(This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923. T...)
This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923. This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book.
(This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923. T...)
This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923. This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book.
George Henry Perkins was an American geologist, educator and administrator.
Background
He was born on September 25, 1844 at Cambridge, Massachussets, United States, the son of Frederick Trenck Perkins, a Congregational minister and a graduate of Yale in both College and Seminary. Through his father he was descended from John Perkins who emigrated to New England in 1631 and settled in Ipswich. His mother was Harriet T. Olmsted, a niece of Denison Olmsted, through whom he was descended from Joseph Olmsted who died in Connecticut in 1644.
Education
George Henry Perkins had two years of college study in Knox College at Galesburg, Illinois, then entered Yale College and graduated with honors in 1867. For post-graduate work in geology he received the Ph. D. degree in 1869.
Career
In the autumn of 1869 he became a member of the faculty of the University of Vermont at Burlington and was continuously active as teacher and administrator to the day of his death, sixty-four years later. He first taught "animal and vegetable physiology, " then representing botany and zoology.
In 1880 Perkins entered public service as state entomologist, which position he held to 1895. He was made state geologist in 1898 and retained the position until his death. He had been active in the American Association for the Advancement of Science, as fellow, secretary of the section on anthropology (1883), and as vice-president and chairman of the section on geology (1917).
He was a naturalist, in the proper sense of the term, and his wide and lively interest in nature is evidenced by his non-geologic writings, which classify as follows: botany, twenty-one papers; zoology, sixteen; archeology, ten; and entomology, nine. Several of his geological papers were published in scientific journals, and about fifty articles in the biennial reports of the Vermont Geological Survey.
He became Howard Professor of Natural History in 1881. In 1898 his chair was changed to geology, and he was given added duties as dean of the newly created department of natural sciences.
Service as vice-president and dean of the College of Arts and Sciences he began in 1907, positions which he occupied until near the close of his life. He was acting-president during the years 1917-19. For fifty-six years he was the curator of the university museum. Because of physical disability he relinquished most of his work of teaching, but classes in anthropology met at his residence until three months before his death. He died in 1933.
(This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923. T...)
Membership
Perkins was a member of the American Anthropological Association, of the American Ethnological Society, and of the Geological Society of America.
Personality
Combined with a kindly disposition and understanding, he possessed the ability to make prompt and wise decisions. With these gifts he held the confidence and affection of faculty, students, and alumni for many years.
Connections
Perkins was married, in 1870, to Mary Judd Farnham, of Galesburg, Illinois. A son, Henry Farnham Perkins, survived him.