Bailey Willis
Encyclopedia
Bailey Willis was a geological engineer who worked for the United States Geological Survey
(USGS), and lectured at two prominent American universities. He also played a key role in getting Mount Rainier
designated as a national park in 1899. After later focusing more on seismology
, he became one of the world's leading earthquake experts of his time.
and Cornelia Grinnell Willis. At the age of thirteen he was taken to England and Germany for four years of schooling. and thus acquired fluency in German at a time when many scientific texts were only available in that language. He entered Columbia University and in five years completed his studies with the degrees of mechanical (1878) and civil (1879) engineer.
Willis married his cousin, Miss Altona Grinnell, in 1882, but she died in 1896. The couple had two children, Marion, who died in infancy, and Hope, later Mrs. Seward H. Rathbun. In 1898 he married Margaret Baker, daughter of Dr. Frank Baker of Georgetown University, who was also superintendent of the National Zoological Park. The children of his second marriage are Cornelius G. Willis, Robin Willis and Margaret (Mrs. Donald F.) Smith. The family lived for many years on the Stanford University
campus. Mrs.
Willis died in 1941
. In 1900 he was appointed as head of the Division of Areal Geology of the USGS. In 1903 he accepted the invitation of the newly established Carnegie Institution of Washington to lead an expedition to northern China, an experience which was later described in his book Friendly China. From 1910 until 1914 he consulted for the government of Argentina
an experience later recorded in his book a Yanqui in Patagonia. He led a vigorous public campaign in the 1920s to raise awareness of earthquake hazards and safe building practices. After finishing his work with the USGS, he was appointed as a professor and chairman of the geology department at Stanford University
, where he served until 1922. In 1920, he was elected to the National Academy of the Sciences. He was president of the Seismological Society of America
from 1921 to 1926, during which time he published his Geologic Structures. In 1932, he published "Isthmian Links" in the Bulletin of the Geological Society of America. Among the numerous honors which came to Willis during his long life, were an honorary Ph.D. degree from the University of Berlin and the Gold Medal of the Société de Géographie
of France in 1910, the Legion of Honor, Belgium, in 1936, and in 1944 he was awarded the Penrose Medal
by the Geological Society of America
.
United States Geological Survey
The United States Geological Survey is a scientific agency of the United States government. The scientists of the USGS study the landscape of the United States, its natural resources, and the natural hazards that threaten it. The organization has four major science disciplines, concerning biology,...
(USGS), and lectured at two prominent American universities. He also played a key role in getting Mount Rainier
Mount Rainier
Mount Rainier is a massive stratovolcano located southeast of Seattle in the state of Washington, United States. It is the most topographically prominent mountain in the contiguous United States and the Cascade Volcanic Arc, with a summit elevation of . Mt. Rainier is considered one of the most...
designated as a national park in 1899. After later focusing more on seismology
Seismology
Seismology is the scientific study of earthquakes and the propagation of elastic waves through the Earth or through other planet-like bodies. The field also includes studies of earthquake effects, such as tsunamis as well as diverse seismic sources such as volcanic, tectonic, oceanic,...
, he became one of the world's leading earthquake experts of his time.
Early life and family
Bailey Willis was born March 31, 1857, the son of poet and publisher Nathaniel Parker WillisNathaniel Parker Willis
Nathaniel Parker Willis , also known as N. P. Willis, was an American author, poet and editor who worked with several notable American writers including Edgar Allan Poe and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. He became the highest-paid magazine writer of his day. For a time, he was the employer of former...
and Cornelia Grinnell Willis. At the age of thirteen he was taken to England and Germany for four years of schooling. and thus acquired fluency in German at a time when many scientific texts were only available in that language. He entered Columbia University and in five years completed his studies with the degrees of mechanical (1878) and civil (1879) engineer.
Willis married his cousin, Miss Altona Grinnell, in 1882, but she died in 1896. The couple had two children, Marion, who died in infancy, and Hope, later Mrs. Seward H. Rathbun. In 1898 he married Margaret Baker, daughter of Dr. Frank Baker of Georgetown University, who was also superintendent of the National Zoological Park. The children of his second marriage are Cornelius G. Willis, Robin Willis and Margaret (Mrs. Donald F.) Smith. The family lived for many years on the Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
campus. Mrs.
Willis died in 1941
Career
After receiving degrees in mining engineering and civil engineering, Willis worked from 1881 to 1884 as a survey geologist for Northern Pacific Railroad. From 1884 to 1915, he worked for the USGS, being named director of the Appalachian division in 1889. In 1893 he published "The Mechanics of Appalachian Structure" in the Report of the United States Geological Survey. From 1895 to 1902 he lectured on geology at Johns Hopkins UniversityJohns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
. In 1900 he was appointed as head of the Division of Areal Geology of the USGS. In 1903 he accepted the invitation of the newly established Carnegie Institution of Washington to lead an expedition to northern China, an experience which was later described in his book Friendly China. From 1910 until 1914 he consulted for the government of Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
an experience later recorded in his book a Yanqui in Patagonia. He led a vigorous public campaign in the 1920s to raise awareness of earthquake hazards and safe building practices. After finishing his work with the USGS, he was appointed as a professor and chairman of the geology department at Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
, where he served until 1922. In 1920, he was elected to the National Academy of the Sciences. He was president of the Seismological Society of America
Seismological Society of America
The Seismological Society of America is an international society devoted to the advancement of seismology and its applications in understanding and mitigating earthquake hazards and in imaging the structure of the Earth....
from 1921 to 1926, during which time he published his Geologic Structures. In 1932, he published "Isthmian Links" in the Bulletin of the Geological Society of America. Among the numerous honors which came to Willis during his long life, were an honorary Ph.D. degree from the University of Berlin and the Gold Medal of the Société de Géographie
Société de Géographie
The Société de Géographie , is the world's oldest geographical society. It was founded in 1821 . Since 1878, its headquarters has been at 184 Boulevard Saint-Germain, Paris. The entrance is marked by two gigantic caryatids representing Land and Sea...
of France in 1910, the Legion of Honor, Belgium, in 1936, and in 1944 he was awarded the Penrose Medal
Penrose Medal
The Penrose Medal was created in 1927 by R.A.F. Penrose, Jr. as the top prize awarded by the Geological Society of America to those who advance the study of geoscience.-Award winners:* 2011 Paul F. Hoffman* 2010 Eric J. Essene* 2009 B. Clark Burchfiel...
by 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...
.
Further reading
- Blackwelder, Eliot. "Bailey Willis: 1857—1949: A Biographical Memoir". Washington D.C.: National Academy of Sciences, 1961. http://books.nap.edu/html/biomems/bwillis.pdf
- Wills, Bailey. Friendly China: Two Thousand Miles Afoot Among the Chinese. Stanford University Press, 1949.