Descriptive Entry

These papers document the professional career, and to a lesser extent, the personal affairs of Harry Hoogstraal. Most of the papers concern his work after he joined NAMRU-3 in 1949. There appears to be little documentation of his participation on scientific expeditions during the 1930s and 1940s. The papers primarily consist of a voluminous file of incoming and outgoing correspondence with medical zoologists, entomologists, physicians, museum personnel, NAMRU-3 colleagues, and personal friends concerning Hoogstraal's research on ticks and tick-borne diseases; NAMRU-3 business; the preparation and publication of scientific papers; the development of his tick collection; his translating work; and his activities as a member and officer of countless professional organizations. Also included are manuscripts and illustrations from scientific papers; records concerning the administration of NAMRU-3; and notes, lists and other data from Hoogstraal's research.

Historical Note

Harry Hoogstraal (1917-1986) was an internationally renowned medical zoologist, entomologist, and specialist on ticks and tick-borne diseases. He received degrees from the University of Illinois (B.A., 1938 and M.S., 1942) and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (Ph.D., 1959 and D.Sc., 1971). After service in the United States Army during World War II, Hoogstraal was appointed Head of the Medical Zoology Department, Naval Medical Research Unit No. 3 (NAMRU-3), Cairo, Egypt. He held his post with NAMRU-3 from 1949 until his death.

Hoogstraal participated on several scientific expeditions, mostly between the years 1938 and 1949. Field work was conducted in Mexico, New Guinea, the Philippines, and Africa. His research produced over 500 publications, an eight volume bibliography of ticks and tick-borne diseases, and over 1,750 translated books and research articles, primarily from Russian. Hoogstraal amassed a large collection of ticks which was acquired by the National Museum of Natural History. He was active within the profession of medical zoology and served as President of the American Society of Parasitologists, 1984, and President-Elect of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 1986. Hoogstraal was the recipient of numerous awards including the Henry Baldwin Ward Medal, American Society of Parasitologists, 1967; the Presidential Order of Merit, First Class, Arab Republic of Egypt, 1978; and the Walter Reed Medal, American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 1978.