Laidlaw, Harry Hyde, 1907-

Professor Laidlaw served as a faculty member in the Department of Entomology, UC Davis from 1947-1974. He was best known for developing artificial insemination technology for honey bees.

From the description of Papers, 1882-2000. (University of California, Davis). WorldCat record id: 53989045

Biography

Biographical Narrative

Harry Hyde Laidlaw (April 12, 1907-September 19, 2003) was born in Houston and spent his late boyhood and teen years in Virginia, Florida and Louisiana. His keen interest in bee breeding started in childhood and he began working as a beekeeper with his grandfather, Charles Quinn. Together they experimented with mating queen bees and control breeding.

In 1934, Laidlaw completed a master's degree in entomology from Louisiana State University; in 1939, he earned a doctorate in genetics and entomology from the University of Wisconsin.

Two years later, he was inducted into the U.S. Army, commissioned, and served as the Army entomologist for the First Service Command in Boston. While there, he met Ruth Collins. They were married in 1946 and made their first home in New York City, where he worked as a civilian entomologist for the Army.

In 1947, he joined the UCD department of entomology. Best known for developing artificial insemination technology for honey bees -- and recognized by peers worldwide as the "father of honey bee genetics" -- his contributions enabled selective breeding of honey bees and the fundamental study of insect genetics.

He authored numerous scientific publications and four books, and was the recipient of national and international awards for his research and his service to the university, agriculture and the beekeeping industry.

In addition, he served as the first associate dean for research in the College of Agriculture in 1969. He retired from UCD in 1974, but remained active in outreach efforts on its behalf. From 1980 to 1985 he established a honey bee breeding program for the Egyptian Ministry of Agriculture as part of a joint UC-Egypt agricultural development program. He continued to publish scientific papers and modify and refine his instruments for artificial insemination, and wrote two new books. Laidlaw published his last scientific paper at age 87 and his last book at 90.

In 2001, UCD's Bee Biology laboratory was renamed the Harry H. Laidlaw Jr. Honey Bee Research Facility.

From the guide to the Harry Hyde Laidlaw Papers, 1882-2000, (University of California, Davis. General Library. Dept. of Special Collections.)