Series I. Parasite Illustrations, 1898-1971

This series consists mainly of drawings of animal parasites created by staff in the Beltsville Parasitological Laboratory and predecessor offices. Many of the images in this series may have been intended for use in publications. Drawings were done in pencil or pen and vary in size. Some were created on paper and some on cardboard; some paper pieces are glued to cardboard. Photographs, negatives, textual notes, or drafts of documents occasionally accompany the drawings. Approximately ten thousand drawings were re-housed, organized, and labeled with the scientific name of the parasite and the date of the drawings, if known. Materials were maintained in original order by specific parasite name in order to keep items of different formats associated with their subjects. The items were placed in acid-free envelopes and folders, and arranged alphabetically by genus and species.