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A Brief History of the Ohio Geological Survey12 Copyright © 1979 Ohio Acad. Sci. 0030-0950/79/0001-0003$2.00/0 A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE OHIO GEOLOGICAL SURVEY12 MICHAEL C. HANSEN and HORACE R. COLLINS, Ohio Division of Geological Survey, Fountain Square, Columbus, OH 43224 Abstract. Since its inception in 1837, the Ohio Geological Survey has been the principal source of geologic information in and about Ohio. These data, gathered during a 141-year period under the direction of ten state geologists, constitute more than 30,000 printed pages and numerous maps describing and illustrating Ohio's geology and mineral resources. This information has, perhaps more than any other factor, been responsible for the development within the state of important industries that rely upon mineral commodities derived from Ohio's bedrock and glacial sediments. The Ohio Division of Geological Survey is the oldest natural resources agency in the state. During the 19th century the Survey was responsible for investigation of the flora, fauna, soils, and agriculture of Ohio in addition to the primary function of geologic studies. Investigative activities of the Survey were sporadic in the 19th century; major periods of activity were 1837-1838, 1869-1874, and 1882-1893. Since 1900 the Survey has been maintained on a continuous basis, although funding and staff size have remained characteristically modest. In 1949 the Ohio Geological Sur- vey became one of the seven originally chartered divisions of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. OHIO J. SCI. 79(1): 3, 1979 The Ohio Geological Survey is the many unpublished reports, maps, and oldest legislatively authorized natural re- field observations. sources agency in the state and has served There have been four separate surveys as the principal source of geologic infor- or organizations: First organization, mation pertaining to Ohio since 1837. 1837-1838, William W. Mather, State The Survey has therefore been inextrica- Geologist; Second organization, 1869- bly linked to the development of geologi- 1888, John S. Newberry (1869-1882), and cal investigations in Ohio. During its Edward Orton, Sr. (1882-1888), State 141-year existence, funding for the Sur- Geologists; Third organization, 1888- vey has been characteristically modest 1900, Edward Orton, Sr., State Geologist; and, upon occasion, controversy and Fourth organization, 1900-present, Ed- criticism have plagued Survey progress ward Orton, Jr. (1900-1906), John A. and activities. In spite of these ob- Bownocker (1906-1928), Wilbur E. Stout stacles, the Ohio Geological Survey has (1928-1946), George W. White (1946- furnished the necessary geologic data base 1947), John H. Melvin (1947-1957), upon which the state's important mineral Ralph J. Bernhagen (1957-1968), and industries have developed and, at times, Horace R. Collins (1968-present), State has been the focal point for solution of Geologists (figure 1). Many individuals stratigraphic and other geologic problems have served the Ohio Geological Survey of regional, national, or worldwide sig- with distinction as full-time staff members nificance. These data constitute more or as unsalaried authors of important re- than 30,000 printed pages and numerous search studies. Indeed, a cursory perusal separate maps and charts, in addition to of authors of the many Survey reports yields a long list of prominent geologists. '•Manuscript received 29 November 1977 and in revised form 24 April 1978 (#77-88). The present paper is by no means an 2Part of a symposium on the History of Geol- exhaustive analysis of the history of the- ogy in Ohio, presented 2 April 1977 at the Ohio Ohio Geological Survey. Our treatment Historical Center. deals with administrative and organiza- M. C. HANSEN AND H. R. COLLINS Vol. 79 tional aspects of Survey history primarily Melvin (1950, 1952), Merrill (1906, 1920, during the 19th century and early 20th 1924), Orton (1894), Stoddard (1928), G. century. Sturgeon (1979) traces de- W. White (1976), and Whittlesey (1885) velopment of mineral industries and are of direct importance to Survey his- stratigraphic classification in the Upper tory. Merrill's (1920, pp. 387-427) work Paleozoic of Ohio in relation to the Sur- is the most complete summary of the vey. We have been forced to brevity Ohio Geological Survey through 1900. both by limitations of space and limita- Biographies of individuals associated with tions of time available for compilation. the Survey frequently furnish pertinent In addition, unpublished reference ma- information. Of particular interest are terials such as letters, manuscripts, photo- those of Mather (Hitchcock 1897, New- graphs, and other data are widely scat- vahner 1931), Whittlesey (A. Winchell tered and, apparently, rather incomplete, 1889), Hildreth (Waller 1944), Locke (N. necessitating a time-consuming and tedi- H. Winchell 1894; Waller, 1946), New- ous search before a comprehensive trea- berry (Stevenson 1893, Kemp 1893, tise of the history of the Ohio Geological Waller 1943), Orton, Sr. (Stevenson 1900; Survey can be compiled. I. C. White 1900, Swinnerton 1939), Almost nothing survives in the files of Orton, Jr. (Magruder et al 1932), Bow- the Survey from administrations prior to nocker (Stauffer 1929), and Stout (Bern- that of Wilbur Stout (1929-1946). These hagen 1961). missing documents, in Mo, probably do not survive in any repository; they most MATHER SURVEY (1837-1838) likely were disposed of because they were Geological investigations in Ohio prior not old enough to be of historical sig- to the establishment of a geological survey nificance but were too old to be of con- in 1837 were of a sometimes cursory and temporary value. Such pertinent his- generally localized nature, carried out by torical materials that we have located in individuals on a purely part-time basis at this continuing investigation include: S. their own expense. Predictably, the over- P. Hildreth Collection and E. B. Andrews all geological framework of Ohio was Papers, Marietta College Library, Mari- poorly understood, and private explora- etta, Ohio; Whittlesey Papers, Western tion of and investment in mineral re- Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland, sources was frequently shadowed by Ohio; Klippart Papers and Lapham Pa- trickery, deceit, and certainly speculation pers, The Ohio Historical Society, Co- brought about by this ignorance (Mather lumbus, Ohio; James Hall Papers, New 1838b, p. 6; Merrill 1920, p. 387-388). York State Library, Albany, New York. The beginning of the industrial revolu- Notably conspicuous by their absence tion and the demands of an increasing from this list are the Mather, Newberry, population in Ohio for mineral commodi- and Orton, Sr., papers. Should these col- ties, in particular salt, coal, iron ore, and lections be located, if extant, they would clay, prompted Governor Robert Lucas prove of much importance to the history to recommend the establishment of a of Ohio geology and particularly the his- geological survey of the state in his an- tory of the Ohio Geological Survey. nual message to the legislature in 1835 A rather large assemblage of publica- (Stoddard 1928, p. 108). Undoubtedly tions relates directly to the history of the Governor Lucas' motivation was, in part, Survey. An exhaustive list can be de- due to his desire to keep Ohio competitive rived from the Bibliography of Ohio with the surrounding states, many of Geology (Watkins 1953, Smyth 1963, which had established or were in the 1969, 1972). Much important informa- process of establishing geological surveys. tion is contained in the prefacing remarks It is obvious also from correspondence of of Annual Reports (Mather 1838a, 1838b; Increase A. Lapham (Lapham Papers, Orton 1890), Reports of Progress (New- Ohio Historical Society) that many Ohio berry 1871a, 1871b), and Volumes (New- scientists were strongly in favor of a berry 1873a, 1874, 1875, 1878, 1882; geological survey and conveyed their Orton, 1884, 1888, 1893; Orton, Jr., sentiments to political figures, including 1906a). Papers by Aumann (1953), the governor. The legislature, acting Ohio J. Sci. OHIO GEOLOGICAL SURVEY William W. Mather~1837-1838 John S. Newberry 1869-1882 Edward Orton, Sr,- 1882-1899 Edward Orton, Jr.~1899 1906 Wilber E, Stout 1928-1946 George W. White-1946-1947 John H. Melvin —1947-19S7 FIGURE 1. State Geologists of Ohio. M. C. HANSEN AND H. R. COLLINS Vol. /9 upon Governor Lucas' suggestion, passed letter to I. A. Lapham (Jan. 11, 1836, a resolution on March 14, 1836, estab- Laptham Papers) Hildreth responded: lishing a committee "to report to the "In answer to whom amongst our geolo- next legislature the best methods of ob- gists would be most competent, I answer taining a complete geological survey of without hesitation Mr. E. [Edward] the state, and an estimate of the probable Hitchcock of Massachusetts." Mather, cost of the same" (Hildreth 1836, p. 65). who was with the Natural History Sur- The committee appointed by the legis- vey of New York at the time of the ap- lature consisted of John L. Riddell, John pointment, was 33 years of age and Locke, Increase A. Lapham, and Samuel had little firsthand experience and P. Hildreth, chairman. Hildreth's report familiarity with the geology of Ohio. (1836) to the legislature represented a Perhaps Hildreth's (1836, p. 77) comment summary of the geological information in the committee report to the legislature, then known about Ohio. The reports of strongly recommending establishment of Riddell and Lapham (1837) were not in- a survey in Ohio, gives some insight on cluded with Hildreth's report but were
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