Alfred King’s Forgotten Fossil Footprints

Posted by on May 11, 2015 in | Comments Off on Alfred King’s Forgotten Fossil Footprints The science of paleontology – the study of ancient life based on fossils – began in Western Europe about 1800. It soon cropped up in the United States, as the populace of a young and growing nation discovered many fossils. Among these early discoveries were those of fossil footprints, most famously found during the early 1800s in the Connecticut River Valley of Massachusetts and...
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Joseph Leidy, A Natural Observer

Posted by on Nov 24, 2013 in | Comments Off on Joseph Leidy, A Natural Observer The life of naturalist Joseph Leidy (1823-1891) was one of quiet dedication, but revolutionary achievement. He preferred to allow his research, published findings, and academic distinction to speak for him. When the modest father of paleontology in North America died in Philadelphia on April 30, 1891, local institutions quickly paid tribute. The Academy of Natural Sciences immediately passed a...
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Pennsylvania’s First State Geologist: Henry Darwin Rogers

Posted by on Nov 20, 2013 in | Comments Off on Pennsylvania’s First State Geologist: Henry Darwin Rogers Geology made Pennsylvania what it is today. The mining of anthracite and bituminous coal, the drilling for petroleum, and the production of iron and steel in the Commonwealth long drove the economy of the United States. Elucidating the history of the geological study of Pennsylvania is an integral part of comprehending its history. Henry Darwin Rogers (1808–1866), the first State Geologist of...
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