International Women’s Day 2026: Celebrating the mother of forensic science Frances Glessner Lee
- Rachel A.Wood
- 3 days ago
- 7 min read
International Women’s Day is often a moment to recognise highly visible leadership. Yet some of the most transformative contributions to justice, science, and learning have emerged quietly through patient observation, careful craft, and the creation of systems that enable others to make better decisions. One such figure is Frances Glessner Lee, whose work continues to shape investigative training nearly a century later. Through her remarkable miniature models known as the Nutshell Studies, Lee demonstrated that complex realities can be studied, understood, and taught even when represented at the modest scale of 1:12.
I did Forensic Science studies back in 2003, and since then I have been really interested in the work, and legacy of ‘the mother of modern forensic science’.
This blog explores the origins of her work, its influence on forensic education, and what contemporary practitioners in fields such as psychology, public service, and service design might learn from her enduring legacy.
The origins of the Nutshell Studies
“and find the truth in a nutshell.’
Frances Glessner Lee was born in 1878 into a wealthy Chicago family. At a time when women were often excluded from higher education and professional careers, she was unable to formally study medicine despite a deep interest in legal and forensic science (Hedgepeth, 2017). Her curiosity was sparked partly through a friendship with George Burgess Magrath, a medical examiner who later became a key collaborator in developing modern forensic investigation methods (Rowland, 2007). In the early twentieth century, the quality of such work in the United States was highly inconsistent. Many coroners were elected officials without medical training, and investigative standards varied widely across jurisdictions (Hedgepeth, 2017). Lee recognised that improving outcomes required not simply better tools, but better training and observational discipline.
Her response was innovative. Beginning in the 1930s, she created a series of intricately detailed miniature scenes representing crime scenes. These models became known as the Nutshell Studies. The name reflected Lee’s intention to present complex investigative scenarios ‘in a nutshell.’ The phrase captures the idea of condensing a larger reality into a small, but complete representation. Each miniature room contained carefully crafted details from furniture placement and lighting to personal objects and environmental cues designed to replicate the kinds of clues investigators might encounter in real life (Rowland, 2007). Importantly, these models were not intended to sensationalise tragedy. Instead, they were educational tools used in professional training seminars. Investigators were given structured time to observe the miniature environments, document their findings, and discuss possible interpretations with instructors. Through these small worlds, Lee sought to cultivate the most fundamental skill in forensic practice - careful observation.
These small worlds have found themselves in many media representations over the years. One of my particular favourites is:
In “The Smallest of Things,” the television series draws direct inspiration from the work of Frances Glessner Lee by featuring exquisitely detailed miniature crime scenes reminiscent of her work. In the episode, a character creates dollhouse-scale reconstructions, using them as both artistic expression and investigative provocation. The miniatures are central to the plot, symbolising how careful observation of small, seemingly insignificant details can reveal hidden truths. While the programme takes some liberties for dramatic effect, it pays subtle homage to Lee’s legacy by highlighting the intellectual discipline behind close scene analysis. The episode frames miniaturisation not as whimsy, but as a powerful investigative lens echoing Lee’s belief that understanding such scenes requires patience, precision, and attention to ‘the smallest of things.’
Justice at Scale 1:12
Lee constructed the models at a scale of one inch to one foot (1:12) a standard scale used in dollhouses. At this size, rooms were large enough to include meaningful detail but small enough to allow observers to study the whole environment at once. Every element was crafted with precision. Curtains were hand-sewn, books were bound with readable titles, and tiny objects were positioned deliberately. The detail was not decorative; it was instructional. Investigators had to notice the relationship between objects, spaces, and people. Participants in the seminars were typically given around ninety minutes to examine a scene before presenting their observations. The goal was not necessarily to determine a definitive conclusion but to practise the disciplined reasoning required in real investigations (Hedgepeth, 2017). In this sense, the models functioned as simulations of complex systems. They encouraged investigators to resist assumptions and instead engage in structured inquiry. Long before the widespread recognition of cognitive bias in decision-making, Lee’s training method quietly promoted reflective practice.
A trauma-informed approach to learning
Viewed through a contemporary lens, Lee’s work also reflects principles that align with trauma-informed practice. Modern trauma-informed approaches emphasise psychological safety, thoughtful engagement with sensitive material, and the avoidance of unnecessary harm (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2014). While Lee’s models represented difficult human situations, they did so within a controlled and educational context. The miniature format created emotional distance while still allowing investigators to practise professional judgement. This approach allowed complex realities to be examined thoughtfully without exposing learners directly to distressing environments. In this way, the miniatures functioned as a form of ethical simulation. They enabled training that was reflective, structured, and respectful of the seriousness of the subject matter.
Lessons for contemporary practice
1. Observation before interpretation
Lee’s training emphasised a simple but powerful principle: look carefully before drawing conclusions. In complex human systems, whether forensic investigations or social services, premature assumptions can lead to error.
In research and design practice, this principle resonates with the need to distinguish between observation and interpretation. Structured observation methods, reflective workshops, and careful analysis of qualitative data can help practitioners avoid jumping too quickly to solutions.
2. Designing environments for better thinking
Lee did not simply instruct investigators to think differently; she designed a learning environment that supported disciplined thinking. The miniature scenes created a space in which professionals could slow down, examine evidence, and discuss alternative interpretations.
This insight is highly relevant to contemporary service design leadership. If organisations want better decisions, they must design systems that allow for reflection, collaboration, and learning.
3. Understanding the importance of context
Each Nutshell Study highlighted the role of environment in shaping events. Small contextual clues, such as the arrangement of objects or the condition of a room could influence interpretation. Similarly, contemporary social and public services increasingly recognise that individual behaviour cannot be understood without considering contextual factors, including environment, relationships, and systemic pressures. For practitioners working in parenting education and support (my research area), this perspective is particularly important. Families’ experiences of services are shaped not only by individual needs but also by broader systems such as access to information, community support, and the design of services themselves.
From forensic miniatures to service design
Lee’s work also offers inspiration for innovative learning methods in service design and research. One way of translating her approach that I have been considering is the concept of a ‘journey room’.
A journey room can be a miniature environment that represents the key touchpoints within a service system. For example, in the context of parenting education and support, a small room might symbolically represent stages such as:
early awareness of parenting challenges
seeking information or help
participation in group-based learning
building confidence and resilience over time
Within the miniature environment, small objects can represent service interactions: a leaflet about a parenting programme, a noticeboard in a community centre, or a group learning space where parents share experiences. Like Lee’s original miniatures, such models encourage observers to examine service patterns and systemic influences. They make abstract systems visible and tangible, enabling teams to reflect collectively on how families experience services. This approach aligns with contemporary methods in service design, including journey mapping, systems modelling, and participatory workshops. By representing services physically even in miniature designers can create new opportunities for collaborative learning and insight.
A legacy of quiet systems changes
Frances Glessner Lee’s contribution extended beyond the creation of the miniatures themselves. She provided significant financial support to the development of forensic medicine at Harvard University and helped establish the Department of Legal Medicine there in the 1930s (Rowland, 2007). In 1945 she was also appointed an honorary police captain, becoming the first woman to hold such a position in the United States (Hedgepeth, 2017). Yet her most enduring legacy lies not in titles or recognition, but in the learning culture she helped create. The Nutshell Studies continue to be used in training today, reminding investigators of the value of patience, curiosity, and careful attention to detail.
Conclusion
On International Women’s Day, it is worth reflecting on the many ways women have shaped fields that were once closed to them. Frances Glessner Lee’s story is not only one of perseverance but also of systems thinking and educational innovation. By presenting complex investigative situations at Scale 1:12, she demonstrated that careful observation could reveal patterns that might otherwise be overlooked. Her miniature worlds encouraged investigators to slow down, notice context, and approach uncertainty with humility.
For contemporary practitioners, her work offers an enduring lesson - meaningful change often begins with attention to detail and the creation of environments that support thoughtful practice. Sometimes the most powerful transformation begins in miniature. And sometimes, within a carefully crafted ‘nutshell’, we can glimpse the foundations of more thoughtful, humane systems of justice and care.
References
Hedgepeth, W. (2017) The Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death. New York: Monacelli Press.
Rowland, P. (2007) The Murder Room: The Heirs of Sherlock Holmes Gather to Solve the World’s Most Perplexing Cold Cases. London: Bantam Press.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (2014) SAMHSA’s Concept of Trauma and Guidance for a Trauma-Informed Approach. Rockville, MD: SAMHSA.
