Leander F. Williams Collection of the Connecticut Mastitis Control Program

The work on mastitis at the University began under the supervision of Wayne Plastridge, hired as a Bacteriologist at the Storrs Agricultural Experiment Station in 1928. Hired as a Microbiologist in 1936, Leander (Lee) Williams, who held the position until his retirement in 1980, worked with Dr. Plastridge. Williams collected the early publications of ground breaking research conducted by the 'Plastridge and Williams' team. Bound into 6 volumes, one book for each specific animal disease researched and one book for miscellaneous papers. According to Williams, their team “established research patterns that others follow". Their research determined methods used to isolate the causative bacteria; and for bovine mastitis they also determined the disease process so that they could then determine how to control the disease. For bovine mastitis they also determined the best way to conduct statewide surveillance programs for the disease. Many of these methods were used on a nationwide basis after their discovery and implementation at the University of Connecticut.

The work of the Connecticut Mastitis Control Program, as well as other activities, is continued by the Connecticut Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory.