Descriptive Entry

These papers consist of a small quantity of personal correspondence, a somewhat larger amount of professional correspondence, and research notes. These papers document only a small part of Weld's career.

Historical Note

Lewis Hart Weld (1875-1964) studied entomology at the University of Rochester (A.B. 1900), Michigan (M.A. 1902), and Cornell, from which he went in 1904 to teach at Evanston Academy. While at Evanston, Weld began his lifelong study of cynipid gall wasps. During those years he also began a wide-ranging series of field trips. In 1919 and again in 1923-1924 Weld worked for the Bureau of Entomology of the United States Department of Agriculture. In 1924 he resigned his official position, preferring to use his own independent means to pursue his interests at will, though he did remain a collaborator of the Department of Agriculture for more than 40 years.