Skip to main content

The timeline can be navigated by dragging the pointer on the timeline bar, located at the bottom of the screen on the desktop version and on the left of the screen on mobile. To filter by a specific topic, make a selection on the dropdown “Filters” menu or click “Search” to do a keyword search. To learn more, click “Read More” below.

Read More

North Carolina passes its first sterilization law.

1919

STER
LLP
MHP

The North Carolina Legislature passes what is called "An act to benefit the moral, mental, or physical condition of the inmates of penal and charitable institutions."

This legislation specifies that the medical staff of any penal or charitable hospital or institution is allowed to sterilize an individual provided that the operation will improve the individual's "physical, mental, or moral condition." Additionally, the operation must be approved by the State Board of Health, which is constituted of one representative from each of the state institutions, a governor, and a secretary.