Columbia University Collection
Dept. of Geology, Laboratory of Stratigraphical Geology and Palaeontology in Schermerhorn Hall. Exhibited at St. Louis, 1904. (Scan #5180) Historical Photograph Collection (Box OS 43).University Archives, Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Libraries.
The Columbia University Collection comprises an estimated 350,000 specimens in over 50,000 lots, including over 1,500 types.
The collection was amassed from the 1850s to the 1970s by a series of geology professors – John Strong Newberry, Amadeus William Grabau and Marshall Kay—their students, postdoctoral researchers, and others (including L. Hintze, G.D. Morgan, T.G. White, R.H. Dott, H.W. Shimer, and A. F. Rogers). It is particularly strong in the Ordovician and Devonian, which together comprise almost 50% of the collection. Less than 10% has been databased.
The three main sub-collections include:
John Strong Newberry (b. 1822 Connecticut; at Columbia College from 1866 until his death in 1892). Newberry was Chair of Geology and Paleontology at the School of Mines, Columbia College. He served on numerous early expeditions to the American West, including the Lieut. Williamson expedition to the Columbia River in 1855; the Lieut. Ives expedition to the Colorado River in 1857-1858; the Capt. Macomb San Juan Exploring expedition in 1859 and the W.P. Jenney and H. Newton expedition to the Black Hills in 1875. While at Columbia, Newberry established the Geological Museum of the School of Mines with around 100,000 specimens from his own collection.
Amadeus William Grabau (b. 1870 Wisconsin; adjunct professor at Columbia University from 1902-1905, and professor from 1905-1919). Grabau is considered by some to be one of the world’s greatest sedimentary geologists. During his career he made immense strides in our understanding of important geological concepts, including how sea levels change through time (eustasy). Grabau was a prolific author, and wrote many books, including the now classic works North American Index Fossils (which he co-authored with H.W. Shimer), Principles of Stratigraphy, and Rhythm of the Ages. His collection is particularly strong in the Devonian, Paleozoic corals, and index fossils from across North America.
Marshall Kay (b. 1904 Ontario; professor at Columbia University from 1929 until his death in 1975). Kay worked extensively on the Ordovician and collected specimens – particularly graptolites - from across the US and Canada, including New York, Nevada, Utah and Ontario. His later work focused on Newfoundland, where he held a seminal conference on North Atlantic continental drift in 1967.
Invertebrate Paleontology Collections Highlights
