The development of the present project on human sexual behavior has been possible only because of the cooperation which we have had from some thousands of persons who have contributed data, professional advice, and long-time encouragement toward a continuance of the program. Especial mention can be made of only a few of those who have been peculiarly involved in the support of the project.
Dr. Herman B Wells, President of Indiana University, Dr. Herman T. Briscoe, Vice President of the University, Dr. Fernandus Payne, formerly head of the Department of Zoology and Dean of the Graduate School, the Trustees of the University, and many others in the administration of Indiana University have believed in the importance of this research and constantly encouraged and materially supported it through a long period of years.
During the past twelve years, the National Research Council’s Committee for Research on Problems of Sex has provided financial support, constant encouragement, and a considerable amount of professional guidance. We are especially indebted to Dr. Robert M. Yerkes and Dr. George W. Corner who have successively been chairmen of that Committee.
The Rockefeller Foundation has contributed through grants made to the National Research Council’s Committee. We are especially indebted to Dr. Alan Gregg, formerly Director for the Medical Sciences of the Foundation, for his long-time interest and support of the project.
As consulting editors, Jerome Cornfield, Dr. Harold Dorn, Dr. Robert Laidlaw, Dr. Karl Lashley, and Dr. Emily Mudd have contributed from their backgrounds in statistics, psychiatry, psychology, neurophysiology, and marriage counseling. While the authors of this volume must assume full responsibility for whatever errors and misinterpretations have entered into the making of this book, credit for whatever quality it may have should be shared with these specialists who have contributed from their considerable experience in areas related to the subject matter of the present research.
Dr. William Brenneman of the Zoology Department at Indiana University has served as a special consultant in regard to the endocrinological problems covered by the volume. Dr. Frank K. Edmondson, Head of the Department of Astronomy at Indiana University, has also advised on statistical procedures.
Dr. Frank Beach of the Department of Psychology at Yale University, Dr. Fred McKenzie of the Department of Animal Husbandry at the Oregon State College, and Dr. Albert Shadle of the Department of Biology at the University of Buffalo, have contributed to the data on animal behavior. Dr. Beach and Dr. Shadle have critically advised on those portions of the manuscript covering the mammalian data, and some of the anatomic, physiologic, neurophysiologic, and hormonal data presented in Chapters 14 to 18 .
Among the many medically trained specialists who have helped, especial mention should be made of the several gynecologists who have contributed time, advice, and in many instances, specific data from their clinical experience. In this connection, we are especially indebted to: Dr. Robert L. Dickinson (now deceased), pioneer American student of human sexual problems, Dr. John 0. Haman of San Francisco, Dr. Francis J. Hector of Bristol, England, Dr. Sophia Kleegman of New York City, Dr. Earle M. Marsh of San Francisco, Dr. Frances Shields of Monterey, California, and Dr. Abraham Stone of New York City.
Some hundreds of other specialists in other fields of medicine, biology, physiology, endocrinology, psychology, psychiatry, animal behavior, sociology, anthropology, statistics, literature, and the fine arts, have contributed important data and invaluable guidance on special aspects of our research. We trust that all who have so contributed will comprehend that we are deeply conscious of our obligation to them.
Dr. Jeannette Foster served as Librarian on this project for four years, and Dr. Hazel Toliver served for two years as Latin and Greek translator.
The wives and husbands of the several members of the staff deserve especial credit for the encouragement and support which they have contributed toward the pursuit of this research, and for their sharing of the burden imposed by the long hours of work which have gone into the preparation of the immediate volume.
Finally, we are indebted to the several thousand persons who have contributed to the case histories, the recorded data, the library, and the other resources of the Institute. We are indebted to several who, in addition to the chief sponsors of the research, have contributed toward the financial support of the general project, or of special aspects of the project. We are also indebted to the many thousands of those with whom we have had no direct contact, but who, in their expressed approval of a scientific study of human sexual behavior, have made it possible for us to undertake the exploration on which this volume has depended.
THE AUTHORS
Indiana University
Bloomington, Indiana