Virtual Crime Scene Investigation Assessment 

Frances Glessner Lee & The Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death 

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Task​: For this assessment, you will visit different websites to discover the life’s work of Frances
Glessner Lee and how her true crime dioramas have impacted forensics since the 1940’s.

Visit the following website and answer the questions that follow:
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/home-where-corpse-frances-glessner-lees-miniature-dollhouse-crime-scenes-180965204/

1. Why did Lee create the “nutshells?”

He created the nutshells to train forensic investigators​.

2. How did Lee discover her passion for forensics?

Through her brother’s friend, ​George Burgess Magrath​, a medical examiner and professor of
pathology.

3. Where did the name “nutshells” come from?

From her drive to “find truth in a nutshell.”

Next, visit the following website, watch the video about the dioramas. Answer the questions.
https://youtu.be/2-6ndwvK3U

4. How many dioramas are part of Lee’s collection?

19

5. True or False: The nutshells are still used today in the training of forensic investigators.
True
6. How did Frances Glessner Lee bring Science and art together?
The nutshells were made with immense detail and could be looked at as a piece of art instead
of a crime scene.
7. How are the victims portrayed in each of Lee’s dioramas?
The victims were portrayed as lower class or working members of society.

Visit the following website and scroll down until you see “Go Inside the Dollhouses.” Visit
each of the 5 rooms displayed and make observations about each room as if you were a crime
scene investigator that has just stumbled upon this scene. Be sure to create a chart for each
room including the name of the evidence, class/type of evidence, and your reasoning for why
you believe this to be an important piece of evidence. (NOTE: I found that it is difficult to
navigate through the rooms on a computer, but found it to be much easier when I used my cell
phone).
https://americanart.si.edu/exhibitions/nutshells?fbclid=IwAR0mz9thc9bwudIDbQXgW1XDFuJuUpyYMjqAZhS--gk3V4q93RxfF11gXFk

Observations:
 ● Attic:

The lady is hanging There is paper all The chair by the body The window seems
from rope tied to the over the floor with is tipped over. to be broken.
cealing, one shoe text on it.
missing and the other
one partially off.

● Living Room:

There is a box of cigarettes scattered all over The body is face down at the bottom of the
a table. staircase.

● Parsonage Parlor:

The furniture in The body isn’t in There is a knife There is a purse There is mail on
the room is a natural in her stomach and package on the floor by the
covered. position, she and a hammer a chair. front door.
has bite marks by her head.
on her back.

● Garage:

Body hanging out of car. Tools on the floor. Footprints in front of garage.

● Woodsman’s Shack

Body in bed covered. Bottles scattered on Glass shards on the The stove is dirty.
the floor. ground.

Based on the observations and chart of evidence that you made above, write a summary of the
events that you believe revolved around this crime scene and led to the death of the victims
portrayed. Each summary should be no longer than a paragraph (identify just the facts, no
elaborations are necessary; stick to the facts as you believe it pertains to the evidence you have
collected.

Attic: I believe that the lady in the attic had gotten killed and her death was staged as a suicide.
Living Room: I believe the lady had tripped and fell down the stairs and probably broke her neck.

Parsonage Parlor: I believe that the lady was raped and murdered and her body was dumped in a
vacant property.

Garage: I believe that the man had died from carbon monoxide poisoning because the garage was
full of gas fumes.

Woodmans Shack: I believe that the men had killed the lady and staged it as if she died in her sleep.