Robert Klark Graham
- February 13, 1997
- 90 years
About Robert Klark Graham
Robert Klark Graham, 90, American eugenicist and businessman.
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Full Biography
|Robert Klark Graham (June 9, 1906 – February 13, 1997) was an American eugenicist and businessman who made millions by developing shatterproof plastic eyeglass lenses and who later founded the Repository for Germinal Choice, a sperm bank for geniuses, in the hope of implementing a eugenics program.[citation needed]
Graham created his "Nobel sperm bank" in 1980. Initially, his intent was to obtain sperm only from Nobel laureates, but the scarcity of donors and the low viability of their sperm (because of age) forced Graham to develop a looser set of criteria.
These criteria were numerous and exacting: for example, sperm recipients were required to be married[citation needed] and to have extremely high IQ, though the bank later relaxed this policy so it could recruit athletes for donors as well as scholars.
By 1983, Graham's sperm bank was reputed to have 19 genius repeat donors, including William Bradford Shockley (recipient of the 1956 Nobel Prize in Physics and proponent of eugenics) and two anonymous Nobel Prize in Science winners.
The bank closed in 1999, two years after the death of its founder. A total of 218 children had been born under its auspices.
Graham's overriding goals were the genetic betterment of the human population and the nurture of newly conceived geniuses. This was a form of "positive" eugenics, meant to increase the number of designated "fit" individuals in a population through selective breeding. However, Graham's "genius sperm bank" was highly controversial.
However, due to lack of proper screening techniques, donors and recipients were not always those who met Graham's selective criteria.
In 1991 Graham was awarded the first Ig Nobel prize in biology for his "pioneering development of the Repository for Germinal Choice"
Publications
- Graham, Robert Klark (1970). The Future of Man. Christopher Publishing House. ISBN 978-0815800330.
Content from Wikipedia — licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Klark_Graham
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 16 questions
Questions drawn from Robert Klark Graham's archived record and the sources above.
1.On what date was Robert Klark Graham born?
- A.June 9, 1906correct
- B.June 9, 1997
- C.February 13, 1906
- D.February 13, 1997
Robert Klark Graham was born on June 9, 1906.
Source: biography introduction
2.What product allowed Robert Klark Graham to make millions as a businessman?
- A.Durable automotive tires
- B.Shatterproof plastic eyeglass lensescorrect
- C.High-performance computer processors
- D.Advanced synthetic fertilizers
Robert Klark Graham made millions by developing shatterproof plastic eyeglass lenses.
Source: biography introduction
3.In what year did Robert Klark Graham establish the Repository for Germinal Choice?
- A.1991
- B.1970
- C.1999
- D.1980correct
Robert Klark Graham created his Nobel sperm bank in 1980.
Source: Repository for Germinal Choice section
4.Why did Robert Klark Graham eventually accept donors other than Nobel laureates?
- A.Because donors demanded higher financial compensation
- B.Due to government regulations on sperm banks
- C.Because he wanted to increase the total bank size
- D.Due to donor scarcity and low sperm viabilitycorrect
The scarcity of donors and the low viability of sperm from Nobel laureates forced Graham to develop a looser set of criteria.
Source: Repository for Germinal Choice section
5.Who was one of the specific genius repeat donors mentioned as having contributed to Robert Klark Graham's bank?
- A.William Bradford Shockleycorrect
- B.Robert Klark Graham himself
- C.Albert Einstein
- D.Charles Darwin
William Bradford Shockley was one of the genius repeat donors to the sperm bank.
Source: Repository for Germinal Choice section
6.How many children were born under the auspices of Robert Klark Graham's sperm bank?
- A.90
- B.218correct
- C.1991
- D.19
A total of 218 children were born under the auspices of the sperm bank before it closed.
Source: Repository for Germinal Choice section
7.In what year was the Repository for Germinal Choice closed?
- A.2005
- B.1999correct
- C.1997
- D.1983
The bank closed in 1999, two years after the death of its founder.
Source: Repository for Germinal Choice section
8.What award did Robert Klark Graham receive in 1991?
- A.Ig Nobel prize in biologycorrect
- B.Eugenics Research Award
- C.Nobel Prize in Science
- D.Businessman of the Year
In 1991 Robert Klark Graham was awarded the first Ig Nobel prize in biology.
Source: Repository for Germinal Choice section
9.What is the title of the book published by Robert Klark Graham in 1970?
- A.The Future of Mancorrect
- B.Positive Eugenics
- C.Darwin's Engineer
- D.The Genius Factory
Robert Klark Graham published The Future of Man in 1970.
Source: Publications section
10.What was Robert Klark Graham's ultimate goal for human population management?
- A.Decreasing the total number of children born
- B.Genetic betterment through selective breedingcorrect
- C.Standardizing IQ levels across all social classes
- D.The elimination of all physical disabilities
Robert Klark Graham's overriding goals were the genetic betterment of the human population and the nurture of newly conceived geniuses.
Source: Repository for Germinal Choice section
11.Aside from scholars, whom did Robert Klark Graham's bank eventually recruit as donors?
- A.Athletescorrect
- B.Politicians
- C.Musicians
- D.Businessmen
The bank relaxed its policy to recruit athletes for donors as well as scholars.
Source: Repository for Germinal Choice section
12.On what date did Robert Klark Graham die?
- A.February 13, 1997correct
- B.June 9, 1999
- C.June 9, 1906
- D.February 13, 1906
Robert Klark Graham died on February 13, 1997.
Source: biography introduction
13.How did the biography describe the screening of donors and recipients at the sperm bank?
- A.Not always consistent due to a lack of proper techniquescorrect
- B.Conducted only by medical doctors
- C.Extremely rigorous and flawlessly documented
- D.Supervised strictly by Nobel Prize winners
Due to a lack of proper screening techniques, donors and recipients were not always those who met Robert Klark Graham's selective criteria.
Source: Repository for Germinal Choice section
14.What was the original requirement for sperm recipients at Robert Klark Graham's bank?
- A.Single and residing in California
- B.Over the age of forty
- C.Married and having extremely high IQcorrect
- D.Having a background in science
Sperm recipients were required to be married and to have extremely high IQ.
Source: Repository for Germinal Choice section
15.In what professional capacity was Robert Klark Graham primarily known aside from eugenics?
- A.Medical Doctor
- B.Athletic Coach
- C.Physicist
- D.Businessmancorrect
Robert Klark Graham was an American eugenicist and businessman.
Source: biography introduction
16.Which of the following was explicitly mentioned as a field of the anonymous donors in the bank?
- A.Sciencecorrect
- B.Philosophy
- C.Medicine
- D.Literature
The bank had two anonymous Nobel Prize in Science winners among its donors.
Source: Repository for Germinal Choice section
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