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Fingerprints were first used to determine identity. Arabic merchants would take a debtor's fingerprint and attach it to the bill.
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A professor at the University of Bologna, in Italy, named Marcello Malpighi was first to notice fingerprint patterns however he did not mention this tool for individual identification in his treaties. He was first note in ridges, spirals and loops in fingerprints.
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John Evangelist Purkinji, a professor of anatomy at the University of Breslau, published his thesis about 9 fingerprint patterns. However, he too never mentions the value of fingerprints for individual identification.
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In 1858, Sir William Herschel required Indians to sign with prints. He was also the first to realize fingerprints can be used for identification purposes.
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In 1880, Dr. Henry Faulds, a doctor in Tokyo became very interested in fingerprinting. He used fingerprints to identify who left a stray bottle lying around. Faulds published an article in the Scientific Journal, "Nature"
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Gilbert Thompson of the U.S. Geological Survey in New Mexico, used his own thumb print on a document to help prevent forgery.
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Using a bloody fingerprint left on a doorframe, police in Argentina were able to solve a crime. During the same year, certain police groups started keeping fingerprint files.
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The New York State Prison system began the first systematic use of fingerprints in U.S. for criminals.
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On the 21st of December in 1911, the Illinois State Supreme Court declared the use of fingerprint evidence as unacceptable, therefore fingerprints are a reliable form of identification.
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Over time, the advances in technology caused programs to began using Automated Fingerprint Identification Systems. The AFIS's scanned and stored fingerprints electronically.
