Wilbur Clinton Knight (13 December 1858 – 28 July 1903) was a geologist and founding professor of geology at the University of Wyoming. He also served as state geologist for Wyoming and produced some of the earliest geological maps of the region. His son Samuel Howell Knight also became a geologist of repute. The genus Knightia is named in his honor.
Life and workEdit
Wilbur and Emma with the children Samuel Howell, Wilburta Anna and Everett Lyell
Knight was born at Rochelle, Illinois from where his father David moved to farm in Blue Springs, Nebraska. He then went to the University of Nebraska, and graduated in 1886. He briefly considered studying botany. He then worked as an assayer at Swan Testing and Sampling Company from 1887 in Cheyenne, he became superintendent of mines in 1888 for Colorado and Wyoming. He also studied for his master's degree which he received in 1893. He became state geologist for Wyoming in 1898 and received a doctorate in 1901. He became chair of geology and mining engineering at the University of Wyoming in 1893 and was involved in establishing the department and the teaching of geology in the state. He also founded the geological museum for which he made collections himself while also making use of the services of William Harlow Reed.[1][2] In 1900 he produced one of the earliest geological maps of Wyoming.[3] Knight discovered fossil elephants in Wyoming in 1903[4] and estimated the Cenozoic Era to have lasted around four million years.[5] He was a pioneer of the use of photography in paleontology. He often led geological excursions for his students as well as for interested people. In 1899 he took a party of about 100 fossil collectors around Como Bluff and the Grand Canyon. Free transportation was provided by the Union Pacific Railroad.[6] In 1902, he published one of his last works being on the birds of Wyoming.[7][8]
Knight married Elizabeth Emma Howell, a fellow student at the University of Nebraska, in 1889. Emma Knight worked in education and became the first dean of women at the University of Wyoming. They had three children, of whom Samuel Howell Knight followed his father as a geologist and professor at the University of Wyoming. Knight was also musically talented and played for the University band. He was also an associate of the American Ornithologists' Union.[9]
Knight died from peritonitis following a ruptured appendix. The genus Knightia was named in his honor, which was in 1987 chosen as the state fossil of Wyoming.[7][10]
Reconnaissance geological map of Wyoming, 1900
ReferencesEdit
^Barbour, Erwin H. (1903). "Memoir of Wilbur Clinton Knight" (PDF). Bulletin of the Geological Society of America. 15: 544–549.
^Knight, W. C. (1900). "Jurassic rocks of southeastern Wyoming". Geological Society of America Bulletin. 11 (1): 377–388. doi:10.1130/GSAB-11-377. ISSN 0016-7606.
^Knight, Wilbur C. (1903-05-22). "Remains of Elephants in Wyoming". Science. 17 (438): 828–829. doi:10.1126/science.17.438.828. ISSN 0036-8075. PMID 17757501.
^Knight, Wilbur C. (1899-10-27). "Some New Data for Converting Geological Time into Years". Science. 10 (252): 607–608. doi:10.1126/science.10.252.607. ISSN 0036-8075. PMID 17810156.
^Schuchert, Charles (1899). "The Fossil Field's Expedition to Wyoming". Science. 10 (255): 725–728. doi:10.1126/science.10.255.725. ISSN 0036-8075. JSTOR 1627471. PMID 17771207.
^ abPicard, M. D. (2011-06-01). "Wilbur Clinton Knight: Portrait of a pioneer geologist in Wyoming". Rocky Mountain Geology. 46 (1): 101–109. doi:10.2113/gsrocky.46.1.101. ISSN 1555-7332.
^Cady, Wilburta Knight (1961). "A family portrait". Annals of Wyoming. 33 (1): 42–52.
^[F.B.] (1903). "Notes and News" (PDF). The Auk. 20 (4): 457–458. doi:10.2307/4069783. JSTOR 4069783.
^Breithaupt, Brent H. (1990). "Knightia : Wyoming's State Fossil". Rocks & Minerals. 65 (5): 438–441. doi:10.1080/00357529.1990.11761707. ISSN 0035-7529.
External linksEdit
The Birds of Wyoming (1902)
The fossil fields of Wyoming (1909)
Samuel Knight photograph collection at the American Heritage Center
August 31, 2023
wilbur, clinton, knight, december, 1858, july, 1903, geologist, founding, professor, geology, university, wyoming, also, served, state, geologist, wyoming, produced, some, earliest, geological, maps, region, samuel, howell, knight, also, became, geologist, rep. Wilbur Clinton Knight 13 December 1858 28 July 1903 was a geologist and founding professor of geology at the University of Wyoming He also served as state geologist for Wyoming and produced some of the earliest geological maps of the region His son Samuel Howell Knight also became a geologist of repute The genus Knightia is named in his honor Life and work Edit Wilbur and Emma with the children Samuel Howell Wilburta Anna and Everett LyellKnight was born at Rochelle Illinois from where his father David moved to farm in Blue Springs Nebraska He then went to the University of Nebraska and graduated in 1886 He briefly considered studying botany He then worked as an assayer at Swan Testing and Sampling Company from 1887 in Cheyenne he became superintendent of mines in 1888 for Colorado and Wyoming He also studied for his master s degree which he received in 1893 He became state geologist for Wyoming in 1898 and received a doctorate in 1901 He became chair of geology and mining engineering at the University of Wyoming in 1893 and was involved in establishing the department and the teaching of geology in the state He also founded the geological museum for which he made collections himself while also making use of the services of William Harlow Reed 1 2 In 1900 he produced one of the earliest geological maps of Wyoming 3 Knight discovered fossil elephants in Wyoming in 1903 4 and estimated the Cenozoic Era to have lasted around four million years 5 He was a pioneer of the use of photography in paleontology He often led geological excursions for his students as well as for interested people In 1899 he took a party of about 100 fossil collectors around Como Bluff and the Grand Canyon Free transportation was provided by the Union Pacific Railroad 6 In 1902 he published one of his last works being on the birds of Wyoming 7 8 Knight married Elizabeth Emma Howell a fellow student at the University of Nebraska in 1889 Emma Knight worked in education and became the first dean of women at the University of Wyoming They had three children of whom Samuel Howell Knight followed his father as a geologist and professor at the University of Wyoming Knight was also musically talented and played for the University band He was also an associate of the American Ornithologists Union 9 Knight died from peritonitis following a ruptured appendix The genus Knightia was named in his honor which was in 1987 chosen as the state fossil of Wyoming 7 10 Reconnaissance geological map of Wyoming 1900References Edit Barbour Erwin H 1903 Memoir of Wilbur Clinton Knight PDF Bulletin of the Geological Society of America 15 544 549 Nelson Aven 1903 Wilbur Clinton Knight Science 18 456 406 409 doi 10 1126 science 18 456 406 ISSN 0036 8075 JSTOR 1630045 PMID 17752784 Knight W C 1900 Jurassic rocks of southeastern Wyoming Geological Society of America Bulletin 11 1 377 388 doi 10 1130 GSAB 11 377 ISSN 0016 7606 Knight Wilbur C 1903 05 22 Remains of Elephants in Wyoming Science 17 438 828 829 doi 10 1126 science 17 438 828 ISSN 0036 8075 PMID 17757501 Knight Wilbur C 1899 10 27 Some New Data for Converting Geological Time into Years Science 10 252 607 608 doi 10 1126 science 10 252 607 ISSN 0036 8075 PMID 17810156 Schuchert Charles 1899 The Fossil Field s Expedition to Wyoming Science 10 255 725 728 doi 10 1126 science 10 255 725 ISSN 0036 8075 JSTOR 1627471 PMID 17771207 a b Picard M D 2011 06 01 Wilbur Clinton Knight Portrait of a pioneer geologist in Wyoming Rocky Mountain Geology 46 1 101 109 doi 10 2113 gsrocky 46 1 101 ISSN 1555 7332 Cady Wilburta Knight 1961 A family portrait Annals of Wyoming 33 1 42 52 F B 1903 Notes and News PDF The Auk 20 4 457 458 doi 10 2307 4069783 JSTOR 4069783 Breithaupt Brent H 1990 Knightia Wyoming s State Fossil Rocks amp Minerals 65 5 438 441 doi 10 1080 00357529 1990 11761707 ISSN 0035 7529 External links EditThe Birds of Wyoming 1902 The fossil fields of Wyoming 1909 Samuel Knight photograph collection at the American Heritage Center Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Wilbur Clinton Knight amp oldid 1166477118, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
