‘Nice to meet you, my name is Galdino Ramos’: a scientific biography of a forensic identification pioneer in Brazil

Abstract

Galdino Martins de Souza Ramos (1880–1964) played a pivotal role in advancing friction ridge examination in Brazil, contributing significantly to the science of identification through papillary impressions. A graduate of the Faculty of Medicine of Rio de Janeiro, he authored the thesis “Da identificação” (1906), one of Brazil’s earliest works on the subject. He collaborated extensively with the journal Amazonas Médico and engaged in scientific exchanges with Juan Vucetich and Edmond Locard. Beyond his forensic contributions, he was actively involved in educational, political, and cultural initiatives in Amazonas, including pioneering the state’s first dentistry course. Notably, his collaboration with anthropologist Roquette-Pinto on the arch fingerprint pattern among Indigenous peoples of Rondônia underscored his multidisciplinary approach and commitment to scientific exploration.

Keywords
Forensic medicine; Forensic identification; Fingerprint; History of science; Biography