Henry Shaler Williams
Encyclopedia
Henry Shaler Williams was an American geologist.
He was a graduate of Yale University
and student of Louis Agassiz
who lectured at Cornell. In 1871, he taught for a year at Transylvania University
and then worked in business with his father in Ithaca, New York until joining the Cornell University faculty in 1879. From 1892 to 1904 he was Professor of Geology at Yale University
and Professor of Geology at Cornell University from 1904 until 1912 when he was named Emeritus Professor.
He was a leader in and early member of Sigma Xi
honorary society, 1886, and The Geological Society of America
, 1888. He was particularly influential in the development of Sigma Xi, serving as a mentor to the founders and as president of the fledgling organization at Cornell University.
He was a graduate of Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
and student of Louis Agassiz
Louis Agassiz
Jean Louis Rodolphe Agassiz was a Swiss paleontologist, glaciologist, geologist and a prominent innovator in the study of the Earth's natural history. He grew up in Switzerland and became a professor of natural history at University of Neuchâtel...
who lectured at Cornell. In 1871, he taught for a year at Transylvania University
Transylvania University
Transylvania University is a private, undergraduate liberal arts college in Lexington, Kentucky, United States, affiliated with the Christian Church . The school was founded in 1780. It offers 38 majors, and pre-professional degrees in engineering and accounting...
and then worked in business with his father in Ithaca, New York until joining the Cornell University faculty in 1879. From 1892 to 1904 he was Professor of Geology at Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
and Professor of Geology at Cornell University from 1904 until 1912 when he was named Emeritus Professor.
He was a leader in and early member of Sigma Xi
Sigma Xi
Sigma Xi: The Scientific Research Society is a non-profit honor society which was founded in 1886 at Cornell University by a junior faculty member and a handful of graduate students. Members elect others on the basis of their research achievements or potential...
honorary society, 1886, and The Geological Society of America
Geological Society of America
The Geological Society of America is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of the geosciences. The society was founded in New York in 1888 by Alexander Winchell, John J. Stevenson, Charles H. Hitchcock, John R. Proctor and Edward Orton and has been headquartered at 3300 Penrose...
, 1888. He was particularly influential in the development of Sigma Xi, serving as a mentor to the founders and as president of the fledgling organization at Cornell University.