Historical epidemiology-the study of past disease control interventions and their impacts on the dynamics of disease transmission-holds the promise of creating a more robust and more nuanced foundation for global public health decision-making by developing an empirical record from which we can draw historical lessons. It can unearth past successes and failures in order to suggest alternative or hybrid approaches to the control of epidemic or endemic disease processes. What should be done to institutionalize its practice? This keynote lecture for the "Defining the Neglected Tropical Diseases: Research, Development, and Global Health Equity, 1970-present" conference will be delivered by Prof. James L.A. Webb, Jr., Emeritus Professor at Colby College and Fulbright Visiting Professor at the University of Botswana.