At 17, Buck became pregnant as a result of being raped by Alice Dobbs' nephew, Clarence Garland. On January 23, 1924, the Dobbses had her committed to the Virginia Colony for Epileptics and Feeble-Minded on the grounds of feeblemindedness, incorrigible behavior, and promiscuity. On March 28, 1924, she gave birth to a daughter, Vivian. Since she had been declared mentally incompetent to raise her child, the Dobbses adopted the baby. Her commitment may have been due to the family's embarrassment because Carrie's pregnancy was the result of being raped by the Dobbs' nephew. "Vivian Alice Elaine Dobbs" attended the Venable Public Elementary School of Charlottesville for four terms, from September 1930 until May 1932. Stephen Jay Gould wrote: