Lewis, Frederick Thomas, 1875-1951

Frederick Thomas Lewis (1875-1951), BA, MA, 1897, 1898, Harvard College; MD, 1901, Harvard Medical School, was an embryologist and James Stillman Professor of Comparative Anatomy at Harvard Medical School. During his early years at Harvard Medical School, Lewis's research in embryology focused on the development of veins and lymphatic vessels. In later years, Lewis investigated the shapes and patterns of epithelial cells, concluding physical factors and geometrical principle governed the arrangement of such polyhedral bodies. Lewis also studied the history and development of the microscope, and researched, cataloged, and expanded the collection of microscopes left to Harvard Medical School by Harold C. Ernst.

Frederick Thomas Lewis (FTL) was James Stillman Professor of Comparative Anatomy at Harvard Medical School where his research focused on embryology, the development of veins and blood vessels, and the history of the development of the microscope. The son of Charles Sanford Lewis and Nettie Farnum (Brown) Lewis, he was born in Cambridge, Mass. on 18 March 1875. FTL entered Harvard College in 1893 and, having completed the required courses for a bachelor’s degree, spent his fourth year at Harvard College in advanced courses in biology. He was awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1897 with special honors in natural history and, based on the advanced courses he had completed in biology, was awarded a Master of Arts degree in 1898. He entered Harvard Medical School (HMS) in 1897 and received the MD in 1901. He married Ethel May Stickney on 30 July 1904, and they had one child.

Following graduation FTL returned to HMS as Austin Teaching Fellow in Embryology in 1901. He remained at HMS, becoming an Instructor in Histology 1902-1906, Assistant Professor of Embryology 1915-1931, and James Stillman Professor of Comparative Anatomy 1931-1941. In 1941 he retired as Emeritus.

During his first two decades at HMS, FTL’s research in embryology focused on the development of veins and lymphatic vessels. In later years he investigated the shapes and patterns of epithelial cells, concluding that physical factors and geometrical principle governed the arrangement of such polyhedral bodies. He contributed chapters regarding the development of the digestive system for a volume entitled Human Embryology edited by Keibel and Mall in 1910. He became the author of a widely used textbook, Histology (based on Stohr’s Histologie ), first published in 1906.

During his years at HMS, FTL became an authority on the history and development of the microscope; he researched, cataloged, and expanded the collection of microscopes left to HMS by Professor Harold C. Ernst. He collected many books, pamphlets, letters, and artifacts pertaining to the history of medicine and mounted exhibits on anatomy, embryology, and histology in the corridors of the Department of Anatomy.

FTL also maintained active memberships in a number of professional organizations, acting as editor of The American Naturalist 1907-1908, and associate editor of The Anatomical Record 1908-1921. While a member of the American Association of Anatomists he served on the executive committee 1909-1913, as vice-president 1914-1916, and as president 1936-1938. He was a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the Royal Microscope Society. He was both a councillor 1913-1926 and vice-president 1926-1929 of the Boston Society of Natural History. FTL died at his home in Waban, Massachusetts on 2 June 1951, at the age of 76.