Norman Mitlin Papers

Collection

Identifier: MS0326

Staff Only

Content Description

The Norman Mitlin Papers consist of 29 boll weevil articles (1964-1977) authored by Mitlin, 30 of Mitlin's handwritten laboratory notebooks (1953-1975) from the Boll Weevil Research Laboratory, drafts, correspondence, and photographs. Most of the articles deal with the development of insect sterilization methods. There is correspondence between Mitlin and Mississippi State University, where he taught graduate school classes, and documentation related to his training.

Dates

Creation: 1950-1979

Conditions Governing Access

Contact Special Collections for access.

Biographical Sketch

Norman Mitlin (1918-2003) began his career as a research entomologist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in Beltsville, Maryland in 1949. He specialized in the development of synthetic insecticides and later in the toxicology and physiology of insects. He was a pioneer in developing methods of using chemicals to sexually sterilize insects. In 1961, he was transferred to the USDA Boll Weevil Research Laboratory at Mississippi State University, Starkville. He headed a unit that was responsible for developing methods of sterilizing the boll weevil. His methods were incorporated into a program that effectively eliminated the boll weevil as a major pest. While working at the Boll Weevil Laboratory, Mitlin served as an adjunct professor at Mississippi State University in the entomology department. Mitlin retired in 1978 from the USDA.