The Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death

Frances Glessner Lee was a woman before her time. Her interest in criminal investigation and forensic evidence lead her to be a well-known authority in the field in until she died in 1962. 

Saturday night I had the opportunity to attend a lecture at Chicago's Glessner House to learn about The Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death, the miniature crime scenes she created.  In 1931 Lee provided funds to Harvard Medical School to endow the Chair of Legal Medicine and had her long-time friend Dr. George Burgess Magrath in charge. 

During the time he was the chair, they worked together on forensic science and after he died, Mrs. Lee was named director of education for the New Hampshire State Police. In 1945 she oversaw the creation of the first seminar for Homicide Investigation for State Police at Harvard Medical School.

That's when Mrs. Lee created the miniature crime scenes, known as The Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death.

The models depicted scenes of crimes that could be murder, suicide, an accident and natural causes. The model above is called The Netshell Attic. Miss Jessie Compton was discovered dead in her house by Mr. Harry Frazer, a milk delivery man. Was it suicide or murder?

The picture at the right is the Red Bedroom. Marie Jones, prostitute, found dead by her landlady, Mrs. Shirley Flanagan. Is it murder, suicide or an accident?

The miniatures were used to train officers how to look for clues and not be swayed by first impressions. They are still in use today and are housed in Baltimore in the Medical Examiner's Office. 

Way before The Nutshell Studies, Mrs. Lee created a miniature of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and gave it to her mother as a gift. The orchestra is displayed at Glessner House on Prairie Avenue. 

For more information on The Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death, click here.