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Eugenics in Comparative Perspective: Explaining Manitoba and Alberta’S Divergence on Eugenics Policy, 1910S to the 1930S

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Eugenics in Comparative Perspective: Explaining Manitoba and Alberta’S Divergence on Eugenics Policy, 1910S to the 1930S University of Calgary PRISM: University of Calgary's Digital Repository Graduate Studies The Vault: Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2019-01-22 Eugenics in Comparative Perspective: Explaining Manitoba and Alberta’s Divergence on Eugenics Policy, 1910s to the 1930s Kurbegović, Erna Kurbegović, E. (2019). Eugenics in Comparative Perspective: Explaining Manitoba and Alberta’s Divergence on Eugenics Policy, 1910s to the 1930s (Unpublished doctoral thesis). University of Calgary, Calgary, AB. http://hdl.handle.net/1880/109868 doctoral thesis University of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission. Downloaded from PRISM: https://prism.ucalgary.ca UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY Eugenics in Comparative Perspective: Explaining Manitoba and Alberta’s Divergence on Eugenics Policy, 1910s to the 1930s by Erna Kurbegović A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF GRADUATE STUDIES IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY GRADUATE PROGRAM IN HISTORY CALGARY, ALBERTA JANUARY, 2019 © Erna Kurbegović 2019 Abstract This dissertation compares eugenics in Alberta and Manitoba in order to explain their divergence on sexual sterilization policy. Alberta implemented a Sexual Sterilization Act in 1928, while Manitoba rejected similar legislation in 1933. This thesis shows that Manitobans actively engaged with national and international discussions and debates about eugenics despite a lack of an official eugenics program. Eugenics was hardly monolithic and by focusing attention only on provinces with formal eugenics programs, historians miss how eugenic ideas manifested themselves in provinces without sterilization legislation, for example in mental institutions, in educational programs, and in child welfare policies. Lack of legislation does not necessarily mean that there was a lack of enthusiasm for eugenic measures. This dissertation brings a comparative aspect to the history of eugenics in Canada and demonstrates the ways in which eugenic policy was influenced at various levels by an emerging professional class of psychiatrists, by grassroots organizations, by religious groups, and by the unique local conditions including demographic, cultural, and political factors. I argue that Manitoba and Alberta shared similar concerns about “race degeneration,” “defective” immigrants, and the economic costs of running institutions, but there were important subtle differences in the political contexts of the two provinces. These differences served to empower the opposition elements to sexual sterilization in Manitoba, while in Alberta it served to empower grassroots organizations that were adjacent to the government, and at the same time weaken any political critics. A comparative perspective is valuable in understanding the history of eugenics in Canada especially because of regional differences but more importantly because each province has its own historical, social, and political traditions that help illuminate their distinct approaches to ii eugenics. The importance of a comparative perspective to the history of eugenics in Manitoba and Alberta is that it gives us insight into the political and cultural debates that occurred during the interwar period in order to better understand the forces at play and discussions regarding eugenics. Keywords: History of Medicine, Canadian History, Eugenics, Sexual Sterilization, Mental Hygiene, Manitoba, Alberta iii Acknowledgements Thank you to my supervisor, Frank Stahnisch, for his patience, support, and guidance with this project and throughout the PhD program. It has been a privilege to work with him on various projects over the past few years, and to learn from his expertise. I am also grateful to my committee members, Nancy Janovicek, Hank Stam, and George Colpitts for their feedback and suggestions on individual chapters. Thank you to my examiners, Mary-Ellen Kelm and Ted McCoy, for their belief in my work and for their constructive criticism that has greatly improved this dissertation. A special thank you to Esyllt Jones (University of Manitoba) and James Hanley (University of Winnipeg) for encouraging me to pursue a PhD, and under whose supervision the history of eugenics first piqued my interest. The research for this project would not have been possible without the very generous financial support from the Department of History at the University of Calgary, the Eleanor Luxton Foundation, and the Community University Research Alliance (CURA)-SSHRC funded project Living Archives on Eugenics in Western Canada. I joined “Living Archives” in 2011 as a Research Assistant. This was a rewarding experience as I not only engaged with an international network of scholars but also met sterilization survivors and disability activists. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to be a part of such an important project. I am very fortunate to have met so many brilliant graduate students in this doctoral program whose humour, intellect, and kindness has made the PhD journey more bearable. Thank you especially to John Woitkowitz (Anke Woitkowitz), Brianne Collins, and Kelsey Lucyk for your friendship and for the many stimulating intellectual conversations. To Beau Cleland, Aylin iv Atilla, Will Pratt, Meg Braem, Andrew McEwen, Melanie McEwen, Mikkel Dack, Rogelio Velez-Mendoza, Jessica Tannenbaum, and Shawn Brackett, thank you for making my years at the University of Calgary fun and enjoyable. To my parents, Mujo and Dijana Kurbegović, without whose love, support, and encouragement none of this would have been possible. They left our home in war-torn Yugoslavia and immigrated to Canada in hopes of offering my brother and me a better future. I owe everything to them. Mama i tata, ovo je za vas. To my brother, Edin, thank you for always making me laugh and for believing in me even when I could not always believe in myself. I am also grateful for my Toby, the most beautiful corgi-beagle mix, who always kept me smiling. To my Calgary family, Jonathan, Laura, and Aidan, thank you for making Calgary feel like home. Lastly, I owe much gratitude to my partner and fellow historian, Avram Lytton. It has not been easy with both us working to complete our PhD dissertations, but I have been very lucky to have a partner who understands this process. Even when I wanted to give up, Avram’s love and encouragement kept me moving forward. v Table of Contents Abstract……………………………………………………………………………………. ii Acknowledgements………………………………………………………………………... iv Table of Contents………………………………………………………………………….. vi List of Tables………………………………………………………………………………. viii List of Figures and Illustrations……………………………………………………………. xi Introduction………………………………………………………………………………. 1 Historiography…………………………………………………………………….. 5 Contribution……………………………………………………………………….. 15 Approach and Sources…………………………………………………………….. 16 Overview of the Chapters…………………………………………………………. 23 Chapter One: Background to Eugenics in English-Speaking Canada……………….. 26 Eugenics and Theories of Heritability…………………………………………….. 28 Towards Eugenics in Canada…………………………………………………….... 34 Early Mental Health Care in Manitoba and Alberta………………………………. 40 The Mental Hygiene Movement…………………………………………………... 44 Conclusion……………………………………………………………………….... 50 Chapter Two: Farm Women and Eugenics in Alberta and Manitoba……………….. 55 Background to the United Farm Women………………………………………….. 59 Farm Women, Eugenics, and Sexual Sterilization……………………………….... 70 Conclusion…………………………………………………………………………. 84 Chapter Three: Immigration and Eugenics…………………………………………… 87 Canadian Immigration Policy, 1896-1930………………………………………… 89 Anti-Immigration Sentiment in Manitoba……………………………………........ 95 Immigration and Eugenics in Alberta……………………………………………... 107 Conclusion……………………………………………………………………….... 114 Chapter Four: The Roman Catholic Responses to Eugenics………………………… 119 The Catholic Church in Western Canada…………………………………………. 123 Catholics and Eugenics……………………………………………………………. 126 Catholic Responses to Eugenics in Manitoba……………………………………... 129 Catholics and Eugenics in Alberta……………………………………………......... 139 vi Conclusion…………………………………………………………………………. 150 Chapter Five: Legislative Debates and Sterilization Bill……………………………… 154 Politics in Alberta and Manitoba…………………………………………………... 155 Support for Sterilization in Alberta………………………………………………... 166 Legislative Debates in Alberta……………………………………………………... 176 Medical Professionals and Support for Sterilization in Manitoba…………………. 184 Legislative Debates in Manitoba…………………………………………………... 192 Conclusion…………………………………………………………………………. 202 Conclusion………………………………………………………………………………… 207 Bibliography………………………………………………………………………………. 226 Appendix A: Sexual Sterilization Act (Alberta, 1928)……………………………………. 249 Appendix B: Mental Deficiency Act (Manitoba, 1933)…………………………………… 251 Appendix C: The Case Against Sterilization ……………………………………………... 254 Appendix D: Petition…………………………………………………………………….... 256 Appendix E: Petition……………………………………………………………………… 257 vii List of Tables Table 3.1: Population of Manitoba and Alberta………………………………………….... 95 Table 4.1: Catholic Population in Manitoba and Alberta………………………………….. 125 viii List of Figures and Illustrations Figure 1.1: Brandon Asylum………………………………………………………………. 41 Figure 1.2: Alberta Hospital for the Insane………………………………………………... 43 Figure 2.1: United Farm Women
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