the rutgers geology museum: america’s first …...the rutgers geology museum: america’s first...
TRANSCRIPT
The Rutgers Geology Museum: America’s first geology museum
and the last 200 years of geoscience education.
Presented by
Dr. Lauren Neitzke-Adamo
Rutgers Geology Museum Director
The Inception of Geology in Europe
The start of Geology was the combination of 3
different fields of study.
• Long-debated theoretical ideas about the history of
the earth—natural philosophy
• The collection and classification of minerals, fossils
and other curiosities from underground—natural
history
• The management of mines—practical mining
The Rise of Geology in the United States
• 1750’s- First speculative maps of North America
presented in Paris.
• After the American Revolution, the first “geological”
studies were commissioned and published.
• Early geologists were all trained in Europe.
The Rise of Geology in the United States
• 1750’s- First speculative maps of North America
presented in Paris.
• After the American Revolution, the first “geological”
studies were commissioned and published.
• Early geologists were all trained in Europe.
• Mitchill was one of the earliest and most
influential geologists, trained in Edinburgh.
• 1787- Samuel Latham Mitchill publishes
“Geological Remarks on the maritime
Parts of the State of New York”
• 1792- Mitchill teaches chemistry and
natural history at Columbia
Samuel Latham Mitchill
Early Geology Community in United States
• 1809- William
Maclure publishes
geologic maps
Geologic map published by Maclure and
included in Cleaveland’s geolgy text book.
William Maclure
The Rise of Geology in the United States
• 1816- Parker
Cleaveland publishes
first geology text book.
Parker Cleaveland
The Rise of Geology in the United States
• 1818- Geology articles
begin appearing in the
American Journal of
Science
• 1830’s- NJ, NY, PA and
others launch their own
geological surveys
“Silliman’s Journal”
“Cabinets of Curiosities”
Public Geology Lectures
• Public lectures were offered to the public by many
colleges and universities.
• Often put together at the request of students.
Geology at Rutgers University
• 1829- President was notified that John Finch was ready to teach a
Geology course once a space and time were assigned.
• 1830- Student run Society for Natural History requests funds for a cabinet
for the reception and preservation of specimens they collected.
• Englishman, John Finch hired to teach first lecture series in geology at
Rutgers (15 lectures).
• Lecture series and first “cabinet”
of mineral petitioned by
students.
Geology at Rutgers University
• 1830- University hires Lewis C. Beck teach
Geology and Mineralogy instead of Finch
• Beck professional ties to Silliman and
trained by Amos Eaton (famous early
geologist at Rensselaer.
• Worked on the geology of Eerie Canal.
• Typical of early geologist (doctors,
clergymen, etc.), Beck was a botanist,
chemist, professor, and geologist. Even
worked for what would become the FDA.
• Taught mineralogy and geology as part of
Natural History and Chemistry at RU.
• Published on geology and mineralogy of NY
and NJ.
• 3,000+ piece personal collection of
minerals.
Lewis C. Beck
A
B
C
D
• Oldest scientific
collection at Rutgers.
• Embodiment of science
at RU at time.
• Still on display today.
• Contains many NJ and
NY specimen.
• Localities no longer
exist.
The Beck Collection
George Cook and the Morrill Act
George H. Cook
• 1853- George H. Cook
appointed to succeed Beck.
• Raised in NJ, attended
Rensselaer (trained by Eaton).
• Several other teaching position
before he came to RU.
• 1856- Given honorary PhD (no
earned PhDs until 1863.
• 1864- Became state geologist
of NJ
• Was originally Professor of
Chemistry and Natural History,
before he became Professor of
Geology and Agriculture
George Cook and the Morrill Act
George H. Cook
• 1864- As VP of University Cook
lobbied for funds after the passing of
the Morrill Act under Lincoln.
• Faculty committee proposal for an
observatory, astronomical apparatus
and need for resources for scientific
instruction, 1864 (first proposal for
museum)
• Land Grant Status granted in April
1864
– Competition was Princeton and
State Normal School in Trenton.
• Schanck Observatory built in 1866
• Geology Hall completed in 1872
• First structure devoted to scientific
instruction and home to Geology,
Physics, and Military Science
George Cook and the Morrill Act
Schanck Observatory
Geology Hall
George Cook and the Morrill Act
Schanck Observatory
Geology Hall
Cook purchased
the Mannington
Mastodon in
1870 for $300.
Mounted in 1892
after Cook’s
death.
Henry Janeway Hardenbergh
Geology Hall
• Architect of Geology Hall and
Kirkpatrick Chapel.
• Great-great-grandson of 1st RU
president.
• Also designed the Waldorf-Astoria
Hotel and Dakota building in New
York City. Dakota Building
Waldorf-Astoria
Early Natural History Museums and Lyceums
• Many records of early self
run ”museums” and
lyceums in the 1700’s and
1800’s.
• Geology started to shift
away from “citizen
science” and towards
universities.
• Collections were sold off
or transferred to new
institutional homes.
• Peale Museum
transferred to American
Museum in 1790.
Charles Willson Peale- “An Artist in
His Museum”
Year Museum1845 New York “State Cabinet of Natural History”
1846 Smithsonian Institution
1859 Harvard’s Museum of Comparative Zoology
1866 Yale’s Peabody Museum
1869 American Museum of Natural History in New York City
1872 Rutgers Geology Museum
1874 Colorado School of Mines Geology Museum
1884 Arizona Mining and Mineral Museum
1877 University of Wisconsin-Madison Geology Museum
1885 South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
Geology Museum
Late 1880’s Fryxell Geology Museum in Illinois
Early Natural History Museums and Lyceums
Year Museum1845 New York “State Cabinet of Natural History”
1846 Smithsonian Institution
1859 Harvard’s Museum of Comparative Zoology
1866 Yale’s Peabody Museum
1869 American Museum of Natural History in New York City
1872 Rutgers Geology Museum
1874 Colorado School of Mines Geology Museum
1884 Arizona Mining and Mineral Museum
1877 University of Wisconsin-Madison Geology Museum
1885 South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
Geology Museum
Late 1880’s Fryxell Geology Museum in Illinois
Early Natural History Museums and Lyceums
First American Museum
specifically dedicated to
geology.
Early Years and Curators at the Museum
• Taught chemistry, mineralogy,
and natural history at Hamilton
College from 1870 to 1891
• Published a comprehensive
catalogue of mineral names
and compositions
• Worked with state of NY to
relabel their large mineral
collection (collected by Beck).
• 1892- A.H. Chester hired as
first museum curator.
• Increased the museum
collection by close to 5,000
specimen, later donated to
museum
Chester
Collection
Early Years and Curators at the Museum
• 1893- William S. Valiant hired
as assistant curator.
• 1903- Named curator after
Chester’s death.
• Responsible for reorganizing
and labeling the almost 30,000
specimen in collections.
• Self taught geologist
• Made huge improvements to
the space and collections at the
museum.
• Acting as director of the
museum well before his time.
• 1899- Right whale and spider
crab mounted
• Start of educational mission.
Geology Courses at the Geology Museum
• Focus of early faculty was teaching and maintaining the exhibits in the
museum.
How did students conduct research?
Visual scrutiny of objects
The Department of Geological Sciences
• 1920s- Museum and Geology take
over more of space in building
• 1931- Geology officially becomes a
department
• Albert Hayes responsible for
expanding faculty and courses
(1928-1945)
• Focus of Department turned to
research under tenure of Dick
Olson.
• Museum still open and faculty
involved in exhibits.
• First Open House in 1968
• 1977- Department moved to
another campus, marked end of
active research in the museum.
Albert Hayes
The Department of Geological Sciences
Museum as Outreach Center for Community
• Outreach center for NJ and Rutgers Community
• K-12 tours offered for first time in the 1970’s
• Varity of tours, events, and field trips offered to
all ages and special interest groups that cover
Next Generation Science Standards.
• Partner with centers and groups within and
outside of Rutgers.
• Provide professional development and training in
science teaching for STEM Graduate Students.
Field Station Dinosaurs
Conclusions
• The Rutgers Geology Museum is America’s first Geology Museum!
• Unique that the original collections are still housed in the original space and the
structural components are in tact.
• The acquisition of the collections and the demand for geology courses was
entirely student lead (Society for Natural History).
• Mineral and Fossil collections remained the focal point of the faculty’s interest
and courses for several decades.
• Since the 1970’s the museum has remained an outreach center for the
University and the NJ community.
• Create awareness about global issues related to Earth Sciences and expand
learning and understanding in the K-20 and older communities.
