Clara McMillen

Who was Clara McMillen?

Clara Bracken McMillen contributed to the Kinsey Reports on human sexuality. She was married to Alfred Charles Kinsey.

Born in Bloomington, Indiana, McMillen majored in chemistry at Indiana University, graduating with Phi Beta Kappa, Sigma Xi, and other honors. She also attended graduate school which she eventually left after marrying Alfred Kinsey. She first met him briefly the May he visited Indiana University before joining the faculty and they met again at a zoology department picnic in 1920. The couple were married from 3 June 1921 until Alfred's death in 1956. Alfred was bisexual and polyamorous. He allowed Clara to sleep with other men and he himself slept with other men, including his student Clyde Martin.

Alfred and Clara had four children: Donald, Anne, Joan, and Bruce. Donald died of diabetes just before his fifth birthday.

Laura Linney earned an Oscar nomination for her portrayal of McMillen in the film Kinsey.