The fairly complete account of I's background and early development has been here provided in the hope that it may be made of use by investigators at some later time.
Measurements, as of January 16, 1939, age 9 years 6 months, were as follows:
Height 58.5 inches 52 Weight 96 pounds 61.5 Chest circumference 29 inches Head circumference 21.1 inches Eye color brown Hair color dark brown
Tonsils and adenoids caused trouble in 1933 and were removed in 1934. No visual defects noted. Occasional headaches "usually from reading or remaining long periods indoors." Hearing excellent. Nutrition excellent. No symptoms of general weakness.
Parents report I to be "at least very excitable," and that she shows "impulsive actions and extreme eagerness."
No sleep difficulties; no muscular twitching; no special fears. Sleeps nine hours, fairly soundly.
Her superior ability was first noticed by people from the University, at 15 months, because of comprehension beyond that expected at such an age."
She is interested in music and wrote the school song at Speyer. She has been very much interested in nature study and science since her second or third year, and "in her relationship to the world and the cosmos." Has asked questions frequently concerning origins and creation.
She has shown no special interests in mechanics, drawing, or painting, but from her second year she has had active interests in recitation and in the dramatization of nursery rhymes, etc.
She has played with imaginary companions. She began making up rhymes at an early age. "She reasons logically and has a strong sense of justice."
A neatly bound volume of typed pages, prepared by I as a Christmas present, 1937, for Leta S. Hollingworth, is entitled "First Poems." There are in the collection a dozen short verses or longer poems, each dated by I's age at the time of composition. The ages range from 4.5 to 8 years. A few samples follow.
The stars are shining bright tonight I wonder why they shine so bright I guess to make it light at night. _Age 5 years_
The cave man was a hunter, A hunter brave and bold. He wore the skins of those he killed To keep him from the cold. And many ages later, when he had passed away, Men found in caves the sharpened stones That he used every day. _Age 7 years 5 months_