Kinsey Institute

Dr. Alfred C. Kinsey (1894-1956) founded the institute that bears his name in 1947, but its origin can be traced to 1938 when the Association of Women Students at Indiana University petitioned for a course on marriage. Dr. Kinsey, a Harvard-trained biologist, was asked to coordinate the course.

Dr. Kinsey discovered that the scientific data on human sexual behavior was scarce, and often hopelessly biased and moralistic. So he began gathering his own data. Eventually he and his associates obtained more than 18,000 sexual histories based on detailed, face-to-face interviews.

In 1947, to guarantee confidentiality to interviewees and a secure, permanent location for the growing collection of data, the institute was established a s a not-for-profit corporation affiliated with Indiana University. Then-president Herman B Wells set a strong precedent for academic freedom when he defended Dr. Kinsey and the institute from repeated political and religious attacks. Seventy years later, the Kinsey Institute and Indiana University continue to stand for independent, open-minded research.

Dr. Kinsey's revolutionary work not only advanced our understanding of human sexuality, but also legitimized the lives and feelings of people across the spectrum of sexual experience. People are now able to live fuller, healthier lives as accepted citizens, with equal access under the law. His precedent has truly shaped our culture for the better.