Geology

Geology is an early scientific interest, although surveys conducted focus on specific economic outcomes, such as valuable minerals. Geologists form the first professional society that becomes the Association of American Geologists and Naturalists in 1842 and the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) six years later. The AAAS lobbies federal and state governments to establish programs for geologic exploration. In 1851, the Illinois legislature calls for the creation of a state geologic survey, with Dr. J.G. Norwood as the first Illinois State Geologist.

The charge to Dr. Norwood is to,

proceed to ascertain the order, successive arrangement, relative position, dip, and comparative magnitude of the several strata or geological formations in the State, and to search for and examine all the beds and deposits or ores, coals, clays, marls, rocks, and such other mineral substances as may present themselves; to obtain chemical analyses of the same, and to determine by barometrical observations the relative elevation of the different portions of the State. Specimens are to be collected and a final report and geological map prepared (Hay 1980).

In 1866, Mr. Amos Worthen publishes Volume I of the Geological Survey of Illinois. Worthen focuses on natural resources that have economic value, including: “coal, metallic ores, minerals, hydraulic and common limestone, fire clays, free-stone, flagstone, marble, etc.”

The Illinois legislature ends funding for this effort in 1872. Worthen ultimately produces eight massive volumes of the Geological Survey of Illinois, and the legislature considers the work completed. No gold is located, the value of coal is not yet appreciated, and there is no need for the oil and building materials identified. His work is largely unappreciated, although he continues to lobby for state-supported scientific activities. Finally, in 1877, Illinois establishes the State Museum of Natural History in Springfield with Worthen as Curator.