| Author | Message | ||
     Ernie Hamm (Unregistered Guest) Unregistered guest Posted From: adsl-154-199-124.jax.bellsouth.net |
Sounds like an interesting topic. A possible source of information would be the Joint (formerly USA) Central Identification Laboratory in Hawaii. This agency could have historical sources for post mortem identification procedures. The Army and Navy Fingerprint Department was, at one time, the largest retainer of fingerprint records in the United States until they relinquished their files to the FBI. The accumulation of records by the Army/Navy probably occurred because they became more involved in the identification value of fingerprints than other agencies in the early days of fingerprint identification. However, post mortem identification would have been an accepted extension of the use of fingerprints as a means of personal identification of deceased and unknown individuals. The military would not necessarily have recognized and applied this methodology any earlier than a civilian law enforcement agency. Of course, the events of WW I most certainly impacted the use of post mortem identification techniques. Good luck on your research and I will post any historical material I find. However, most references deal with techniques in overcoming difficulties with friction skin conditions and historical information is anecdotical. | ||
| AJ (Unregistered Guest) Unregistered guest Posted From: 204.249.77.1 |
I am researching the historical context of the use of fingerprints to identify the dead. I am having very little luck other than FBI Disaster Squad info from 1940 on. The military began using fingerprints in the early 1900's, does anyone have information about the use of fingerprints to identify remains prior to 1940? Thank you for your assistance!!! |
