Early Survey Work and the Roots of Geological Education in the Carolinas
1985; History of Earth Sciences Society; Volume: 4; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês
10.17704/eshi.4.1.rw7718871p778878
ISSN1944-6187
Autores Tópico(s)History of Science and Natural History
ResumoSince the birth of the first state geological survey in 1823, all fifty of the United States have funded projects related to geology at one time or another. Most states operate vigorous geological surveys today. The first state-sponsored survey in the United States was conducted in North Carolina from 1823 to 1825 by Denison Olmsted and from 1825 to 1827 by Elisha Mitchell. Both were on the faculty of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The second state survey was carried out by Lardner Vanuxem in South Carolina from 1824 to 1826. At the same time, Vanuxem was professor of geology at the College of South Carolina in Columbia. These individuals were among the first to teach college-level courses related to geology anywhere in the southern states. Indeed, Vanuxem occupied the first chair in geology to be created at a state school in the United States. Summer involvement with state survey work opened new opportunities for active field research, student associates, and the enrichment of the school-year curriculum. Although the initial Carolina surveys were modest, unsophisticated efforts by comparison with projects only a few years later, the general pattern was clearly set for the close, mutually beneficial association of state survey agencies and universities commonly found today.
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