Alfred Kinsey - Sexologist, Family and Life
Alfred Kinsey's Personal Details
Alfred Kinsey was an American sexologist who ushered in the “Sexual Revolution”
| Information | Detail |
|---|---|
| Birthday | June 23, 1894 |
| Died on | August 25, 1956 |
| Nationality | American |
| Famous | Bisexual, Harvard University, Scientists, Biologists, Sexologist |
| City/State | New Jersey |
| Spouses | Clara Bracken McMillen Kinsey |
| Known as | Alfred Charles Kinsey |
| Childrens | Anne Kinsey Corning, Bruce Kinsey, Donald, Joan Kinsey Reed |
| Universities |
|
| Notable Alumnis |
|
| Founder / Co-Founder |
|
| Birth Place | Hoboken |
| Gender | Male |
| Father | Alfred Seguine Kinsey |
| Mother | Sarah Charles Kinsey |
| Sun Sign | Cancer |
| Born in | Hoboken |
| Famous as | Sexologist |
| Died at Age | 62 |
Alfred Kinsey's photo
Who is Alfred Kinsey?
Alfred Charles Kinsey was an American professor, biologist and sexologist who is credited to have ushered in the “Sexual Revolution” through his extensive research on human sexuality. He was a bold and outspoken researcher who neither shied away from studying taboo topics nor was he afraid of kindling controversies with his findings. A professionally qualified biologist, his initial interest was in studying gall wasps. He did his doctoral thesis on the species and published ‘The Gall Wasp Genus Cynips: A Study of the Origin of Species’. In spite of becoming an expert in this field he felt that prestigious positions evaded him and thus changed the course of his career. His interest in human sexuality stemmed from studying the mating behavior of gall wasps and also from his own sexual feelings and experiences. He began his research on human sexuality during the 1930s—a time when the conservative American society considered sex to be a taboo subject. But he was undeterred by the public response and conducted thousands of interviews to collect data for his studies. When he revealed his findings in a book, the whole nation, especially the religious fraternity was shocked. He also created much controversy because of his open marriage and his sexual relations with other men.
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Childhood & Early Life
He was born on 23 June 1894 in Hoboken, New Jersey. He was the eldest of the three children born to Alfred Seguine Kinsey and Sarah Ann. His father, a professor at the Stevens Institute of Technology, was a very strict and religious man.
Alfred suffered from several medical conditions as a child and his parents being poor could not afford good quality treatment for him. He suffered from rickets which led to a curvature of the spine.
He was interested in nature from a young age and loved camping. He became a Boy Scout with his parents’ support and earned an Eagle Scout in 1913, becoming one of the earliest Eagle Scouts.
He attended Columbia High School where he shone academically and was also a good pianist. He developed a deep interest in botany, biology and zoology and decided to study botany in college, much to the chagrin of his father.
His authoritative father ordered him to study engineering at the Stevens Institute of Technology to which Alfred reluctantly agreed. But he could not force himself to study engineering for long and left the course after two years.
In 1914, he enrolled at Bowdoin College in Maine where he studied entomology. He was elected to the Phi Beta Kappa society in 1916 and graduated magna cum laude with degrees in biology and psychology.
He went to the Bussey Institute at Harvard University to continue his studies. There he studied biology under William Morton Wheeler, an expert in entomology.
Alfred did his doctoral thesis on gall wasps. He traveled widely and collected thousands of specimens as samples. He earned his Sc. D degree in 1919.
Career
He was appointed as an assistant professor at the Indiana University in 1920. In 1926 he published a biology textbook, ‘An Introduction to Biology’ in which he unified the fields of zoology and botany which were previously treated as separate from each other.
He was promoted to full professorship in 1929. He published his works ‘The Gall Wasp Genus Cynips: A Study of the Origin of Species’ and ‘The Origin of Higher Categories in Cynips’ during the 1930s. However, he was getting disillusioned with his career at this time.
In 1938, he was offered an opportunity to lead a team-taught course on marriage and the family. He lectured on the biology of sexual stimulation, the mechanics of intercourse and contraception. His course became very popular.
He founded the Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender, and Reproduction, a nonprofit research institute at Indiana University in 1947. The Institute’s mission was to encourage sexual health and research on sexual issues. The founding of this institute too was met with much controversy.
His book ‘Sexual Behavior in the Human Male’ was out in January 1948. It became a best-seller immediately upon its release even though it was a very thick volume of 804 pages. The book infuriated the religious leaders because of its sexual content.
In 1953, he published ‘Sexual Behavior in the Human Female’ which created even more controversy than its predecessor. The book was based on almost 6000 sexual histories.
Major Work
He is best known for the Kinsey Reports which consist of his two books on human sexual behavior: ‘Sexual Behavior in the Human Male’ (1948) and ‘Sexual Behavior in the Human Female’ (1953). The reports though highly popular also kindled considerable controversy due to the taboo attached to the subject of sex.
Awards & Achievements
He was inducted into the Legacy Walk, an outdoor museum walk which celebrates LGBT history and people, in 2012.
Personal Life & Legacy
He married Clara Bracken McMillen in 1921. His estranged father refused to attend this function. The couple’s first born son died as a child; they had three other children who lived to adulthood.
He was bisexual. His marriage with Clara was an open one and both the parties had the freedom to have sexual relations with other people also.
He suffered from ill health during his later years and died on 25 August 1956 at the age of 62.
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Alfred Kinsey biography timelines
- // 23rd Jun 1894He was born on 23 June 1894 in Hoboken, New Jersey. He was the eldest of the three children born to Alfred Seguine Kinsey and Sarah Ann. His father, a professor at the Stevens Institute of Technology, was a very strict and religious man.
- // 1914In 1914, he enrolled at Bowdoin College in Maine where he studied entomology. He was elected to the Phi Beta Kappa society in 1916 and graduated magna cum laude with degrees in biology and psychology.
- // 1919Alfred did his doctoral thesis on gall wasps. He traveled widely and collected thousands of specimens as samples. He earned his Sc. D degree in 1919.
- // 1921He married Clara Bracken McMillen in 1921. His estranged father refused to attend this function. The couple’s first born son died as a child; they had three other children who lived to adulthood.
- // 1926He was appointed as an assistant professor at the Indiana University in 1920. In 1926 he published a biology textbook, ‘An Introduction to Biology’ in which he unified the fields of zoology and botany which were previously treated as separate from each other.
- // 1929He was promoted to full professorship in 1929. He published his works ‘The Gall Wasp Genus Cynips: A Study of the Origin of Species’ and ‘The Origin of Higher Categories in Cynips’ during the 1930s. However, he was getting disillusioned with his career at this time.
- // 1938In 1938, he was offered an opportunity to lead a team-taught course on marriage and the family. He lectured on the biology of sexual stimulation, the mechanics of intercourse and contraception. His course became very popular.
- // 1947He founded the Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender, and Reproduction, a nonprofit research institute at Indiana University in 1947. The Institute’s mission was to encourage sexual health and research on sexual issues. The founding of this institute too was met with much controversy.
- // 1948His book ‘Sexual Behavior in the Human Male’ was out in January 1948. It became a best-seller immediately upon its release even though it was a very thick volume of 804 pages. The book infuriated the religious leaders because of its sexual content.
- // 1953In 1953, he published ‘Sexual Behavior in the Human Female’ which created even more controversy than its predecessor. The book was based on almost 6000 sexual histories.
- // 25th Aug 1956He suffered from ill health during his later years and died on 25 August 1956 at the age of 62.
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Alfred Kinsey's FAQ
What is Alfred Kinsey birthday?
Alfred Kinsey was born at 1894-06-23
When was Alfred Kinsey died?
Alfred Kinsey was died at 1956-08-25
Where was Alfred Kinsey died?
Alfred Kinsey was died in Bloomington
Which age was Alfred Kinsey died?
Alfred Kinsey was died at age 62
Where is Alfred Kinsey's birth place?
Alfred Kinsey was born in Hoboken
What is Alfred Kinsey nationalities?
Alfred Kinsey's nationalities is American
Who is Alfred Kinsey spouses?
Alfred Kinsey's spouses is Clara Bracken McMillen Kinsey
Who is Alfred Kinsey childrens?
Alfred Kinsey's childrens is Anne Kinsey Corning, Bruce Kinsey, Donald, Joan Kinsey Reed
What was Alfred Kinsey universities?
Alfred Kinsey studied at Harvard University, Bowdoin College, Harvard University
What was Alfred Kinsey notable alumnis?
Alfred Kinsey's notable alumnis is Harvard University
Which company or organization was founded by Alfred Kinsey?
Alfred Kinsey was the founder/co-founder of Institute for Sex Research at Indiana University
Who is Alfred Kinsey's father?
Alfred Kinsey's father is Alfred Seguine Kinsey
Who is Alfred Kinsey's mother?
Alfred Kinsey's mother is Sarah Charles Kinsey
What is Alfred Kinsey's sun sign?
Alfred Kinsey is Cancer
How famous is Alfred Kinsey?
Alfred Kinsey is famouse as Sexologist