American Dermatoglyphics Association records
name: label: Creator
content: American Dermatoglyphics Association
topic: label: Topic
content: dermatoglyphics
label: Topic
content: Fingerprints
label: Topic
content: Intellectual disability
label: Topic
content: Biological anthropology
creator: label: Creator
content: American Dermatoglyphics Association
physloc: label: Note
content: Portions of the collection are stored off-site. Advanced notice must be given to view the collection.
bioghist: label: Historical Note
content: In 1973 and 1974, following dermatoglyphics symposia meetings of the American Society of Human Genetics, plans were laid to organize the American Dermatoglyphics Association (ADA). Its first meeting was in October 1975 when bylaws were adopted. In 1981, the ADA was incorporated in Maryland and in 1982, the membership adopted a detailed constitution, which declared that the ADA's purpose was "to advance the science and application of dermatoglyphics particularly in North, Central and South America and the Caribbean and to facilitate cooperation with other associations that have similar aims." To this end, the ADA held its annual meetings in conjunction with other related scientific organizations such as the American Association of Physical Anthroplologists and the American Society of Human Genetics. The ADA published a newsletter and its membership was open to all interested persons, but there was a class of fellows for which there were academic and other requirements. The ADA was dissolved in 2018.
physdesc: label: Extent
content: 187.5 Linear feet
unitdate: label: Date
content: circa 1960 - circa 2010
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: National Anthropological Archives
identifier: label: Identifier
content: NAA.1993-17
objectType: label: Type
content: Collection descriptions
label: Type
content: Archival materials
label: Type
content: Manuscripts
genre_format: label: Genre/Form
content: Manuscripts
scopecontent: label: Scope and Contents
content: The American Dermatoglyphics Association records are comprised of business records, including correspondence, minutes, newsletters, and several dermatoglyphics collections. These collections feature finger and palm prints from studies undertaken by American Dermatoglyphics Association members, along with accompanying documentation and publications.  

Additions to the collection received after the initial deposit are identified by their accretion number. They are as follows: 

2003-27 Accretion: Mavalwala's Parsi (India) research (fingerprints); Seltzer's breast cancer research (fingerprints/palm prints); Chris Plato research - Guatemala, Panama, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras (hand/wrist x-rays). This accretion also contains copies of the International Dermatoglyphics Association Newsletter (1963-1987).

2004-09 Accretion: 59 boxes 

2005-11 Accretion: 7 boxes and rolled charts 

2010-31 Accretion: Cheryl Sorenson Jamison and Robert J. Meier research files. Cheryl Jamison's files consist of dermatoglyphic prints of dyslexic children from 1986 in Kentucky, Louisiana, and Indiana. Robert Meier's files consist of dermatoglyphic prints he collected from the following populations: Easter Islanders (1964-1965); Inupiat Residents of Pt. Barrow, Alaska (1932); Alaskan Native Populations (1962-1971); and Indiana University Students (1987). His files also include prints from Illinois families (circa 1970s; collected by R. Peter Johnson) and Colombians (circa 1970s; collected by Robert MacLennan). 15 boxes. 

2011-35 Accretion: Terry E. Reed general twin population prints and Richard Osborne twin prints. Terry Reed's collection of prints of twins and twin families are from various studies at Indiana University from 1972 to 1995. Prints of families with genetic conditions were separated and were not sent to the NAA. Includes reprints of articles and bibliography of Terry Reed's research using prints. Richard Osborne's prints were collected in the 1950s and given to David Stoney for his thesis research in the 1980s. They were passed on to Terry Reed through Peg Davee in 1988 and used in Reed's research on fingerprint arch heritability. 19 record storage boxes. 

2012-02 Accretion: Wladimir Wertelecki research files. Mostly dermatoglyphic prints from the 1970-80s. Consists of lunula research prints of college students and Down's syndrome patients in South Carolina as well as prints from the following populations: South Carolina families, African American college students in Orangeburg, South Carolina; Caucasians in Boston, Massachusettes; Greeks; and patients with various medical disorders. Also contains cyclograms, dermatoglyphic readings, and teaching materials. 9 record storage boxes. 

2013-20 Accretion: Terry E. Reed general twin population prints. This accretion consists of prints from his twin studies research at Indiana University Medical Center in the 1980s-1990s; McMaster University Medical Centre in the 1970s; and various veteran centers throughout the US as part of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) twin study in 1971-1973 and 1981-1982. Also in his files are prints from Nancy Segal's 1970s study on twins for her thesis at University of Chicago, as well as prints from Michele Carliere's 1990s research on French twins at the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique. 

Please note that the contents of the collection and the language and terminology used reflect the context and culture of the time of its creation. As an historical document, its contents may be at odds with contemporary views and terminology and considered offensive today. The information within this collection does not reflect the views of the Smithsonian Institution or National Anthropological Archives, but is available in its original form to facilitate research.