Florence Bascom and her Contributions to the Field of Geology

Featured above is a diagram showing volcanic rock formations in the historic Monterey District, an area in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Pennsylvania. The diagram was created by the geologist Florence Bascom. During a time when women were denied the right to vote and not encouraged to pursue an education in geology, Florence Bascom broke barriers.

Florence Bascom was born in 1862 in Williamstown, Massachusetts. She was raised in a family that embraced liberal and progressive values. Her mother, Emma Curtiss Bascom, was a teacher who played a significant role  in the women’s suffrage movement. Her father, John Bascom, was a professor at Williams College. He was an advocate of co-education and a strong supporter of women’s rights. In 1874 John Bascom became president of the University of Wisconsin.

Florence Bascom earned two undergraduate degrees and a master’s in geology at the University of Wisconsin. In 1893 she earned a PhD in Geology at Johns Hopkins University. Her thesis was titled A Contribution to the Geology of South Mountain, Pennsylvania. She faced extreme discrimination while earning her doctorate. While attending classes she had to sit behind a screen to avoid distracting her male classmates.

In 1896, Florence Bascom became the first woman to be hired by the United States Geological Survey. She performed in-depth research on the study of rock formations in Maryland, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Her research revealed that rocks previously classified as sedimentary were in fact metamorphosed lava flows. The findings from her research were added to topographical and geological atlases produced by USGS. The following are two examples of topographical maps that were made by Dr. Bascom.

Numerous articles authored by Florence Bascom were published in USGS Bulletins. The following illustrations were included in an article that she wrote about volcanic rock formations in Pennsylvania.

Dr. Bascom created the map below of Jacks Mountain Ridge. This map was also featured in the previously referenced article.

In addition to her work at USGS, Dr. Bascom was a professor at Bryn Mawr College. She founded the university’s geology department in 1895, creating opportunities for women to succeed as professional geologists. She became a member of the Council of the Geological Society of America in 1924 and was elected its vice president in 1930.

Florence Bascom passed away in 1945 at the age of eighty-two. She was buried at Williams College Cemetery. Geologists continue to utilize the findings of her research. A glacial lake, an asteroid, and a crater on Venus have been named in her honor. Dr. Bascom made groundbreaking contributions to geology when women faced extreme gender inequality in the field of Earth sciences.

Discover More:

• Florence Bascom, Trailblazer of the U.S. Geological Survey by Gina Anderson.
• Rock Stars A List of Firsts: Florence Bascom by Jill S. Schneiderman.
• Water resources of the Philadelphia district by Florence Bascom.