Physiological Age vs. Chronological Age photograph, c. 1901

Item Information

Title:
Physiological Age vs. Chronological Age photograph, c. 1901
Description:
This photo has two unidentified shirtless boys wearing dress pants and shoes. They are standing back to back; the one on the left is significantly shorter with poor posture while the one on the right is significantly taller with good posture. Notes on the back seem to indicate that the boy on the right is chronologically younger than the boy on the left, though he looks physiologically older. Charles Ward Crampton (May 26, 1877 - 1964), director of Physical Training for New York public schools, took this photograph in 1901. He studied the differences between physiological and chronological age, and with this information he created three categories: (1) Boys arrived at puberty--postpubescent; (2) boys approaching maturity--pubescent; (3) boys not yet approaching maturity--prepubescent. From this he decided that physiological age should be considered in grading, not only for physical culture classes but for all high school or continuation classes.
Creator:
Crampton, C. Ward (Charles Ward), 1877-1964
Date:
[1901?]
Format:
Photographs
Location:
Springfield College Archives and Special Collections
Collection (local):
College Archives Digital Collections
Series:
C. Ward Crampton Papers > b
Subjects:
Crampton, C. Ward (Charles Ward), 1877-1964
Link to Item:
https://cdm16122.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/p15370coll2/id/2348
Terms of Use:
Text and images are owned, held, or licensed by Springfield College and are available for personal, non-commercial, and educational use, provided that ownership is properly cited. A credit line is required and should read: Courtesy of Springfield College, Babson Library, Archives and Special Collections. Any commercial use without written permission from Springfield College is strictly prohibited. Other individuals or entities other than, and in addition to, Springfield College may also own copyrights and other propriety rights. The publishing, exhibiting, or broadcasting party assumes all responsibility for clearing reproduction rights and for any infringement of United States copyright law.
Contact host institution for more information.
Publisher:
Springfield College
Language:
English
Notes:
Crampton was a physician, medical researcher, and teacher. Born in New York City, he attended the College of the City of New York, New York University, and in 1900 graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York. His major contributions to the medical field include work with geriatrics and gerontology, adolescent hygiene and physical fitness, posture, and blood pressure and circulatory systems. He created what is today known as the Crampton Test or the Crampton Test for Fatal Shock, which measures the physical condition and resistance of one’s pulse and blood pressure in the resting and standing positions. Crampton was a major in the U.S. Army Medical Reserve and acted as Special Adviser to the U.S. Department of the East during World War I. From 1934 to 1937, Crampton regularly wrote columns for the Boy Scouts of America’s magazine Boys’ Life. Crampton was a strong advocate of preventative medicine and the maintenance of a personal medical record by individuals, and served as Chairman of the Committee on Physical Fitness through the Federal Security Agency, Chairman of the Committee on the Health of Adolescents, and the chairman for the sub-committee on Geriatrics and Gerontology through the medical society of New York County.
There appears to be a few water stains on the photo; Notes on back say, "Illustrating the importance of Physiological Age; The Tall boy is younger in chronological (?) age than the short boy.; 16-1; 15-6m; Picture taken at H.S. of Commerce moved 1905."
Identifier:
ms510-01-b-01-07-001