Amadeus William Grabau
Encyclopedia
Amadeus William Grabau was a German-American paleontologist and geologist
who was born on January 9, 1870 in Cedarburg, Wisconsin
in the United States
and died on March 20, 1946 in Peking, China
. He was employed as faculty at MIT and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
. In 1901 he became a professor at Columbia University
in New York
and he later become professor at Peking National University
in 1919. As part of his life's work, he conducted a geologic survey of China, and is now known as the father of Chinese geology. He was also a prolific author, publishing at least 10 books in the first half of the 20th century. Grabau developed various theories
during his lifetime, among them the theory of rhythms concerning the growth of the earth's crust
and a theory concerning mountain building and creation
. The Dorsum Grabau
, a wrinkle ridge on the Moon
is named after him. For a biography of Grabau and his wife, the Jewish writer Mary Antin
, see "A Romance in Natural History: The Lives and Works of Amadeus Grabau and Mary Antin," by Allan Mazur, Syracuse University.
from the National Academy of Sciences
for most important service to geology and paleontology.
Geologist
A geologist is a scientist who studies the solid and liquid matter that constitutes the Earth as well as the processes and history that has shaped it. Geologists usually engage in studying geology. Geologists, studying more of an applied science than a theoretical one, must approach Geology using...
who was born on January 9, 1870 in Cedarburg, Wisconsin
Cedarburg, Wisconsin
Cedarburg is a city in Ozaukee County, Wisconsin, United States with Cedar Creek running through it. The city is bordered by the Village of Grafton to the east and the Town of Cedarburg elsewhere...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and died on March 20, 1946 in Peking, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. He was employed as faculty at MIT and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Stephen Van Rensselaer established the Rensselaer School on November 5, 1824 with a letter to the Rev. Dr. Samuel Blatchford, in which van Rensselaer asked Blatchford to serve as the first president. Within the letter he set down several orders of business. He appointed Amos Eaton as the school's...
. In 1901 he became a professor at Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and he later become professor at Peking National University
Peking University
Peking University , colloquially known in Chinese as Beida , is a major research university located in Beijing, China, and a member of the C9 League. It is the first established modern national university of China. It was founded as Imperial University of Peking in 1898 as a replacement of the...
in 1919. As part of his life's work, he conducted a geologic survey of China, and is now known as the father of Chinese geology. He was also a prolific author, publishing at least 10 books in the first half of the 20th century. Grabau developed various theories
Theory
The English word theory was derived from a technical term in Ancient Greek philosophy. The word theoria, , meant "a looking at, viewing, beholding", and referring to contemplation or speculation, as opposed to action...
during his lifetime, among them the theory of rhythms concerning the growth of the earth's crust
Crust (geology)
In geology, the crust is the outermost solid shell of a rocky planet or natural satellite, which is chemically distinct from the underlying mantle...
and a theory concerning mountain building and creation
Orogeny
Orogeny refers to forces and events leading to a severe structural deformation of the Earth's crust due to the engagement of tectonic plates. Response to such engagement results in the formation of long tracts of highly deformed rock called orogens or orogenic belts...
. The Dorsum Grabau
Dorsum Grabau
Dorsum Grabau is a wrinkle ridge at in Mare Imbrium on the Moon. It is 121 km long and was named after Amadeus William Grabau in 1976....
, a wrinkle ridge on the Moon
Moon
The Moon is Earth's only known natural satellite,There are a number of near-Earth asteroids including 3753 Cruithne that are co-orbital with Earth: their orbits bring them close to Earth for periods of time but then alter in the long term . These are quasi-satellites and not true moons. For more...
is named after him. For a biography of Grabau and his wife, the Jewish writer Mary Antin
Mary Antin
Mary Antin was an American author and immigration rights activist.Born to a Jewish family in Polotsk, she immigrated to the Boston area with her mother and siblings in 1894. She married Amadeus William Grabau in 1901, and moved to New York City where she attended Teachers College of Columbia...
, see "A Romance in Natural History: The Lives and Works of Amadeus Grabau and Mary Antin," by Allan Mazur, Syracuse University.
Recognition
In 1936, Grabau was awarded the Mary Clark Thompson MedalMary Clark Thompson Medal
The Mary Clark Thompson Medal is awarded by the U.S. National Academy of Sciences "for most important service to geology and paleontology." Named after Mary Clark Thompson, it was first awarded in 1921.- List of Mary Clark Thompson Medal winners :...
from the National Academy of Sciences
United States National Academy of Sciences
The National Academy of Sciences is a corporation in the United States whose members serve pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine." As a national academy, new members of the organization are elected annually by current members, based on their distinguished and...
for most important service to geology and paleontology.
Books
A list of books written by Grabau, and their publication dates.- North American Index Fossils (1909, 1910)
- Grabau A. W. & Shimer H. W. 1909. Invertebrates. Volume I.. A. G. Seiler & Company, New York. (alternate scan)
- Grabau A. W. & Shimer H. W. 1910. Invertebrates. Volume II.. New York.
- Principles of Stratigraphy (1913)
- Textbook of Geology (1920–21) Two volumes
- Silurian Fossils of Yunnan (1920)
- Ordovician Fossils of North China (1921)
- Paleozoic Corals of China (1921)
- Stratigraphy of China (1924–25)
- Migration of Geosynclines (1924)
- Early Permian Fossils of China (1934)
- Rhythm of the Ages (1940)
External links
- works by Amadeus William Grabau at Internet archiveInternet ArchiveThe Internet Archive is a non-profit digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge". It offers permanent storage and access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, music, moving images, and nearly 3 million public domain books. The Internet Archive...