Florence Bascom
Personal Information
Born: 1862
Died: 1945
Country of Birth: USA
Nationality: USA
Ethnicity: White
Education
University of Wisconsin Madison BA 1882, BS 1884, MS Geology 1887; Johns Hopkins University 1893
Professional Life
Field of Study: Geology
Institution/Corporation: Bryn Mawr College; University of Wisconsin
Degrees & Memberships: Member: Geological Society of America (1895)Kappa Kappa Gamma*National Academy of Sciences*National Research Council*Geophysical Union
Awards & Achievements
Awards: was the only woman voted as 1 of the top 100 geologists in the country in the 1st edition of American Men of Science in 1906
Achievements: 1st professional female geologist to survey Mount Desert Island; discovered aporhyolites (a rock consisting of a felsite whose structure shows it to have been originally vitreous like some rhyolites; 1st American female geologist; earned 2 bachelors degrees, a rarity at the time; published "The Geology of Mount Desert Island" in 1919; 1896 1st female employee of the US Geological survey (USGS); 1st female recipioent of a PhD from Johns Hopkins University; 1st female to present a paper before the Geological Society of Washington in 1901; was an expert on crystallography, mineralogy, & petrography; her doctorate work explored the origins & formation of the Appalachian Mountains
known as "The Stone Lady"
during her PhD classes at Johns Hopkins University she had to sit behind a screen so she wouldn't "disturb the male students"
Father was a professor then President of the University of Wisconsin & encouraged her scientific pursuits by taking her & her siblings on trips in the area around their home to explore the wonders of nature; he also maintained an observatory & laboratory
began college at age 15
taught at Ohio State University 1893-95
founded the Dept of Geology at Bryn Mawr College 1895
was associate editor of American Geologist 1896-1908
a crater on Venus, 1985 asteroid, a prehistoric postglacial lake in Massachusetts, a geosic center in Reston virginia, an award, & a lab at Johns Hopkins University are named after her
published over 40 articles on genetic petrography, geomorphology (specifically the provenance of surficial deposits), & gravel
did not cook or iron, loved horses & dogs
a collection of her papers are housed at Smith College & another collection are at Bryn Mawr College
trained most of the female geologists in the US during the early 20th century
retired from Bryn Mawr 1928 & the USGS 1936