William Sheldon
Encyclopedia
William Herbert Sheldon (November 19, 1898 – September 17, 1977) was an American
psychologist
and numismatist.
, in 1898, William Sheldon distinguished himself in two fields.
In psychology, he developed a new version of somatotypology
by classifying people into three somatotypes—endomorphic, mesomorphic, and ectomorphic—based on many photographs and measurements of nude figures (mainly Ivy League
students).
In numismatics, he authored Early American Cents and later revised that work within Penny Whimsy (these were the most exhaustive catalogues of the varieties of early American large cents at that time). The Sheldon variety list for Early American Cents is still in use today. He also developed the "Sheldon scale" that graded coins on a numeric basis from 1 to 70, which is still standard among American numismatists.
William Herbert Sheldon died in Cambridge, Massachusetts
in 1977.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
psychologist
Psychologist
Psychologist is a professional or academic title used by individuals who are either:* Clinical professionals who work with patients in a variety of therapeutic contexts .* Scientists conducting psychological research or teaching psychology in a college...
and numismatist.
Biography
Born in Warwick, Rhode IslandWarwick, Rhode Island
Warwick is a city in Kent County, Rhode Island, United States. It is the second largest city in the state, with a population of 82,672 at the 2010 census. Its mayor has been Scott Avedisian since 2000...
, in 1898, William Sheldon distinguished himself in two fields.
In psychology, he developed a new version of somatotypology
Somatotype and constitutional psychology
Constitutional psychology is a theory, developed in the 1940s by American psychologist William Herbert Sheldon, associating body types with human temperament types....
by classifying people into three somatotypes—endomorphic, mesomorphic, and ectomorphic—based on many photographs and measurements of nude figures (mainly Ivy League
Ivy League
The Ivy League is an athletic conference comprising eight private institutions of higher education in the Northeastern United States. The conference name is also commonly used to refer to those eight schools as a group...
students).
In numismatics, he authored Early American Cents and later revised that work within Penny Whimsy (these were the most exhaustive catalogues of the varieties of early American large cents at that time). The Sheldon variety list for Early American Cents is still in use today. He also developed the "Sheldon scale" that graded coins on a numeric basis from 1 to 70, which is still standard among American numismatists.
William Herbert Sheldon died in Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston area. It was named in honor of the University of Cambridge in England, an important center of the Puritan theology embraced by the town's founders. Cambridge is home to two of the world's most prominent...
in 1977.
Publications
- Sheldon, William H. ♦ The Varieties of Human Physique (An Introduction to Constitutional Psychology) ♦ Harper & Brothers, 1940
- Sheldon, William H. ♦ The Varieties of Temperament (A Psychology of Constitutional Differences) Harper & Brothers, 1942
- Sheldon, William H. ♦ Atlas of Men ♦ Harper and Brothers, 1954
- Sheldon, William H. ♦ Early American Cents, 1793–1814 ♦ Harper & Brothers, 1949
- Sheldon, William H. ♦ Penny Whimsy ♦ Harper & Row, 1958
Further reading
- Gardner, Theories of personality (John Wiley & Sons Inc, 1959), pp. 336-377 (Sheldon's constitutional psychology.) - includes biography of Sheldon