Nineteenth Century US African-American and White Female Statures: Insight from US Prison Records

Abstract

Using a new source of 19th century state prison records, this study contrasts the biological living conditions of comparable US African-American and white female statures during economic development. Black and white female statures varied regionally, and white Southeastern and black Southwestern females reached the tallest statures. White females were consistently taller than black females. Black and white female statures also varied over time with emancipation and were similar to black male stature variation, indicating that 19th century female net cumulative biological living conditions were similar to the lowest ranks of US male society.