National Institutes of Health (U.S.). Rocky Mountain Laboratory

Hide Profile

In response to the widespread geographic distribution of Rocky Mountain spotted fever, the Rocky Mountain Laboratory was established in Hamilton, Mont., in 1902 by the state of Montana for the Montana State Board of Entomology and the U.S. States Public Health Service. In 1928 a new building was constructed to serve the expanded work being done on Rocky Mountain spotted fever. The U.S. Public Health Service first leased and then purchased the building. In 1948, after a successful vaccine for the fever had been developed at the laboratory and the introduction of antibiotics made a cure possible, the laboratory became a part of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, a division of the National Institute of Health. It has continued to be active in research of the interrelationships of disease agents, wild and domestic animals and humans. Its location makes possible extensive animal experiment quarters and facilities for work with highly transmissible agents. The laboratory continues to study Rocky Mountain spotted fever, diseases in nature, the medical entomology of ticks, chronic viral diseases, the molecular biology of microorganisms, allergy antibodies, and immunologic aspects of diseases.

From the description of Records, 1910-1966. (Montana State University Bozeman Library). WorldCat record id: 70969091

Rocky Mountain spotted fever was first recognized in 1896 in the Snake River Valley of Idaho and was originally called "black measles" because of the characteristic rash. It was a dreaded and frequently fatal disease that affected hundreds of people in this area. By the early 1900s, the recognized geographic distribution of this disease grew to encompass parts of the United States as far north as Washington and Montana and as far south as California, Arizona, and New Mexico. In response to this severe problem, the Rocky Mountain Laboratory was established in Hamilton, Montana, 1902 by the State of Montana for the Montana State Board of Entomology and the United States Public Health Service. In 1928, a new building was constructed serve the expanded work being done on Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. Prior laboratories had been in a shack and an abandoned schoolhouse. The U.S. Public Health Service first leased and then purchased the building. In 1948, after a successful vaccine for the fever had been developed at the laboratory and the introduction of antibiotics made a cure possible, the laboratory became a part of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, a division of the National Institute of Health. It has continued to be active in research of the interrelationships of disease agents, wild and domestic animals and man. Its location makes possible extensive animal experiment quarters and facilities for work with highly transmissible agents. The laboratory continues to study Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, diseases in nature, the medical entomology of ticks, chronic viral diseases, the molecular biology of microorganisms, allergy antibodies and immunologic aspects of diseases.

From the guide to the Rocky Mountain Laboratory Records, 1910-1966, (Montana State University-Bozeman Library, Merrill G Burlingame Special Collections)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Garland, Cecil. Doris and Kelsey C. Milner papers, 1937-2007. University of Montana, Mansfield Library
referencedIn David B. Lackman Papers, 1933-1987 MSU-Bozeman Library, Merrill G Burlingame Special Collections
creatorOf Rocky Mountain Laboratory Records, 1910-1966 MSU-Bozeman Library, Merrill G Burlingame Special Collections
referencedIn Doris and Kelsey C. Milner Papers, 1937-2007 University of Montana--Missoula Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library Archives and Special Collections
creatorOf National Institutes of Health (U.S.). Rocky Mountain Laboratory. Records, 1910-1966. Montana State University (Bozeman, Mont.). Library
referencedIn Edgar Ribi Papers, 1950-1986 University of Montana--MissoulaMaureen and Mike Mansfield Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Lackman, David Buell, 1911-1990 person
correspondedWith Parker, R. R. 1888-1949 person
correspondedWith Parker, R. R. (Ralph Robinson), 1888-1949 person
associatedWith Ribi, Edgar, 1920-1986 person
correspondedWith Spencer, R. R. 1888-1982 person
correspondedWith Spencer, R. R. (Roscoe Roy), 1888-1982 person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Montana--Hamilton
Subject
Health and medicine
Medical laboratories
Medical laboratories
Montana
Rocky Mountain spotted fever
Occupation
Activity

Corporate Body

Active 1910

Active 1966

Information

Permalink: http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w68s9s1m

Ark ID: w68s9s1m

SNAC ID: 1016994