Carl Owen Dunbar
Encyclopedia
Carl Owen Dunbar was an American paleontologist who specialized in invertebrate fossils. He was a Professor of Geology at Yale University from 1920 until 1959. He was also Director of the Peabody Museum of Natural History at Yale University
from 1942 until 1959. As editor of a textbook series on historical geology from the 1920s through the 1950s, his work was published and sold in over 1 million books.
, Kansas. He was raised on his grandfather, Warder Dunbar’s ranch by his parents David Dunbar (1863–1941) and mother Emma Thomas Dunbar (née McNeil).
Dunbar enrolled at the University of Kansas
in 1909 and finished his doctorate at Yale University
in 1917. His dissertation was entitled, “The Paleontology and Stratigraphy of the Devonian of Western Tennessee.” His doctoral advisor was Yale paleontologist, Charles Schuchert
.
. In 1920, when Charles Schuchert
retired from his professorship at Yale University
, he recommended Dunbar as his replacement. Dunbar taught at Yale University
from 1920 to 1959.
Dunbar was a worldwide expert on the evolution of fusulines
during the Pennyslvannian and Permian
periods of the late Paleozoic
age. In 1927, his work, published with G. E. Condra, is considered the first definitive study on fusulinids and Foraminifera
. Dunbar published a series of textbooks at Yale University
on historical geology
. These books “dominated the field through the 1920s and 1930s and made a major contribution to professional education in earth science.” At the end of his career, Dunbar’s textbooks had sold close to a million copies.
Dunbar is also notable for his seventeen years as the Director of the Peabody Museum of Natural History at Yale University
. Dunbar and his predecessor A. E. Parr were responsible overseeing Rudolph Zallinger and his work on one hundred-foot mural of the Age of Reptiles, a project that earned Zallinger a Pulitzer Prize
.
Dunbar was elected to the American Philosophical Society
in 1942, U.S. National Academy of Sciences
in 1944, American Academy of Arts and Sciences
in 1950. He was made an honorary member of the Geological Society of Mexico in 1944, a corresponding fellow of the Geological Society of London
in 1950, and an honorary life member of the Society of Economic Paleontologists and Mineralogists in 1965. He received the Hayden Memorial Geological Medal of the Academy of Natural Sciences
in 1959, the Paleontological Society Medal
in 1967, and the William H. Twenhofel Medal
of the Society of Sedimentary Geology in 1978.
...
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
from 1942 until 1959. As editor of a textbook series on historical geology from the 1920s through the 1950s, his work was published and sold in over 1 million books.
Early life
Dunbar was born 1 January 1891 in Hallowell, Cherokee CountyCherokee County, Kansas
Cherokee County is a county located in Southeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 21,603. Its county seat is Columbus, and its most populous city is Baxter Springs...
, Kansas. He was raised on his grandfather, Warder Dunbar’s ranch by his parents David Dunbar (1863–1941) and mother Emma Thomas Dunbar (née McNeil).
Dunbar enrolled at the University of Kansas
University of Kansas
The University of Kansas is a public research university and the largest university in the state of Kansas. KU campuses are located in Lawrence, Wichita, Overland Park, and Kansas City, Kansas with the main campus being located in Lawrence on Mount Oread, the highest point in Lawrence. The...
in 1909 and finished his doctorate at Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
in 1917. His dissertation was entitled, “The Paleontology and Stratigraphy of the Devonian of Western Tennessee.” His doctoral advisor was Yale paleontologist, Charles Schuchert
Charles Schuchert
Charles Schuchert was an American invertebrate paleontologist who was a leader in the development of paleogeography, the study of the distribution of lands and seas in the geological past.-Biography:...
.
Geology at Yale University & Peabody Museum of Natural History
Between 1918 and 1920, Dunbar taught geology at the University of MinnesotaUniversity of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
. In 1920, when Charles Schuchert
Charles Schuchert
Charles Schuchert was an American invertebrate paleontologist who was a leader in the development of paleogeography, the study of the distribution of lands and seas in the geological past.-Biography:...
retired from his professorship at Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
, he recommended Dunbar as his replacement. Dunbar taught at Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
from 1920 to 1959.
Dunbar was a worldwide expert on the evolution of fusulines
Fusulinid
The Fusulinida is an extinct order within the Foraminifera in which the tests are composed of tightly packed, secreted microgranular calcite. In advanced forms the test wall is differentiated into two or more layers...
during the Pennyslvannian and Permian
Permian
The PermianThe term "Permian" was introduced into geology in 1841 by Sir Sir R. I. Murchison, president of the Geological Society of London, who identified typical strata in extensive Russian explorations undertaken with Edouard de Verneuil; Murchison asserted in 1841 that he named his "Permian...
periods of the late Paleozoic
Paleozoic
The Paleozoic era is the earliest of three geologic eras of the Phanerozoic eon, spanning from roughly...
age. In 1927, his work, published with G. E. Condra, is considered the first definitive study on fusulinids and Foraminifera
Foraminifera
The Foraminifera , or forams for short, are a large group of amoeboid protists which are among the commonest plankton species. They have reticulating pseudopods, fine strands of cytoplasm that branch and merge to form a dynamic net...
. Dunbar published a series of textbooks at Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
on historical geology
Historical geology
Historical geology is the use of the principles of geology to reconstruct and understand the history of the Earth. It focuses on geologic processes that change the Earth's surface and subsurface; and the use of stratigraphy, structural geology and paleontology to tell the sequence of these events...
. These books “dominated the field through the 1920s and 1930s and made a major contribution to professional education in earth science.” At the end of his career, Dunbar’s textbooks had sold close to a million copies.
Dunbar is also notable for his seventeen years as the Director of the Peabody Museum of Natural History at Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
. Dunbar and his predecessor A. E. Parr were responsible overseeing Rudolph Zallinger and his work on one hundred-foot mural of the Age of Reptiles, a project that earned Zallinger a Pulitzer Prize
Pulitzer Prize
The Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...
.
Dunbar was elected to the American Philosophical Society
American Philosophical Society
The American Philosophical Society, founded in 1743, and located in Philadelphia, Pa., is an eminent scholarly organization of international reputation, that promotes useful knowledge in the sciences and humanities through excellence in scholarly research, professional meetings, publications,...
in 1942, U.S. National Academy of Sciences
United States National Academy of Sciences
The National Academy of Sciences is a corporation in the United States whose members serve pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine." As a national academy, new members of the organization are elected annually by current members, based on their distinguished and...
in 1944, American Academy of Arts and Sciences
American Academy of Arts and Sciences
The American Academy of Arts and Sciences is an independent policy research center that conducts multidisciplinary studies of complex and emerging problems. The Academy’s elected members are leaders in the academic disciplines, the arts, business, and public affairs.James Bowdoin, John Adams, and...
in 1950. He was made an honorary member of the Geological Society of Mexico in 1944, a corresponding fellow of the Geological Society of London
Geological Society of London
The Geological Society of London is a learned society based in the United Kingdom with the aim of "investigating the mineral structure of the Earth"...
in 1950, and an honorary life member of the Society of Economic Paleontologists and Mineralogists in 1965. He received the Hayden Memorial Geological Medal of the Academy of Natural Sciences
Academy of Natural Sciences
The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, formerly Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, is the oldest natural science research institution and museum in the New World...
in 1959, the Paleontological Society Medal
Paleontological Society Medal
The Paleontological Society Medal the most prestigious honor bestowed by the Paleontological Society, is awarded to a person whose eminence is based on advancement of knowledge in paleontology.- Awardees :...
in 1967, and the William H. Twenhofel Medal
William H. Twenhofel Medal
The William H. Twenhofel Medal is the highest award given by the Society for Sedimentary Geology . It is awarded annually to a person for his or her "Outstanding Contributions to Sedimentary Geology."...
of the Society of Sedimentary Geology in 1978.
...
Cited works
- “Carl Owen Dunbar,” History and Archives, Peabody Museum of Natural History, Yale University. (retrieved 4 February 2011)
- Dunbar, C. O. (1966). The earth. Cleveland: World Pub. Co.
- Dunbar, C. O. (1960). Historical geology. New York: Wiley.
- Dunbar, C.O. and Schuchert, C. (1937) Outlines of Historical Geology, 3d ed. New York: Wiley.
- Dunbar, C. O., & Schuchert, C. (1940). A textbook of geology: Part II: Historical geology. New York: Wiley.
- Rodgers, John. “Carl Owen Dunbar, 1891-1979,” Washington, D.C.: National Academy of Sciences, 1985. ([retrieved 2 February 2011)