Isabel Bassett Wasson
Encyclopedia
Isabel Bassett Wasson was one of the first female petroleum geologist
s in the United States, the first female ranger at Yellowstone National Park
, and also one of the first interpretive rangers (male or female) hired by the National Park Service
.
Wasson was born Isabel Bassett in Brooklyn, NY on January 11, 1897, daughter of urban planner Edward Bassett
and Annie Preston Bassett, and sister of inventor and engineer Preston Bassett
. Wasson graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Wellesley College in 1918, majoring in history so she could take a wide range of science courses. She took classes in geology after graduation at the University of Chicago
and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
. She met her future husband, petroleum geologist Theron Wasson, whom she married in 1920, while working towards a master's degree in geology at Columbia University
. Wasson finished her master's degree after having three children, in 1934. Wasson worked as a petroleum geologist in her husband’s office at the Pure Oil Company for several years. After 1928 she spent over 50 years in River Forest, IL, teaching science in the local public schools, lecturing, bird watching (ornithology
), and mentoring generations of young naturalist
s. Wasson also taught classes at the Morton Arboretum
in Lisle, Illinois. She died in La Grange Park, IL, in 1994.
Wasson became one of the first interpretive rangers hired by the National Park Service
, and the first female ranger at Yellowstone National Park
. She was hired when Horace Albright, then the Park Superintendent, heard her lecture on geology to a group of her family and friends who were visiting the park in the summer of 1919 on a tour of national parks organized by the Brooklyn Daily Eagle. Albright invited her to return in the summer of 1920 to lead interpretive tours and give lectures about the geology of the park, which she did. He invited her to return again in the summer of 1921, but she declined because she was pregnant. She inquired about returning in 1922 but others had been hired to do similar work.
Her daughter Elizabeth Wasson married conservationist E. Alexander Bergstrom
.
Petroleum geologist
A petroleum geologist is an occupation that involves all aspects of oil discovery and production in the field of petroleum geology. Petroleum geologists are usually linked to the actual discovery of oil and the identification of possible oil deposits or leads. It can be a very labor intensive task...
s in the United States, the first female ranger at 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...
, and also one of the first interpretive rangers (male or female) hired by the National Park Service
National Park Service
The National Park Service is the U.S. federal agency that manages all national parks, many national monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations...
.
Biography
Wasson was born Isabel Bassett in Brooklyn, NY on January 11, 1897, daughter of urban planner Edward Bassett
Edward Bassett
Edward Murray Bassett was one of the founding fathers of modern day urban planning. Known as "The Father of American Zoning," Bassett wrote the first comprehensive zoning ordinance in the United States, adopted by New York City in 1916....
and Annie Preston Bassett, and sister of inventor and engineer Preston Bassett
Preston Bassett
Preston Rogers Bassett was an inventor, engineer, and pioneer in instruments for aviation.-Biography:Preston Rogers Bassett was born in Buffalo, New York, son of urban planner Edward Murray Bassett and Annie Preston Bassett. Geologist Isabel Bassett Wasson was his sister. He received an A.B...
. Wasson graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Wellesley College in 1918, majoring in history so she could take a wide range of science courses. She took classes in geology after graduation at the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
. She met her future husband, petroleum geologist Theron Wasson, whom she married in 1920, while working towards a master's degree in geology 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...
. Wasson finished her master's degree after having three children, in 1934. Wasson worked as a petroleum geologist in her husband’s office at the Pure Oil Company for several years. After 1928 she spent over 50 years in River Forest, IL, teaching science in the local public schools, lecturing, bird watching (ornithology
Ornithology
Ornithology is a branch of zoology that concerns the study of birds. Several aspects of ornithology differ from related disciplines, due partly to the high visibility and the aesthetic appeal of birds...
), and mentoring generations of young naturalist
Naturalist
Naturalist may refer to:* Practitioner of natural history* Conservationist* Advocate of naturalism * Naturalist , autobiography-See also:* The American Naturalist, periodical* Naturalism...
s. Wasson also taught classes at the Morton Arboretum
Morton Arboretum
The Morton Arboretum, in Lisle, Illinois, covers 1,700 acres and is made up of gardens of various plant types and collections of trees from specific taxonomical and geographical areas. It includes native woodlands and a restored Illinois prairie. The Arboretum has over 4,100 different species of...
in Lisle, Illinois. She died in La Grange Park, IL, in 1994.
Wasson became one of the first interpretive rangers hired by the National Park Service
National Park Service
The National Park Service is the U.S. federal agency that manages all national parks, many national monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations...
, and the first female ranger at 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...
. She was hired when Horace Albright, then the Park Superintendent, heard her lecture on geology to a group of her family and friends who were visiting the park in the summer of 1919 on a tour of national parks organized by the Brooklyn Daily Eagle. Albright invited her to return in the summer of 1920 to lead interpretive tours and give lectures about the geology of the park, which she did. He invited her to return again in the summer of 1921, but she declined because she was pregnant. She inquired about returning in 1922 but others had been hired to do similar work.
Her daughter Elizabeth Wasson married conservationist E. Alexander Bergstrom
E. Alexander Bergstrom
E. Alexander Bergstrom was an ornithologist, scientific journal editor, and conservationist, doing all of his work in these fields as a volunteer.-Life:...
.
Further reading
- Kaufman, Polly Welts. National Parks and the Woman's Voice: A History. (Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press, 1997) Excerpt online
- Wasson, Isabel B. A Village Grows up on a Sandbar. Forest Leaves (River Forest, Ill.), June 22, 1977.
- Wasson, Isabel B. Birds. (Chicago: Follett Publishing Co., 1963)
- Wasson, Isabel B. Authority versus experience. Religious Education 23: 144–149 (Chicago: Religious Education Association, July–September 1938).
- Wasson, Isabel B. What I want the schools to teach my child. Educational Trends 6(8): 14–16 (Evanston: Northwestern University, October–November 1938).