In the field of forensic science, Lee was an agent of change — a reformer, educator, and activist. She picked up the torch to ensure that forensic science took root in the US,” says Bruce Goldfarb, author of

18 Tiny Deaths, a new book looking at the work of Frances Glessner Lee.

Born in 1878, Lee was a pioneer in the field of forensic science, but it is one particular contribution, that of

The Nutshell Studies Of Unexplained Death, which has become her most lasting legacy. These 18 ‘dollhouse’ style dioramas were created by Lee with the intention of training recruits to understand that the tiniest details can solve a case. In order to achieve this, Lee put an extraordinary amount of detail into the dioramas, keen to make sure that every single one would be assessed and noted by her students.

“The craftsmanship is extraordinary,” explains Goldfarb. “Lee spared no expense. She had real front pages of newspapers photographically reproduced and made into