Iowa Geology: The Early Years

In 1975 on the occasion of the first one hundred years of the Iowa Academy of Science, Robert W. Hanson summarized the history of the organization. Additional historical accounts covering many of the science disciplines were published during the centennial year. Although geology was not treated separately in these special articles, the contributions of early geologists were important to the development of science in our state. Consequently, it is appropriate to consider the contributions of early geologists in Iowa in celebration of the one hundredth annual meeting of the Iowa Academy of Science. Included in the present report are the contributions of R. Ellsworth Call, Samuel Calvin, James Hall, Charles Keyes, W.J. McGee, David D. Owen, Frank Springer, Orestes Sc. John, James Todd, Charles Wachsmuth, Charles White, and A.H. Worthen. Correspondence in 1892 between Charles Keyes and Samuel Calvin provides historical background on the political climate in Iowa at the time of the establishment of the Iowa Geological Survey. Highlights of this correspondence are reported