Boyd, Mark F., 1889-1968

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Boyd, Mark F., 1889-1968

Mark F. Boyd (1889-1968), a physician, researcher and writer, specialized in tropical medicine, and his research on malaria brought him international recognition. The Rockefeller Foundation selected Boyd to conduct research on malarial regions of the

western hemisphere. He was elected President of the American Society of Tropical Medicine, and received awards for his achievements in tropical medicine. For 16 years Boyd served as an officer of the National Malaria Society and became president of the organization in 1946. Boyd also wrote a number of articles on public health and served on the Florida State Board of Public Health. He collected materials dealing with medicine, malariology, and other branches of science.

Boyd's malaria research often required travel to foreign countries, which stimulated his interest in Spanish colonial history, especially the settlement of Florida. Based on original historical documents he collected and other sources, Boyd wrote several articles, published in the Florida Historical Quarterly, as well as a book, Here They Once Stood; the Tragic End of the Apalachee Missions (1951). He served as president of the Florida Historical Association and as historian of Florida National Parks.

In addition to these pursuits, Boyd studied astronomy, ecology botany, and other fields, recording observations and compiling published information on these topics.