1918 HARRIS HAWTHORNE WILDER
A Professor of Zoology Smith College, Massachusetts, Wilder’s initial research was related to the development of the volar surface.
Wilder only became interested in dermatoglyphics when he recognised the striking resemblance of the volar friction ridge between humans.
Wilder was the first person to suggest that friction ridge patterns were a reflection of the topology of the volar pads.
H.H Wilder published his first paper in 1897, only the first of many on the topic of dermatoglyphics. In 1918, he co-authored a book with Bert Wentworth, former Police Commissioner of Dover, New Hampshire, entitled Personal Identification. Wilder quickly became one of the leading people in this field of fingerprint research.
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