Theodore Lothrop Stoddard was an American historian, political scientist, and journalist, born on June 29, 1883, in Brookline, Massachusetts. He was educated at Harvard University, where he received his degree in 1914, and at Boston University earlier. Stoddard is perhaps best known for his controversial writings, which espoused eugenics, white supremacy, and scientific racism. He advocated for Nordicism and racial hierarchy, believing in the superiority of the so-called Nordic race. Stoddard's most infamous work, The Rising Tide of Color Against White World-Supremacy, expressed his fear of racial mixing and the perceived threat of non-white populations to Western civilization. His ideas on race and eugenics were influential during the early 20th century, particularly among groups advocating for racial purity and eugenic policies. Stoddard was also a board member of the American Birth Control League, reflecting his interest in controlling population growth based on his racist ideologies. He died on May 1, 1950, in Washington, D.C., leaving behind a legacy of controversial and widely discredited views on race and society.
