Farrington Daniels Jr. was born September 29, 1918, in Worcester, Massachusetts to Dr. Farrington Daniels and Olive Bell Daniels. In 1920, his family moved to Madison, Wisconsin. Daniels attended Wisconsin High School, was a member of the Debate Team, and graduated as valedictorian in 1936. He married Alice Monroe of New York on June 9, 1951, in Wilton, Connecticut. They had three children; Elizabeth (Betsy), born September 24, 1952; George, December 14, 1953; and Christopher, November 22, 1957. Upon his retirement in 1984, Dr. and Mrs. Daniels returned to Madison, Wisconsin.
Dr. Daniels enrolled at the University of Wisconsin in 1936 and graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Zoology in 1940. He was active in the academic honors fraternity, Alpha Delta Phi, during 1936-1940, and was initiated as a member of Phi Beta Kappa in 1940. He then attended the University of Wisconsin graduate school completing a Master of Arts degree in Zoology in 1942 and two years of medical school.
After his academic career at the University of Wisconsin, Dr. Daniels transferred to the Harvard Medical School where he received his Medical Degree in 1943 under the United States Army accelerated course titled “Army Specialized Training Program.” During his time in the Army Specialized Training Program, he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Army, although this appointment was temporary until he completed his medical studies.
From June 1943 until December 1943, Dr. Daniels was classified as a Private First Class (PFC) in the United States Army. He was temporarily commissioned as 1st Lieutenant during his medical internship from December 1943 until October 1944 at the Lawson General Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia. After completing the 62nd Officers Course in the Medical Field Service School from November 20 to December 30, 1944, he was officially commissioned as 1st Lieutenant in the Medical Corps. Dr. Daniels served in Luzon, Philippine Islands in the Medical Corps from 1944 to 1947. He received a promotion to Captain on October 15, 1945. Dr. Daniels was discharged from military service on June 9, 1947.
Dr. Daniels continued to work with the United States Army as a civilian employee in the Quality Management division. As a Biologist (Physiologist) he conducted laboratory and field investigations on the effects of heat and cold on personnel, the effects of clothing on the skin, and research on atomic bomb sites. He conducted much of his research at the New York Hospital. It was during this time that his research concentration became focused on dermatology. Dr. Daniels' employment with the United States Army ended in 1955 after he accepted a position as Professor of Dermatology with the University of Oregon.
Dr. Daniels held positions as Professor of Dermatology at the University of Oregon (1955 to 1961), the University of Illinois (1961 to 1962), and Cornell University/The New York Hospital (1962 to 1984). He served as the Dean of Dermatology from 1966 until 1981. After his retirement from Cornell University/The New York Hospital in 1984, he accepted an appointment of Visiting Professor of Medicine at the University of Wisconsin-Madison from 1985 to 1990.
