Charles Matthias Goethe (March 28, 1875 – July 10, 1966) was an American eugenicist, entrepreneur, land developer, philanthropist, conservationist, founder of the Eugenics Society of Northern California, and a native and lifelong resident of Sacramento, California.
Early life
Charles M. Goethe was born on March 28, 1875, in Sacramento, California. He pronounced his last name as GAY-tee. Goethe's grandparents had immigrated to California from Germany in the 1870s.
As a child, Charles was interested in agriculture, biology, and the human body. In his diary, he kept a record of his diet and exercise, specifically noting days in which his regimen was not sufficient. The National Park Service made Goethe the “Honorary Chief Naturalist” for his work in this field. His motto was "Learn to Read the Trail-side as a Book." Goethe encouraged the general public to educate themselves about the evolution of nature as well, personally spending time dedicated to learning about different plants and animals.
When Goethe died, CSUS received the largest share of his $24 million estate.
Eugenics controversy
Charles Goethe worked near Arizona, focusing on health conditions in the 1920s. Goethe created tiny pamphlets that he distributed to explain his beliefs concerning specific ethnic groups.
Goethe was also involved in the publication of multiple journals in which he expressed his views on eugenics. Goethe was involved with the journal Survey Graphic, serving as a member of the council. The journal had published information about typhus quarantines in Mexico in both 1916 and 1917. When Nazi administrators went on trial for war crimes in Nuremberg after World War II, they justified their mass sterilizations by pointing at the United States as their inspiration.
CSUS attempted to name a new science building after him in 1965, but that effort was rebuffed by students and teachers.
On January 29, 2008, the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors stripped his name from one of Sacramento County's busiest parks. On April 25, 2008, the Sacramento Bee reported that, with a nod from Internet voters and the county parks commission, the park will be renamed River Bend Park.
Personal life
Charles Goethe married Mary Glide in 1903.