Better Baby Contests
 

1913
 

Better Babies Health Contest
Matagorda County Tribune, September 19, 1913

What may be accomplished in any small town toward the right influence over the boys and girls of a community, to the importance of right living, good habits, morals and cleanliness in a way that brings the thought home, has been illustrated in the three days Better Babies Health Contest just closed in Collegeport, when practically all the mothers and their children took active part in the contest which was held in the First Church, Federated, August 28, 29 and 30, under the auspices of the Collegeport Woman's Club, Department of Home Economics, and the Woman's Home Companion.

The contest was purely voluntary; there were no entry fees and no charges of admission. The arrangements were made under the direction of Mrs. Burton D. Hurd, honorary president of the Collegeport Woman's Club; Mrs. Seth Corse, president of the club; assisted by Mesdames E. C. Van Ness, S. House, Cecil Heard, E. A. Holsworth and Chas. Elmer as chairmen of the different divisions, were ably assisted by a score of club members.

The Better Babies Bureau sent, free of all charges, the score cards and the beautiful bronze medal to be awarded to the baby under three years old scoring the highest number of points. Collegeport has but fifteen children under three years old, and the idea. was conceived of allowing all children to enter, who were under fifteen, they to be scored according to the standard of perfection as given in the Child's Nature Study Course the club has been following, and which is identical with the Better Babies, though not in so complete detail. The New York bureau also sent score cards which were raised to meet the required ages with the help of the examining physician. Twelve parchment certificates were also sent from the Better Babies Bureau, for use in these classes.

Other prizes were offered by friends of the venture, and from the county seat, the following contributed liberally: Hon. John Sutherland, mayor, sent two checks to start a bank account for the highest scoring boy and girl under two years, to be deposited at compound interest for twenty-one years; Messrs. Doubek & Hawkins sent three handsome prizes for boys over three years; Mr. P. G. Secrest, jeweler, sent a solid gold crest ring, and Dr. E. E. Scott a cash prize to be used at the discretion of the committees.

Dr. Guy Fontaine Fausset, examining physician, was assisted by Miss M. Morris, and Mr. H. A. Clapp superintended the measurement and weighing in the boys’ department.

The Boy Scouts, H. A. Clapp, scout master, pitched a tent in front of the church across the street, and during the three days the church grounds were patrolled in relays of two hours each. The scouts ever ready to assist in any way possible, made the work much easier for all.

The contest included besides Collegeport, Citrusgrove, DeMoss and the surrounding country. There were 100 entries and 91 went through the tests. No other event ever enthused the people as much as the movement to influence better care of children. The score cards call for one thousand points to score perfection, and in the total, 70 scored over 90 percent; 27 over 95 per cent; 1 over 99 per cent and 1 over 99.5 per cent.

The Better Babies Health Contest is to be an annual mid-summer event in Collegeport, and will be held the last three days of the last week of August.

1915
 

Collegeport News Items
Special to the Tribune.

Collegeport , Texas , April 22.--Two years ago Mrs. Burton D. Hurd held the first better babies contest and last year the results were so gratifying that she has been urged to conduct the contest this season to which she has consented. Probably 25 per cent more children will be entered this year than last for the mothers are wide awake to what it means for the physical development of the child.

Matagorda County Tribune, April 23, 1915
 

COLLEGEPORT ANNUAL FAIR STARTS FRIDAY.

Collegeport , Texas , November 16.--Saturday, the 20th, is the date for the third annual Collegeport Fair. The fair will really begin Friday, the 19th, with the third annual better babies contest, under the auspices of the Collegeport Woman's Club. On this day all entries and examinations will be made. Prizes will be awarded on Saturday.

Matagorda County Tribune, November 19, 1915
 

1916
 

Have You a Better Baby in Your Family?

Matagorda County is to have a Better Babies Contest on March 9 and 10 at Bay City, Texas. This contest will be held under the auspices of the social service committee, at the Bay City Hospital.

The Better Babies Contest is a popular yet scientific movement to improve the rage by holding up certain physical and mental standards of perfection to which every mother should aim to bring her baby.

The Woman's Home Companion says, "The Better Babies Contest. insures a better race of Americans,

Good looks and fine clothes will have no influence on the judges, as the first two considerations in Better Babies, Contests are physical and mental development. The grading is done on the basis of scientific measurements and tests.

A beautifully designed bronze medal and diplomas presented by the Woman's Home Companion will be awarded to the prize-winning babies. Every mother will get a score card on which will be marked the results of the physician's examination of her baby also a certificate showing that her baby was examined at the Better Babies Contest.

Here is an unusual opportunity to secure a thorough examination of your baby free of charge.

Formerly, when a mother was wise enough to study the care and feeding of children and tried to bring up her babies according to the methods prescribed by specialists, her neighbors laughed at her "book-raised" babies. Today she can laugh at the foolish mothers who scorned scientific methods because in a Better Babies Contest she finds that her babies are among the finest. The Better Babies Contest is a comparatively new thing, but has come to stay just as the competition at fairs for cattle and grain and fruit have become a regular feature.

A man is now prouder to be the father of a 100 per cent baby than he is to win a prize-winning bull or a blue ribbon horse. Baby is coming into his own at last, because we are beginning to realize that he is the greatest asset of the nation.

Rules.

Contest is open to all babies of Matagorda County between 6 and 60 months.

Entry blanks will be mailed on request by Mrs. E. L. Perry of Bay City, Texas,

Appointments for examinations will be made in order in which applications are received,

Notice of date and hour of appointment for examination will be mailed In ample time before the contest opens.

All questions on blanks submitted to parents must be answered.

No child suffering from any acute, constitutional, or contagious disease may be entered. To prevent contagion, all children will be examined by a physician or trained nurse before being admitted to the reception room

Examinations will begin at 9 a. m. on the 9th of March, 1916, at Bay City, Texas,

Awards will be made on the 15th of March, 1916, at Bay City, Texas.

Free lunch will be served to all out-a of-town contestants.

Matagorda County Tribune, February 17, 1916
 

Better Babies Applications.

On Tuesday, the 22^nd, and Saturday, the 25^th, Mrs. E. L. Perry will be at the library to issue application blanks for entrance of children from six to sixty months in the Better Baby Contest on March 9 – 10. These cards may be had also by phoning 243, or calling at 2407 Avenue F.—Matagorda County Tribune, February 18, 1916
 

Entries in the Better Baby Contest
Matagorda County Tribune, March 24, 1916

Baby Contest Was Notable Event; Big Audience Present
The Daily Tribune, March 16, 1916

Division 1 (Medal Babies) Male.

G. Duncan Corbett, 11 months son of Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Corbett, Bay City, averaged 99 per cent or ten under perfect, 1000 being the maximum total score in all five tests

Division 1, (Medal Babies) Female.

Grace Ehlert, 12 months old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A. C. Ehlert, Bay City, and Evelyn McNabb, 6 months old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. E. McNabb of Matagorda tied on 97 1/2 in division 1, female test.

In this connection it can be said that Grace Ehlert stood the highest physical test of all the babies entered, but for deficiency in deportment was necessary to deduct ten points from her unusual record. Because the excellent physical test record by, Grace the committee presented her with a medal.

The out-of-town medal was awarded to Evelyn McNabb, of Matagorda, who scored a total of 97 1/2.

The fact that all the medals came in division 1 is a co-incident, in view of the fact that they could have been distributed throughout the various divisions.

Division 2 (Diplomas).

First, Bessie M. Baxter, the 15-months-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Baxter, of Matagorda, scored 97.

Price M. Barnett, the 22-months-old son of Mr. and Mrs. J. Barnett, of Palacios, scored 97.

Division 3 (Diplomas).

Christine Sanders, the 28-months-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. T. Sanders, of Blessing, 97.

Andrew James Harty, Jr., 26-months-old son of Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Harty, Bay City, scored 94 1/2.

Division 4 (Diplomas).

Richard Livengood, 43-months-old son of Dr. and Mrs. B. L. Livengood, scored 97 1/2, the next highest male score made.

Louise Badouh, 42-months-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A. M. Badouh, Bay City, scored 94, and tied with Emma Foote, 41-months-old daughter of Dr. and Mrs. S. A. Foote, Bay City.

Division 5 (Diplomas).

Edith Moberley, the 51-months-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Elbert Moberly, Matagorda, 97 per cent.

Bert Carr, 52-months-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Carr, Bay City, scored 95 per cent.

The Prize Winner.

Green Duncan Corbett, 11 months old; weight at birth 7 1/4 pounds; second child; breast and bottle fed; sleeps alone in room, two windows open; feeds 4 times in 24 hours, six ounces each time; father John M. Corbett, lawyer, Irish extraction, American birth; mother was Miss Mintie Duncan, American. Measurements- Height 28 1/2 inches; inches; weight 20 pounds; circumference of chest 18 1/2 Inches; circumference of abdomen 20 inches; diameter of chest 5 5/8 inches, lateral diameter of chest 6 3/4 inches; length of arm 11 1/2 inches; length of leg 12 1/2 inches; sitting height 17 inches; antero-posterior diameter of head 71/2 inches.

This record gives all an idea of how every child was examined and how each scoring card was kept.