{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,28]],"date-time":"2026-04-28T10:38:02Z","timestamp":1777372682289,"version":"3.51.4"},"reference-count":48,"publisher":"SAGE Publications","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2021,3,1]],"date-time":"2021-03-01T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1614556800000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/page\/policies\/text-and-data-mining-license"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["journals.sagepub.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Academic Forensic Pathology"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2021,3]]},"abstract":"<jats:p>Established in 1929, Northwestern University\u2019s Scientific Crime Detection Laboratory (SCDL), America\u2019s first independent forensic crime laboratory, undertook a wide range of scientific case work during the 1930s, including toxicology, firearms identification, polygraph testing, the analysis of questioned documents and bacteriology; its mission being to provide Chicago with a world-class forensic science service. Alongside this mission, however, a key ambition of the SCDL\u2019s founders was to forensically educate police officers, legal professionals, and the general public. Convinced that American police were largely ignorant of scientific aids to crime detection and that the public\u2019s lack of forensic awareness led to the destruction and contamination of crime scenes, the SCDL attempted to fashion itself as a \u201cschool for manhunters.\u201d But, while the laboratory\u2019s ambitious program of public talks, scientific demonstrations, detective schools, expositions, and radio programs were intended to foster the creation of both a scientifically savvy public and policemen on par with those to be found in Europe, the SCDL encountered a number of significant hurdles to achieving these goals, including the hostility of some high-ranking police officials.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1177\/19253621211002515","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2021,4,5]],"date-time":"2021-04-05T12:06:54Z","timestamp":1617624414000},"page":"52-67","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/sage-journals-update-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Teaching Forensic Science to the American Police and Public: The Scientific Crime Detection Laboratory, 1929-1938"],"prefix":"10.1177","volume":"11","author":[{"given":"Heather","family":"Wolffram","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"179","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2021,4,5]]},"reference":[{"key":"bibr1-19253621211002515","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.2307\/1147253"},{"key":"bibr2-19253621211002515","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.2307\/1147323"},{"key":"bibr3-19253621211002515","unstructured":"Barbara KA. Scientific to the last degree: Northwestern\u2019s scientific crime detection laboratory and the progressive battle against crime [master\u2019s thesis]. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University; 1997, pp. 36; 79; 83\u201388; 98; 122\u2013123."},{"key":"bibr4-19253621211002515","first-page":"6","volume":"11","author":"A School for Manhunters at University","year":"1930","journal-title":"Milwaukee J"},{"key":"bibr5-19253621211002515","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.2307\/1147252"},{"key":"bibr6-19253621211002515","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.2307\/1147257"},{"key":"bibr7-19253621211002515","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.2307\/1133787"},{"key":"bibr8-19253621211002515","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.4159\/9780674054066"},{"key":"bibr9-19253621211002515","unstructured":"Appendix to Committee\u2019s Report: Record of Calvin Goddard. Located at: N.U. Archives; John H. Wigmore (J.H.W.) Papers, Box 103, Folder 7."},{"key":"bibr10-19253621211002515","unstructured":"Carte GE, Carte EH. Police Reform in the United States: The Era of August Vollmer, 1905-1932. University of California Press. 1975: 1\u20133, 8\u20139, 67."},{"key":"bibr11-19253621211002515","first-page":"46","volume-title":"Police in Urban Society","volume":"40","author":"Haller MH","year":"1970"},{"key":"bibr12-19253621211002515","unstructured":"Memo: May 17, 1929. Located at: N.U. Archives; J.H.W Papers, Box 103, Folder 6."},{"key":"bibr13-19253621211002515","unstructured":"Bundesen H. Letter to: Massee B. A. June 21, 1929. Located at: N.U. Archives; J.H.W Papers, Box 103, Folder 6."},{"key":"bibr14-19253621211002515","unstructured":"The Massee Crime Detection Laboratory Project. Faculty Committee Report, June 1, 1929. Located at: N.U. Archives; J.H.W Papers, Box 103, Folder 6; Memorandum of Agreement between Scientific Crime Detection Laboratory, Inc. and Northwestern University. July 9, 1929. Located at: N.U. Archives; J.H.W Papers, Box 103, Folder 6."},{"key":"bibr15-19253621211002515","unstructured":"Scientific Crime Detection Laboratory, Affiliated with Northwestern University. Bulletin No. 4: A List of the Various Types of Service which the Laboratory is prepared to Render, with a Description of some of its Activities. Northwestern Uni. Bullet. 1932 February 8; 32(24). Located at: N.U. Archives; SCDL, General Folder."},{"key":"bibr16-19253621211002515","unstructured":"Scientific Crime Detection Laboratory, Affiliated with Northwestern University, Bulletin No. 1: Some Figures from the Annual Report of the Director, 1929-30. Dec 22, 1930;31(17). Located at: N.U. Archives; SCDL, General Folder."},{"key":"bibr17-19253621211002515","unstructured":"Managing director\u2019s report for June 1933. Located at: N.U. Archives; L.G. Papers, Box 17, Folder 3."},{"key":"bibr18-19253621211002515","unstructured":"Monthly Report, April 1935. Located at: N.U. Archives; L.G. Papers, Box 17, Folder 4."},{"key":"bibr19-19253621211002515","unstructured":"Scientific Crime Detection Laboratory. Nov 25, 1931; Located at: N.U. Archives; Walter Dill Scott (W.D.S.) Papers, Box 35, Folder 5."},{"key":"bibr20-19253621211002515","unstructured":"Dyche WA. Letter to: Bert Massee. April 11, 1932 . Located at: N.U. Archives; J.H.W. Papers, Box 103, Folder 8."},{"key":"bibr21-19253621211002515","unstructured":"Proposal of Transfer of Scientific Crime Detection Laboratory to Northwestern University. September 26, 1933. Located at: N.U. Archives; J.H.W. Papers, Box 103, Folder 8."},{"key":"bibr22-19253621211002515","unstructured":"Wigmore JH. Letter to: Walter Dill Scott. March 19, 1938. Located at: N.U. Archives; J.H.W. Papers, Box 103, Folder 8. Horner H. Letter to JH Wigmore. June 13, 1938. Located at: N.U. Archives; J.H.W. Papers, Box 103, Folder 8."},{"key":"bibr23-19253621211002515","unstructured":"Report of the Managing Director, Scientific Crime Detection Laboratory, Chicago. For the period November 15, 1929 to December 15, 1930, p. 9. Located at: N.U. Archives; SCDL, General Files."},{"key":"bibr24-19253621211002515","unstructured":"Police to See Scientific Crime Detection Devices, Including Lie Detector. Evening Independent. September 19, 1931:1."},{"key":"bibr25-19253621211002515","unstructured":"To Give Crime Detection Talk. Schenectady Gazette. Nov 19, 1936."},{"key":"bibr26-19253621211002515","unstructured":"Majority would steal, crime expert declares. Milwaukee Journal. 26 April, 1938: 15."},{"key":"bibr27-19253621211002515","first-page":"1","volume":"1","year":"1930","journal-title":"Am J Police Sci"},{"key":"bibr28-19253621211002515","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.2307\/1147342"},{"key":"bibr29-19253621211002515","unstructured":"Observations upon the conduct of several departments of the laboratory [n.d., but likely 1931]. Located at: N.U. Archives; J.H.W. Papers, Box 103, Folder 7."},{"key":"bibr30-19253621211002515","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.2307\/1147305"},{"key":"bibr31-19253621211002515","first-page":"179","volume":"2","author":"The first class in scientific crime detection held in Chicago","year":"1931","journal-title":"Am J Police Sci"},{"key":"bibr32-19253621211002515","unstructured":"Jenkins LV. (Chief of Police, City of Portland, Oregon). Letter to: John Henry Wigmore. June 15, 1929. Located at: N.U. Archives; J.H.W Papers, Box 103, Folder 12."},{"key":"bibr33-19253621211002515","unstructured":"Green L. Letter to: Walter Dill Scott. December 7, 1931. Located at: N.U. Archives; WDS papers, Box 35, Folder 5."},{"key":"bibr34-19253621211002515","unstructured":"Modern Methods of Crime Detection by John H. Wigmore and Leonarde Keeler. Broadcast December 29, 1934 over the Columbia Broadcasting System. Located at: N.U. Archives; J.H.W. Papers, Box 103, Folder 13."},{"key":"bibr35-19253621211002515","unstructured":"August Vollmer: Pioneer in Police Professionalism: Oral History Transcript and related material, 1972-1983: 10. Located at: N.U. Archives; Fred E. Inbau (F.E.I.) papers, Box 1, Folder 12."},{"key":"bibr36-19253621211002515","unstructured":"Inbau FE. Science versus the criminal. NU Alum. N. January 1935. Located at: N.U. Archives; SCDL, General Folder."},{"key":"bibr37-19253621211002515","first-page":"930","volume":"52","author":"Dunn HH","year":"1929","journal-title":"Pop Mech"},{"issue":"2","key":"bibr38-19253621211002515","first-page":"13","volume":"119","author":"Teale EW","year":"1931","journal-title":"Pop Sci Mon"},{"key":"bibr39-19253621211002515","unstructured":"Real Cop Swats Scientific Nuts: Super Sleuths not worth 10 cents in 10 years. Spokesman Review. 1930 Aug 6: 17."},{"key":"bibr40-19253621211002515","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.2307\/1147360"},{"key":"bibr41-19253621211002515","first-page":"602","volume":"17","author":"Baker NF","year":"1932","journal-title":"Minnesota Law Rev"},{"key":"bibr42-19253621211002515","unstructured":"School founded by Garage Killings. Reading Eagle. 1937 Aug 4: 32."},{"key":"bibr43-19253621211002515","unstructured":"Collier R. Crime Detection Laboratory Gives U.S. First Scientific School of Training for Detectives. Milwaukee Journal. 1931 2 July; Collier R. Crime Detection Hall Guarded: Sherlock Holmes was Right Scientists Now Prove. Milwaukee Journal. 1931 3 July: 13; Collier R. Ghastly Weapons of Crimes are Keys to Solve New Mysteries. Spokesman Review. 1931 30 June: 2; Collier R. Crime Detectors work with Wax Casts in Clearing up Cases Today. Spokesman Review. 1931 1 July: 2; Collier R. Lie Detector is Recognized by Chicago\u2019s New Crime School. Spokesman Review. 1931 2 Jul; 9; Collier R. Beat pounder of Past Police Days Giving Way to Science. Spokesman Review, 1931 3 Jul."},{"key":"bibr44-19253621211002515","unstructured":"May 1936 Report. Located at: N.U. Archives; L.G. Papers, Box 17, Folder 4."},{"key":"bibr45-19253621211002515","unstructured":"The World\u2019s Fair Police Exhibit. Police 13-13. June: 8-11, 1933. Located at: N.U. Archives; SCDL, General Files."},{"key":"bibr46-19253621211002515","unstructured":"Science puts an end to the \u2018Perfect Crime\u2019. World\u2019s Fair Wkly. June 1933: 9-11. Located at: N.U. Archives; SCDL, General Files."},{"key":"bibr47-19253621211002515","unstructured":"Located at: N.U. Archives; L.G. Papers, Box 17, Folder 4"},{"key":"bibr48-19253621211002515","unstructured":"Scott Walter Dill. Letter to: Colonel Calvin Goddard, n.d. 1931. Located at: N.U. Archives; W.D.S. 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