Harold Cummins

Harold Cummins M.D. (May 28, 1893 – May 12, 1976)[1][2][3] was an anatomist and dermatoglyphics specialist. He is considered to be the founder of dermatoglyphics.[4][5][6][7]

Harold Cummins
Born	(1893-05-28)May 28, 1893 Markleville, Indiana
Died	May 12, 1976(1976-05-12) (aged 82) New Orleans, Louisiana
Alma mater	University of Michigan Tulane University
Known for	dermatoglyphics anatomy
Spouse(s)	Elizabeth Van Buskirk
Children	Harold V. Cummins Robert Cummins Irving Cummins
Scientific career
Influences	Influencing Hackett Cummins to play D1 Lacrosse but then no longer such since Furman discontinued their lacrosse program

Early life and education

A native of Markleville, Indiana,[1][2] Cummins attended the University of Michigan, receiving his BA in 1916.[5] While attending the University of Michigan, he was inducted into two academic honor societies: Sigma Xi and Phi Beta Kappa.[5][8][9] Cummins completed his PhD in anatomy at Tulane University in 1925.[5][10]

Career

In his multiple positions as an educator, Cummins taught over 5000 students.[11] Cummins worked at Vanderbilt University as a Histology instructor (1916-1917)[12] and as an assistant professor of Microscopic Anatomy from 1917 through 1919.[13][14] In 1919, Cummins joined the faculty at Tulane University where he remained for the rest of his educational career, nearly five decades, serving in a variety of positions.[11] His positions at Tulane University included:

• Chairman of the Department of Anatomy (1933–1960)[10][15]
• Chairman of the Department of Microscopic Anatomy (1933–1945)[10][15]
• Assistant dean at Tulane University School of Medicine (1949-1964)[11][5]
• Chair of Tulane University School of Medicine admissions (1949-1964)[5]
• Professor emeritus of Anatomy (1964)[4][5]

Cummins also held positions at a number of journals and associated organizations including:

• American Journal of Human Genetics editorial board (Advisory editorial committee) (1949-1955)[16][17][18]
• Vice President of the American Society of Human Genetics (1955)[17]
• President of the American Association of Anatomists (1961-1962)[19][20][5]

In 1926, Cummins coined the term dermatoglyphics.[21]

Professional affiliations

• American Association of Physical Anthropologists[5]
• International Association for Identification[5]
• Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine[5]
• American Association for the Advancement of Science[5]
• Louisiana State Medical Society (honorary member)[5]

Selected publications

• Cummins, Harold (August 1923). "The configurations of epidermal ridges in a human Acephalic monster". The Anatomical Record. 26 (1): 1–13. doi:10.1002/ar.1090260102.
• Cummins, Harold; Keith, Harriet H.; Midlo, Charles; Montgomery, Robert B.; Wilder, Harris H.; Wilder, Inez Whipple (January 1929). "Revised methods of interpreting and formulating palmar dermatoglyphics". American Journal of Physical Anthropology. 12 (3): 415–473. doi:10.1002/ajpa.1330120303.
• Cummins, Harold (October 1934). "A significant example of pedunculated postminimus". The Anatomical Record. 60 (3): 273–277. doi:10.1002/ar.1090600304.
• Cummins, Harold (April 1935). "Dermatoglyphics in Eskimos from Point Barrow". American Journal of Physical Anthropology. 20 (1): 13–17. doi:10.1002/ajpa.1330200105.
• Cummins, Harold (March 1940). "Finger prints correlated with handedness". American Journal of Physical Anthropology. 26 (1): 151–166. doi:10.1002/ajpa.1330260126.
• Cummins, Harold; Midlo, Charles (1976). Finger Prints, Palms, and Soles: an Introduction to Dermatoglyphics. South Berlin, Mass.: Research Pub. Co. ISBN 0486207781.
• Cummins, Harold (December 1955). "Dermatoglyphics of Bushmen (South Africa)". American Journal of Physical Anthropology. 13 (4): 699–709. doi:10.1002/ajpa.1330130411. PMID 13292533.

References

1. "WWI Draft Registration Card". Fold3. Ancestry.com. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
2. "WWII Draft Registration Card". Fold3. Ancestry.com. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
3. "Social Security Death Index". Fold3. Ancestry.com. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
4. Holt, Sarah B (1 December 1976). "Harold Cummins (1894--1976)". Journal of Medical Genetics. 13 (6): 540. doi:10.1136/jmg.13.6.540. PMC 1013492. PMID 798032.
5. "Dr. Cummins Rites Held". The Times-Picayune. 14 May 1976. Section 1, p. 6.
6. "Tulane Contributions to Science and Medicine - Harold Cummins". Tulane University. Archived from the original on 2 December 2008. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
7. Widney, George M. "Harold Cummins A Summary by George M. Widney". Medical Genetics and Birth Defects at University of South Alabama. Archived from the original on 8 February 2012. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
8. "46 Honored with Sigma Xi Choice". Michigan Daily Digital Archives (vol. 26. iss. 160). The Michigan Daily. 18 May 1916. p. 1. Archived from the original on 2 March 2018. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
9. "Phi Beta Kappa Confers Honor on Literary Seniors". Michigan Daily Digital Archives. 26 (137). The Michigan Daily. 21 April 1916. p. 1. Archived from the original on 7 June 2018. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
10. "Alumni Affairs - famousalumni". Tulane University. Archived from the original on 25 March 2017. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
11. "The Alumni Family", The Michigan Alumnus, Alumni Association of the University of Michigan, vol. 71 no. 4, p. 122, January 1965, retrieved 5 April 2018
12. "Register of Vanderbilt University ... Announcement ..." (PDF). Vanderbilt University. 1916. p. 5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 March 2018. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
13. "Register of Vanderbilt University ... Announcement ..." (PDF). Vanderbilt University. 1918. p. 4. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 March 2018. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
14. "Register of Vanderbilt University ... Announcement ..." Vanderbilt University. 1919. p. 13. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
15. Holt, Mary. "Research Guides: Tulane University's Contributions to Health Sciences research and education: A Guide: Dr. Harold Cummins". Tulane University Libraries. Tulane University. Archived from the original on 16 August 2017. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
16. "Masthead". American Journal of Human Genetics. 1 (1). September 1949. PMC 1716290. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
17. Reed, Sheldon C. (December 1954). "Report of the Secretary". American Journal of Human Genetics. 6 (4): 466. PMC 1716584. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
18. "Masthead". American Journal of Human Genetics. 7 (1). March 1955. PMC 1716554. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
19. "Anatomy by the Decade (1960-1969)" (PDF). American Association of Anatomists. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
20. "Past Presidents". American Association of Anatomists. Archived from the original on 28 September 2017. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
21. "Anatomy by the Decade (1920-1929)" (PDF). American Association of Anatomists. Retrieved 5 April 2018.