Samuel Calvin (geologist)
Encyclopedia
Samuel Calvin was Iowa
's first systematic geologist, helping to make the first bedrock and landform maps of Iowa, as well as leading geological research throughout the state. He was born in Scotland, attended Lenox College
(now defunct) in Hopkinton, Iowa
, where he later taught. One of his collaborators was Thomas H. Macbride, the notable Iowa naturalist. Calvin became a University of Iowa
professor in 1873 and the Iowa State Geologist in 1892, and led the Iowa Geological Survey from 1892 until his death. Calvin documented the Devonian
and Aftonian beds of Iowa, and was an expert on Pleistocene
fauna. He was a founder of the American Geologist journal. Calvin Hall at the University of Iowa
is named for him. His photographic collection of Iowa scenes is an important collection for historians and geologists.
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
's first systematic geologist, helping to make the first bedrock and landform maps of Iowa, as well as leading geological research throughout the state. He was born in Scotland, attended Lenox College
Lenox College
Lenox College was a college in Hopkinton, Iowa that operated from 1859 until its closure in 1944. The institution was initially known as Bowen Collegiate Institute. The name was changed to Lenox Collegiate Institute in October 1864 and to Lenox College in 1884.-History:The school was affiliated...
(now defunct) in Hopkinton, Iowa
Hopkinton, Iowa
Hopkinton is a city in Delaware County, Iowa, United States. The population was 681 at the 2000 census.-History:The city is the former home of Lenox College, a small school that closed in 1944. The old campus is still maintained as a museum.-Geography:...
, where he later taught. One of his collaborators was Thomas H. Macbride, the notable Iowa naturalist. Calvin became a University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
professor in 1873 and the Iowa State Geologist in 1892, and led the Iowa Geological Survey from 1892 until his death. Calvin documented the Devonian
Devonian
The Devonian is a geologic period and system of the Paleozoic Era spanning from the end of the Silurian Period, about 416.0 ± 2.8 Mya , to the beginning of the Carboniferous Period, about 359.2 ± 2.5 Mya...
and Aftonian beds of Iowa, and was an expert on Pleistocene
Pleistocene
The Pleistocene is the epoch from 2,588,000 to 11,700 years BP that spans the world's recent period of repeated glaciations. The name pleistocene is derived from the Greek and ....
fauna. He was a founder of the American Geologist journal. Calvin Hall at the University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
is named for him. His photographic collection of Iowa scenes is an important collection for historians and geologists.