Lessons from the “Trial of the Century” and early forensic science efforts: Beginnings of U.S. forensic science and the little-known role of the National Bureau of Standards

This article briefly discusses early pioneers in Europe and the United States involved in forensic science (also known then as criminalistics or police science), as well as a 1929 European tour by Calvin Goddard that would link efforts and raise awareness of activities on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. High profile crimes often propel disciplines in forensic science to make significant progress. The first so-called "Crime of the Century" involved kidnapping the 20-month-old son of famous aviator Charles Lindbergh from his second-story nursery on the evening of March 1, 1932. This set in motion a large investigation that would lead to the "Trial of the Century" almost three years later. Forensic science evidence in the form of handwriting comparisons with 15 ransom notes and analysis of a ladder left at the crime scene would play key roles in the conviction of Bruno Richard Hauptmann. Widespread media attention and publicly available records, some which have only recently come to light, provide opportunities to consider how this investigation and trial contributed to the development and foundations of early forensic science in the United States. Lessons from the study of early forensic science efforts can benefit this field today. In particular, the little-known roles of the National Bureau of Standards (NBS) and a physicist named Wilmer Souder in the Lindbergh baby kidnapping case. Today, almost a century later, NBS, now known as the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), continues to make important advances in forensic science research, standards, and scientific foundation studies.