Joseph Nisbet LeConte
Encyclopedia
Joseph Nisbet LeConte was a noted explorer of the Sierra Nevada. He was also a cartographer
, a photographer
and a professor of mechanical engineering
. He often went by J. N. LeConte in photographs and articles. He went by "Little Joe" among friends, because he was of short stature and the son of geology professor Joseph LeConte
.
LeConte was born in Oakland, California
to Joseph and Caroline (Nisbet) LeConte.
He entered the University of California, Berkeley
in 1887, earning a B.S. degree in 1891. He received a Master of Mechanical Engineering from Cornell University
in 1892, and was appointed assistant professor of mechanical engineering at U. C. Berkeley that August, beginning by teaching kinematics
of machinery. Starting in 1912, he taught analytical mechanics for over 20 years.
German physicist Wilhelm Röntgen discovered x-rays in 1895, and his first research paper was published at the end of December. An Austrian newspaper reported the results a week later. After reading those reports, LeConte found cathode ray tubes that his late uncle John LeConte had obtained for the university's physics lab. LeConte and his associates were able to construct an x-ray machine and produce images of a bullet lodged in the arm of a young boy within a week of the newspaper reports of Röntgen's discovery. LeConte also studied the materials problems of gas turbines, and built a harmonic analyzer
to study the performance of electric power transmission lines. He was a professor at U.C. Berkeley for his entire career that lasted 45 years.
LeConte loved mountaineering
from the time he was a teenager and went all over the Sierra Nevada exploring, sometimes for several weeks. He produced the first map of the central Sierra Nevada for the Sierra Club
, based on his exploration. At that time, USGS
maps were not available. Along with James S. Hutchinson
and Duncan McDuffie
, he pioneered a high mountain route in 1908 from Yosemite National Park
to Kings Canyon
, roughly along the route of the modern John Muir Trail
. In 28 days, they completed a trip of 228 miles through the high mountains, inclding several previously unexplored sections.
An avid photographer, he took many photos of the Sierra Nevada, including the High Sierra and Hetch Hetchy Valley
before it was flooded by the dam
. He worked with heavy, fragile dry glass plates that had to be transported with great care throughout the wilderness. In 1944, Ansel Adams
evaluated his work: "Never intentionally 'arty', most of his compositions reveal a sensitive reaction to the finest moments of the mountain scene. It is this quality that differentiates between a mere record and a creative, sympathetic statement."
A charter and lifelong member of the Sierra Club, he held positions of leadership in it. After John Muir
died, he served as the club's second president (1915-1917). He was instrumental in helping create the John Muir Trail
through the High Sierra
as a tribute to his predecessor.
He sat on the Sierra Club Board of Directors from 1898 through 1940, and at various times was VP, secretary, treasurer, and outings chair.
In 1901 he married Helen Gompertz, whom he met in the Sierra Club.
LeConte Point in Hetch Hetchy Valley is named after him.
Cartography
Cartography is the study and practice of making maps. Combining science, aesthetics, and technique, cartography builds on the premise that reality can be modeled in ways that communicate spatial information effectively.The fundamental problems of traditional cartography are to:*Set the map's...
, a photographer
Photography
Photography is the art, science and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film...
and a professor of mechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering is a discipline of engineering that applies the principles of physics and materials science for analysis, design, manufacturing, and maintenance of mechanical systems. It is the branch of engineering that involves the production and usage of heat and mechanical power for the...
. He often went by J. N. LeConte in photographs and articles. He went by "Little Joe" among friends, because he was of short stature and the son of geology professor Joseph LeConte
Joseph LeConte
Joseph Le Conte was an American geologist and professor at the University of California, Berkeley.-Biography:...
.
LeConte was born in Oakland, California
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
to Joseph and Caroline (Nisbet) LeConte.
He entered the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
in 1887, earning a B.S. degree in 1891. He received a Master of Mechanical Engineering from Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
in 1892, and was appointed assistant professor of mechanical engineering at U. C. Berkeley that August, beginning by teaching kinematics
Kinematics
Kinematics is the branch of classical mechanics that describes the motion of bodies and systems without consideration of the forces that cause the motion....
of machinery. Starting in 1912, he taught analytical mechanics for over 20 years.
German physicist Wilhelm Röntgen discovered x-rays in 1895, and his first research paper was published at the end of December. An Austrian newspaper reported the results a week later. After reading those reports, LeConte found cathode ray tubes that his late uncle John LeConte had obtained for the university's physics lab. LeConte and his associates were able to construct an x-ray machine and produce images of a bullet lodged in the arm of a young boy within a week of the newspaper reports of Röntgen's discovery. LeConte also studied the materials problems of gas turbines, and built a harmonic analyzer
Harmonic analysis
Harmonic analysis is the branch of mathematics that studies the representation of functions or signals as the superposition of basic waves. It investigates and generalizes the notions of Fourier series and Fourier transforms...
to study the performance of electric power transmission lines. He was a professor at U.C. Berkeley for his entire career that lasted 45 years.
LeConte loved mountaineering
Mountaineering
Mountaineering or mountain climbing is the sport, hobby or profession of hiking, skiing, and climbing mountains. While mountaineering began as attempts to reach the highest point of unclimbed mountains it has branched into specialisations that address different aspects of the mountain and consists...
from the time he was a teenager and went all over the Sierra Nevada exploring, sometimes for several weeks. He produced the first map of the central Sierra Nevada for the Sierra Club
Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is the oldest, largest, and most influential grassroots environmental organization in the United States. It was founded on May 28, 1892, in San Francisco, California, by the conservationist and preservationist John Muir, who became its first president...
, based on his exploration. At that time, USGS
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,...
maps were not available. Along with James S. Hutchinson
James S. Hutchinson
James Sather Hutchinson was a lawyer in San Francisco, California, a mountaineer and an environmentalist. He was most noted for being an explorer of the Sierra Nevada....
and Duncan McDuffie
Duncan McDuffie
Duncan McDuffie was a real estate developer, conservationist, and mountaineer based in Berkeley, California, USA.-Visionary developer:...
, he pioneered a high mountain route in 1908 from Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park is a United States National Park spanning eastern portions of Tuolumne, Mariposa and Madera counties in east central California, United States. The park covers an area of and reaches across the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountain chain...
to Kings Canyon
Kings Canyon National Park
Kings Canyon National Park is a National Park in the southern Sierra Nevada, east of Fresno, California. The park was established in 1940 and covers...
, roughly along the route of the modern John Muir Trail
John Muir Trail
The John Muir Trail is a long-distance trail in the Sierra Nevada mountain range of California, running between the northern terminus at Happy Isles in Yosemite Valley and the southern terminus located on the summit of Mount Whitney . For almost all of its length, the trail is in the High Sierra...
. In 28 days, they completed a trip of 228 miles through the high mountains, inclding several previously unexplored sections.
An avid photographer, he took many photos of the Sierra Nevada, including the High Sierra and Hetch Hetchy Valley
Hetch Hetchy Valley
Hetch Hetchy Valley is a glacial valley in Yosemite National Park in California. It is currently completely flooded by O'Shaughnessy Dam, forming the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir. The Tuolumne River fills the reservoir. Upstream from the valley lies the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne. The reservoir...
before it was flooded by the dam
O'Shaughnessy Dam
The O'Shaughnessy Dam is a curved gravity dam on the Tuolumne River in the Hetch Hetchy Valley of California's Sierra Nevada. The dam is located in Yosemite National Park, and creates the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir. It is named for former San Francisco chief engineer and the original chief engineer of...
. He worked with heavy, fragile dry glass plates that had to be transported with great care throughout the wilderness. In 1944, Ansel Adams
Ansel Adams
Ansel Easton Adams was an American photographer and environmentalist, best known for his black-and-white photographs of the American West, especially in Yosemite National Park....
evaluated his work: "Never intentionally 'arty', most of his compositions reveal a sensitive reaction to the finest moments of the mountain scene. It is this quality that differentiates between a mere record and a creative, sympathetic statement."
A charter and lifelong member of the Sierra Club, he held positions of leadership in it. After John Muir
John Muir
John Muir was a Scottish-born American naturalist, author, and early advocate of preservation of wilderness in the United States. His letters, essays, and books telling of his adventures in nature, especially in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California, have been read by millions...
died, he served as the club's second president (1915-1917). He was instrumental in helping create the John Muir Trail
John Muir Trail
The John Muir Trail is a long-distance trail in the Sierra Nevada mountain range of California, running between the northern terminus at Happy Isles in Yosemite Valley and the southern terminus located on the summit of Mount Whitney . For almost all of its length, the trail is in the High Sierra...
through the High Sierra
High Sierra
High Sierra is an early heist film and film noir written by W.R. Burnett and John Huston from the novel by Burnett. The movie features Ida Lupino and Humphrey Bogart and was directed by Raoul Walsh on location at Whitney Portal, halfway up Mount Whitney.The screenplay was co-written by Bogart's...
as a tribute to his predecessor.
He sat on the Sierra Club Board of Directors from 1898 through 1940, and at various times was VP, secretary, treasurer, and outings chair.
In 1901 he married Helen Gompertz, whom he met in the Sierra Club.
LeConte Point in Hetch Hetchy Valley is named after him.