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wrote a paper describing the patterns that he saw on human hands under the microscope, including presences of ridges. -
described that the "arrangement of skin ridges is never duplicated in two persons." -
described nine distinct fingerprint patterns, including loops, spirals, circles, and double whorls. -
noted the patterns were unique to each person and were not altered by age -
created a way to identify criminals, the system sometimes is called Bertillonage- credited with solving the first murder using fingerprints. -
verified that fingerprints don't change with age.
With Sir E. R. Henry they developed the classification system for fingerprints that is still in use today in the US and Europe. -
improved fingerprint collection. Noted measurements on the identification cards of all arrested persons, as well as adding all 10 fingerprints. Devised his own fingerprint classification system and invented a better way of collecting the impressions. -
created a system that divided fingerprint records into groups based on whether they have an arch, whorl, or loop pattern. Created the ten card. -
published the first American textbook on fingerprints, "Arrangement of Fingerprints, Identification, and Their Uses." -
wrote that if 12 points (Galton's Details) were the same between two fingerprints, it would suffice as a positive identification.