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. For a biography of C. Ward Crampton, see: https://springfield.as.atlas-sys.com/agents/people/551. 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."
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