Inventory of the Harry Hyde Laidlaw Papers,1882-2000

Department of Special Collections
General Library
University of California, Davis
100 North West Quad
Davis, CA 95616-5292
Phone: (530) 752-1621
Fax: (530)754-5758
Email: speccoll@lib.ucdavis.edu
2004 ©2004
The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.

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Biological and Medical Sciences--Biological Sciences--Entomology

Inventory of the Harry Hyde Laidlaw Papers, 1882-2000

D-081

Department of Special Collections

General Library

University of California, Davis

Davis, California

Contact Information

  • Department of Special Collections
  • General Library
  • 100 North West Quad
  • University of California, Davis
  • Davis, CA 95616-5292
  • Phone: (530) 752-1621
  • Fax: (530) 754-5758
  • Email: speccoll@lib.ucdavis.edu
Processed and encoded by: Sara Gunasekara
Completed: 2004
©2004 The Regents of the University of California

Descriptive Summary

Title: Harry Hyde Laidlaw Papers,
Date (inclusive): 1882-2000
Collection number: D-081
Creator: Laidlaw, Harry Hyde, 1907-
Extent: 9.40 linear feet
Repository: University of California, Davis. General Library. Dept. of Special Collections.
100 North West Quad
Davis, California, 95616-5292
Abstract: Harry Hyde Laidlaw, considered the "father of honey bee genetics," was a professor in the UC Davis Department of Entomology from 1947-1974. He was best known for developing artificial insemination technology for honey bees and his contributions enabled selective breeding of honey bees and the fundamental study of insect genetics. His papers contain correspondence, writings, research materials, course materials, and photographs.
Physical location: Researchers should contact Special Collections to request collections, as many are stored offsite.
Language: English.

Administrative Information

Access

Collection is open for research.

Publication Rights

Copyright is protected by the copyright law, chapter 17 of the U.S. Code. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Special Collections. Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections, General Library, University of California, Davis as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the researcher.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Harry Hyde Laidlaw Papers, D-081, Department of Special Collections, University of California Library, Davis, California.

Acquisition Information

Acquired in 2003.

Processing Information

Arrangement and description by Sara Gunasekara. Student employee Renee Therriault provided assistance in processing this collection.

Biography

Biographical Narrative

Harry Hyde Laidlaw (April 12, 1907-September 19, 2003) was born in Houston and spent his late boyhood and teen years in Virginia, Florida and Louisiana. His keen interest in bee breeding started in childhood and he began working as a beekeeper with his grandfather, Charles Quinn. Together they experimented with mating queen bees and control breeding.
In 1934, Laidlaw completed a master's degree in entomology from Louisiana State University; in 1939, he earned a doctorate in genetics and entomology from the University of Wisconsin.
Two years later, he was inducted into the U.S. Army, commissioned, and served as the Army entomologist for the First Service Command in Boston. While there, he met Ruth Collins. They were married in 1946 and made their first home in New York City, where he worked as a civilian entomologist for the Army.
In 1947, he joined the UCD department of entomology. Best known for developing artificial insemination technology for honey bees -- and recognized by peers worldwide as the "father of honey bee genetics" -- his contributions enabled selective breeding of honey bees and the fundamental study of insect genetics.
He authored numerous scientific publications and four books, and was the recipient of national and international awards for his research and his service to the university, agriculture and the beekeeping industry.
In addition, he served as the first associate dean for research in the College of Agriculture in 1969. He retired from UCD in 1974, but remained active in outreach efforts on its behalf. From 1980 to 1985 he established a honey bee breeding program for the Egyptian Ministry of Agriculture as part of a joint UC-Egypt agricultural development program. He continued to publish scientific papers and modify and refine his instruments for artificial insemination, and wrote two new books. Laidlaw published his last scientific paper at age 87 and his last book at 90.
In 2001, UCD's Bee Biology laboratory was renamed the Harry H. Laidlaw Jr. Honey Bee Research Facility.

Scope and Content of Collection

This collection is arranged in eight series: 1. Biographical Materials, 2. Correspondence, 3. Writings, 4. Research Materials, 5. Course Materials, 6. Printed materials, 7. Memorabilia, 8. Photographs.

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.

Subjects

Laidlaw, Harry Hyde,--1907
University of California, Davis--Faculty--Archives
Bee Culture--Queen rearing
Honeybee--Breeding


Box 1

Series 1 Biographical Materials

Physical Description:

Scope and Content Note

Contains newspaper clippings, certificates, items about his retirement and the dedication of the Harry H. Laidlaw Jr. Honey Bee Research Facility. Arranged alphabetically.

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Box 1-2

Series 2 Correspondence

Physical Description:

Scope and Content Note

Arranged alphabetically.

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Box 2-3

Series 3 Writings

Physical Description:

Scope and Content Note

Contains reprints, talks, and manuscripts of Laidlaw's books. Arranged alphabetically.

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Series 4 Research Materials

Physical Description:

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Box 3-5

Subseries 4.1 Files

Physical Description:

Scope and Content Note

Arranged alphabetically.

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Box 6-7

Subseries 4.2 Card files

Physical Description:

Scope and Content Note

Arranged alphabetically.

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Box 5, 10

Subseries 4.3 Drawings

Physical Description:

Scope and Content Note

Contains drawings of Laidlaw's insemination instruments.

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Box 5,7

Subseries 4.4 Genetics records

Physical Description:

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Box 5

Series 5 Course Materials

Physical Description:

Scope and Content Note

Contains materials for Laidlaw's entomology courses at the University of California, Davis, as well as files for continuing education courses that he taught at several universities in Canada.

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Box 5,8

Series 6 Printed materials

Physical Description:

Scope and Content Note

Contains reprints of various articles, brochures from the U.S Department of Agriculture, and pamphlets on beekeeping.

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Box 9

Series 7 Memorabilia

Physical Description:

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Box 9

Series 8 Photographs

Physical Description:

Scope and Content Note

Contains photographs for Laidlaw's books as well as photographs of Alabama apiaries in the 1930's.

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