Charles Abiathar White
Encyclopedia
Charles Abiathar White was an American
geologist
, paleontologist, and writer whose publications total 238 titles. He was born at North Dighton, Mass.
He was the State geologist of Iowa
in 1866-70, and professor of natural history in the State University of Iowa
in 1867-73. He held a similar position at Bowdoin College
in 1873-75, and was geologist and paleontologist of the United States Geological Survey
between 1874 and 1892, and after 1895 was an associate in paleontology at the United States National Museum
.
He became a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
in 1868, and a Fellow of the same when fellowships were first established. He was general secretary of the association in 1872, and Vice President in 1888. He was elected President of the Biological Society of Washington
in 1883, and re-elected in 1884. In December, 1901, the Society made him a special Life Member. He was one of the original members of the Geological Society of America
. He was elected a member of the National Academy of Sciences
in 1889. The degree of Doctor of Laws was conferred upon him by the Iowa State University
in 1893.
Abiathar Peak
in Yellowstone National Park
was named in his honor in 1885 by members of the Arnold Hague
Geological Survey.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
geologist
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...
, paleontologist, and writer whose publications total 238 titles. He was born at North Dighton, Mass.
He was the State geologist of Iowa
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...
in 1866-70, and professor of natural history in the State University of Iowa
Iowa State University
Iowa State University of Science and Technology, more commonly known as Iowa State University , is a public land-grant and space-grant research university located in Ames, Iowa, United States. Iowa State has produced astronauts, scientists, and Nobel and Pulitzer Prize winners, along with a host of...
in 1867-73. He held a similar position at Bowdoin College
Bowdoin College
Bowdoin College , founded in 1794, is an elite private liberal arts college located in the coastal Maine town of Brunswick, Maine. As of 2011, U.S. News and World Report ranks Bowdoin 6th among liberal arts colleges in the United States. At times, it was ranked as high as 4th in the country. It is...
in 1873-75, and was geologist and paleontologist of the United States Geological Survey
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,...
between 1874 and 1892, and after 1895 was an associate in paleontology at the United States National Museum
Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
.
He became a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
American Association for the Advancement of Science
The American Association for the Advancement of Science is an international non-profit organization with the stated goals of promoting cooperation among scientists, defending scientific freedom, encouraging scientific responsibility, and supporting scientific education and science outreach for the...
in 1868, and a Fellow of the same when fellowships were first established. He was general secretary of the association in 1872, and Vice President in 1888. He was elected President of the Biological Society of Washington
Biological Society of Washington
The Biological Society of Washington is a world wide acting scientific organisation established on 3 December 1880 in Washington, D.C.. The original purpose was "to encourage the study of the Biological Sciences and to hold meetings at which papers shall be read and discussed." The current primary...
in 1883, and re-elected in 1884. In December, 1901, the Society made him a special Life Member. He was one of the original members of 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...
. He was elected a member of 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...
in 1889. The degree of Doctor of Laws was conferred upon him by the Iowa State University
Iowa State University
Iowa State University of Science and Technology, more commonly known as Iowa State University , is a public land-grant and space-grant research university located in Ames, Iowa, United States. Iowa State has produced astronauts, scientists, and Nobel and Pulitzer Prize winners, along with a host of...
in 1893.
Abiathar Peak
Abiathar Peak
Abiathar Peak el. is a mountain peak in the northeastern section of Yellowstone National Park of Absaroka Range. The peak was named by members of the 1885 Hague Geological Survey to honor Charles Abiathar White, a geologist and paleontologist who had participated in early western geological...
in Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park, established by the U.S. Congress and signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant on March 1, 1872, is a national park located primarily in the U.S. state of Wyoming, although it also extends into Montana and Idaho...
was named in his honor in 1885 by members of the Arnold Hague
Arnold Hague
Arnold Hague was a United States geologist who did many geological surveys in the U.S., of which the best known was that for Yellowstone National Park. He also had assignments in China and Guatemala. He became a member of the U. S...
Geological Survey.