Conquerors of Yellow Fever, a painting by Dean Cornwell, circa 1940, Claude Moore Health Sciences Library, University of Virginia
Welcome to the U.S. Army Yellow Fever Commission online exhibit! These web pages tell the story of how the U.S. Army Commission, comprised of Major Walter Reed, Dr. James Carroll, Dr. Aristides Agramonte, and Dr. Jesse Lazear, confirmed Carlos Finlay’s theory about the transmission of yellow fever. By showing without a doubt that mosquitoes were the vector for yellow fever, the researchers empowered public health officials in the Americas to eradicate this devastating disease from much of the Western Hemisphere.
The exhibit is divided into three main sections. The first section, Archives, provides information about and links to the Philip S. Hench Walter Reed Yellow Fever Collection. The collection, most collected by Philip S. Hench and housed at the University of Virginia’s Claude Moore Health Sciences Library, is a rich archive of materials that documents the history of the U.S. Army Yellow Fever Commission. The second section, History, tells the story of the U.S. Army Yellow Fever Commission and the impact of its findings. Finally, the third section, Resources, provides access to biographies, bibliographies, and other resources visitors may want to consult to learn more about the Commission and the history of yellow fever.
The Claude Moore Health Sciences Library will be making periodic changes to this exhibit to ensure that we are providing a rich experience to our visitors. If you have any questions or concerns about the online exhibit, please direct them to the Historical Collections and Services Department of the Claude Moore Health Sciences Library.