseling. His early work in eugenics has been widely criticized, but his later contributions to marriage counseling have had a lasting impact.

Selected Works

• Applied Eugenics (1918) - co-authored with Roswell Hill Johnson
• Modern Marriage (1925)
• Marriage: Before and After (1930)

See Also

• Eugenics in the United States
• Human Betterment Foundation
• Marriage counseling