377:, Silliman claimed that California possessed "fabulous wealth in the best of oil". Whitney vehemently contested this claim, and accused Silliman of self-interested speculation aimed at prospective investors. Whitney devoted much of his time and energy to personally attacking and discrediting Silliman, whose reputation was severely tarnished over the course of the public debate between the two. But Silliman was ultimately vindicated – first in 1874 when the first major California oil strike occurred, and then in subsequent decades when California went on to produce 80 million barrels per year by 1910 – forty percent of total U.S. domestic oil production.
294:. They began a survey that covered not only geology and geography, but also botany, zoology, and paleontology. Although significant progress was made, Whitney made a tactical error by first publishing two volumes on paleontology when the legislators were clamoring for information about gold. Whitney argued that the survey should do more than simply serve as a prospecting party. The legislature grew impatient with the scope and pace of the survey work and slowly cut the budget. Whitney tactlessly complained, telling legislators:
1414:
1020:
1424:
306:
Mining Bureau, which was empowered—after the legislators' experience with
Whitney—only to address mining issues, and set up with a board of trustees to keep the new agency focused on that narrow purpose. One or two bureau chiefs tried to broaden the scope to include geology, but the bureau was not allowed to hire a geologist until 1928, six decades after the old survey's demise.
42:
341:, who was exploring the Yosemite area during the same time, argued that the valley was carved by glacial action. Whitney derided Muir as an "ignoramus" and a "mere sheepherder." Whitney's survey reports suppressed evidence of glaciers, and he never abandoned his viewpoint. Most scientists eventually dismissed Whitney's hypothesis and accepted Muir's.
389:. He was allowed an indefinite leave of absence to complete his work in California. When the survey work was definitively ended in 1874, Whitney returned to Harvard and opened the school of mines, which was quickly merged a year later into the Lawrence Scientific School. He held his position as professor of geology for the rest of his life.
309:
The state funded the publication and printing of the first three volumes of the survey's results, and
Whitney published the remaining reports using his own money. In spite of financial difficulties and political problems, the survey was significant not only for its published results, but also because
230:
were hired to assist
Charles T. Jackson in making a federal survey of the Lake Superior land district of northern Michigan which was about to become a major copper and iron mining region. When Jackson was dismissed from the survey, Foster and Whitney completed it in 1850 and the final report was
305:
Although the
California Geological Survey ceased work when funds were eliminated, Whitney managed to retain the title of state geologist until 1874. The survey's field work never resumed. In fact, California was left without a geological agency until 1880, when the legislature created the State
1158:
353:, allegedly uncovered by a miner 130 feet (40 m) beneath the surface of the earth. Eventually the skull made its way into the possession of Whitney, who quickly pronounced it genuine and concluded that it came from the
704:
211:
where he studied chemistry, mineralogy and astronomy. After graduation in 1839, he continued to study chemistry in
Philadelphia, and in 1840 he joined a geologic survey of New Hampshire as an unpaid assistant to
1488:
223:. He decided to change career plans and sailed to Europe in 1842 to continue his studies in science. For the next five years he traveled through Europe and studied chemistry and geology in France and Germany.
1186:
266:
In 1860, he was appointed the state geologist for
California and was instructed by the legislature to undertake a comprehensive geologic survey of the state. To carry out the
770:
1468:
924:
1133:
520:
386:
1143:
167:(1860–1874). Through his travels and studies in the principal mining regions of the United States, Whitney became the foremost authority of his day on the
1030:
666:
1171:
1128:
1196:
238:
During the 1850s, Whitney participated in geological surveys of Iowa, Illinois, and
Wisconsin. He was appointed state chemist and professor in the
1478:
298:
We have escaped perils by flood and field, have evaded the friendly embrace of the grizzly, and now find ourselves in the jaws of the
Legislature.
321:
and the surrounding area. In this work he advocated the protection of
Yosemite, and was one of the first to propose creation of a national park.
1483:
796:
1237:
1181:
1473:
917:
207:(1827–1894). He was educated at a series of schools in Northampton, Plainfield, Round Hill, New Haven and Andover. In 1836, he entered
1257:
1463:
1216:
1417:
910:
614:
255:
231:
published under their names. Building on this experience, Whitney became a mining consultant, and eventually wrote the book,
1211:
1191:
1458:
267:
164:
117:
764:
1083:
488:
243:
1353:
1242:
1166:
1123:
1113:
1053:
1043:
820:
632:
554:
403:
374:
337:
First, Whitney maintained that
Yosemite Valley was created by a cataclysmic sinking of the valley floor. However,
196:
65:
689:
200:
1374:
759:
397:
310:
of the men involved, and the survey methods developed – in particular, topographical mapping by triangulation.
176:
246:, he issued reports on Iowa's geological survey (1858–1859). In 1858–1860, he took part in the survey of the
1282:
608:
434:
287:
1379:
964:
847:
417:
213:
204:
143:
1399:
933:
814:
683:
370:
239:
219:
In 1841, he was preparing to enter Harvard Law School, when he happened to hear a lecture on geology by
841:
660:
369:
The third controversy involved the dispute over California's potential oil wealth with Yale Professor
1453:
1448:
1262:
1206:
402:
The Burning of the Convent: a Narrative of the Destruction of the Ursuline School on Mount Benedict,
548:
1389:
1221:
283:
275:
1423:
1394:
1384:
1098:
1063:
979:
755:
603:
514:
203:. His mother was Sarah Williston (1800–1833). He was the brother of grammarian and lexicographer
160:
113:
763:
1427:
1302:
1267:
1201:
1009:
949:
792:
636:
459:
279:
271:
227:
786:
469:
The Metallic Wealth of the United States: Described and Compared with that of Other Countries
361:– 1.8 mya). However, others assert that the skull is much younger, as little as 1,000 years.
1307:
1287:
1252:
999:
412:(1878). Their daughter Eleanor Goddard Whitney was born on November 29, 1856. Whitney named
168:
788:
Yosemite Place Names: The Historic Background of Geographic Names in Yosemite National Park
1272:
989:
954:
350:
318:
208:
180:
99:
496:
467:
438:
1333:
1004:
984:
974:
959:
897:
597:
One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the
533:
251:
682:
1442:
1247:
1148:
1138:
1118:
1088:
1078:
1058:
941:
655:
598:
291:
220:
199:, the oldest of 12 children. His father was Josiah Dwight Whitney (1786–1869) of the
172:
302:
In 1867, the survey was eliminated from the budget, and work was suspended in 1868.
1343:
1292:
1176:
1093:
1073:
1068:
1048:
969:
607:
421:
413:
247:
184:
87:
885:
A History of the First Half-Century of the National Academy of Sciences: 1863–1913
840:
17:
1323:
1019:
641:. Vol. 2. J. F. Trow & son, printers and bookbinders. pp. 833–835.
813:
235:(1854). It was considered to be the standard reference for the next 15 years.
1338:
1277:
1108:
1103:
994:
393:
329:
While in California, Whitney became embroiled in three notable controversies:
155:(November 23, 1819 – August 18, 1896) was an American geologist, professor of
659:
1328:
1297:
1038:
338:
109:
41:
547:
385:
In 1865, Whitney was appointed to the Harvard faculty in order to found a
581:
He published many papers in journals of the United States and elsewhere.
354:
902:
743:
Scientists in Conflict: The Beginnings of the Oil Industry in California
373:
After conducting a small-scale survey of surface seeps of petroleum in
156:
869:
Johnson, Allen and Dumas Malone, ed. (1946) "Whitney, Josiah Dwight",
1358:
443:. English translation by Josiah Whitney. Boston: W.D. Ticknor and Co
498:
Report of a Geological Survey of the Upper Mississippi Lead Region
558:. Vol. 4 (9th ed.). New York: Charles Scribner's Sons.
906:
270:, he organized an eminent, multi-disciplinary team, including
855:
Bourgoin, Suzanne Michele ed. (1998) "Josiah Dwight Whitney",
638:
The history of the descendants of John Dwight, of Dedham, Mass
358:
1018:
420:
for his daughter, who died in 1882. Josiah Whitney died at
1489:
Members of the United States National Academy of Sciences
456:
Report on the Geology of the Lake superior Land District
883:
True, Frederick W. ed. (1913) "Josiah Dwight Whitney",
183:, the first confirmed glacier in the United States, on
709:
American Philosophical Society Member History Database
575:
Studies in Geographical and Topographical Nomenclature
187:, were both named after him by members of the Survey.
563:
Auriferous Gravels of the Sierra Nevada of California
349:
The second controversy involved the discovery of the
254:, publishing, again with Hall, a report in 1862. The
1367:
1316:
1230:
1157:
1029:
940:
440:
The Use of the Blowpipe In Chemistry and Mineralogy
139:
131:
123:
105:
95:
72:
51:
32:
1187:Giant Forest Village–Camp Kaweah Historic District
693:. New York: P. F. Collier & Son Company.
46:Portrait of Josiah Whitney by Silas Selleck, 1863
317:(1869), which was essentially a travel guide to
878:The First One Hundred Years of American Geology
812:Ripley, George; Dana, Charles A., eds. (1879).
296:
918:
8:
670:(11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
871:Dictionary of American Biography (Volume X)
771:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography
472:. Philadelphia: Lippincott, Grambo & Co
400:, May 13, 1882) on July 5, 1854. She wrote
226:When Whitney returned home in 1847, he and
925:
911:
903:
606:; Peck, H. T.; Colby, F. M., eds. (1905).
519:: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (
40:
29:
730:Life and Letters of Josiah Dwight Whitney
627:
625:
569:Climatic Changes of Late Geological Times
539:. Later reprinted without photographs as
392:Whitney married Louisa Goddard (born in
590:
195:Whitney was born November 23, 1819, in
1469:People from Northampton, Massachusetts
512:
408:(Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1877), and
396:, England, December 17, 1819; died in
618:(1st ed.). New York: Dodd, Mead.
424:, New Hampshire, on August 18, 1896.
7:
1182:Giant Forest Lodge Historic District
650:
648:
495:Whitney, J. D.; Hall, James (1862).
233:Metallic Wealth of the United States
528:The Geological Survey of California
410:Peasy's Childhood: an Autobiography
258:elected him to membership in 1863.
681:Reynolds, Francis J., ed. (1921).
365:Dispute with Benjamin Silliman Jr.
25:
839:Rines, George Edwin, ed. (1920).
135:Josiah Dwight Whitney (1786-1869)
1422:
1413:
1412:
791:. Great West Books. p. 42.
1258:Generals' Highway Stone Bridges
1217:Smithsonian Institution Shelter
857:Encyclopedia of World Biography
728:Brewster, Edwin Tenney. (1909)
1479:Explorers of the United States
842:"Whitney, Josiah Dwight"
815:"Whitney, Josiah Dwight"
765:"Whitney, Josiah Dwight"
684:"Whitney, Josiah Dwight"
661:"Whitney, Josiah Dwight"
615:New International Encyclopedia
609:"Whitney, Josiah Dwight"
256:American Philosophical Society
163:(from 1865), and chief of the
27:American geologist (1819–1896)
1:
1212:Redwood Meadow Ranger Station
1192:Hockett Meadow Ranger Station
1484:California Geological Survey
1172:Cabin Creek Ranger Residence
864:History of the Sierra Nevada
862:Farquhar, Francis P. (1965)
268:California Geological Survey
262:California Geological Survey
165:California Geological Survey
118:California Geological Survey
633:Dwight, Benjamin Woodbridge
546:Whitney, Josiah D. (1878).
242:in 1855, and together with
177:contiguous 48 United States
175:, the highest point in the
1505:
1474:Harvard University faculty
1308:Wuksachi Village and Lodge
1167:Ash Mountain Entrance Sign
876:Merrill, George P. (1924)
690:Collier's New Encyclopedia
552:. In Baynes, T. S. (ed.).
197:Northampton, Massachusetts
66:Northampton, Massachusetts
1408:
1016:
485:Geological Report on Ohio
201:New England Dwight family
39:
785:Browning, Peter (2005).
774:. New York: D. Appleton.
398:Cambridge, Massachusetts
1464:Phillips Academy alumni
1283:Kern Plateau salamander
821:The American Cyclopædia
667:Encyclopædia Britannica
555:Encyclopædia Britannica
541:The Yosemite Guide-Book
466:Whitney, J. D. (1854).
333:Yosemite Valley origins
288:Watson Andrews Goodyear
1023:
848:Encyclopedia Americana
741:White, Gerald (1968).
418:Yosemite National Park
406:, by One of the Pupils
300:
205:William Dwight Whitney
144:William Dwight Whitney
1368:Nearby municipalities
1022:
934:Sequoia National Park
435:Berzelius, Jöns Jacob
371:Benjamin Silliman Jr.
240:Iowa State University
153:Josiah Dwight Whitney
1263:Great Western Divide
1207:Quinn Ranger Station
965:General Sherman Tree
250:region of the Upper
1459:Yale College alumni
705:"Josiah D. Whitney"
313:Whitney also wrote
284:Charles F. Hoffmann
276:James Graham Cooper
1134:Triple Divide Peak
1099:Milestone Mountain
1064:Kaweah Peaks Ridge
1024:
833:Additional sources
549:"California"
214:Charles T. Jackson
161:Harvard University
114:Harvard University
1436:
1435:
1428:California Portal
1354:George W. Stewart
1334:Stephen T. Mather
1268:High Sierra Trail
1253:Generals' Highway
1231:Other attractions
1202:Pear Lake Ski Hut
950:Atwell Mill Grove
898:The Yosemite Book
798:978-0-944220-19-1
535:The Yosemite Book
315:The Yosemite Book
280:William More Gabb
272:William H. Brewer
228:John Wells Foster
150:
149:
62:November 23, 1819
18:Josiah D. Whitney
16:(Redirected from
1496:
1426:
1416:
1415:
1288:Lilliput Glacier
1222:Squatter's Cabin
1144:Thunder Mountain
927:
920:
913:
904:
852:
844:
826:
825:
817:
809:
803:
802:
782:
776:
775:
767:
752:
746:
739:
733:
726:
720:
719:
717:
715:
701:
695:
694:
686:
678:
672:
671:
663:
652:
643:
642:
629:
620:
619:
611:
595:
559:
551:
524:
518:
510:
508:
506:
481:
479:
477:
452:
450:
448:
169:economic geology
83:
81:
61:
59:
44:
30:
21:
1504:
1503:
1499:
1498:
1497:
1495:
1494:
1493:
1439:
1438:
1437:
1432:
1404:
1363:
1312:
1303:Ursa Minor Cave
1273:John Muir Trail
1226:
1159:Historic places
1153:
1025:
1014:
1010:Washington Tree
990:Mark Twain Tree
936:
931:
894:
838:
835:
830:
829:
811:
810:
806:
799:
784:
783:
779:
762:, eds. (1889).
754:
753:
749:
740:
736:
727:
723:
713:
711:
703:
702:
698:
680:
679:
675:
654:
653:
646:
631:
630:
623:
602:
596:
592:
587:
545:
511:
504:
502:
494:
475:
473:
465:
446:
444:
433:
430:
387:school of mines
383:
367:
351:Calaveras Skull
347:
345:Calaveras Skull
335:
327:
319:Yosemite Valley
264:
209:Yale University
193:
181:Whitney Glacier
112:, professor at
100:Yale University
96:Alma mater
91:
90:, New Hampshire
85:
79:
77:
76:August 18, 1896
68:
63:
57:
55:
47:
35:
28:
23:
22:
15:
12:
11:
5:
1502:
1500:
1492:
1491:
1486:
1481:
1476:
1471:
1466:
1461:
1456:
1451:
1441:
1440:
1434:
1433:
1431:
1430:
1420:
1409:
1406:
1405:
1403:
1402:
1397:
1392:
1387:
1382:
1377:
1371:
1369:
1365:
1364:
1362:
1361:
1356:
1351:
1349:Josiah Whitney
1346:
1341:
1336:
1331:
1326:
1320:
1318:
1314:
1313:
1311:
1310:
1305:
1300:
1295:
1290:
1285:
1280:
1275:
1270:
1265:
1260:
1255:
1250:
1245:
1240:
1234:
1232:
1228:
1227:
1225:
1224:
1219:
1214:
1209:
1204:
1199:
1194:
1189:
1184:
1179:
1174:
1169:
1163:
1161:
1155:
1154:
1152:
1151:
1146:
1141:
1136:
1131:
1129:Table Mountain
1126:
1121:
1116:
1111:
1106:
1101:
1096:
1091:
1086:
1084:Mount Le Conte
1081:
1076:
1071:
1066:
1061:
1056:
1051:
1046:
1041:
1035:
1033:
1027:
1026:
1017:
1015:
1013:
1012:
1007:
1002:
997:
992:
987:
982:
977:
975:Hazelwood Tree
972:
967:
962:
960:Garfield Grove
957:
952:
946:
944:
942:Giant sequoias
938:
937:
932:
930:
929:
922:
915:
907:
901:
900:
893:
892:External links
890:
889:
888:
881:
874:
867:
860:
853:
834:
831:
828:
827:
804:
797:
777:
747:
734:
721:
696:
673:
658:, ed. (1911).
656:Chisholm, Hugh
644:
621:
589:
588:
586:
583:
579:
578:
572:
566:
560:
543:
531:
525:
492:
482:
463:
453:
429:
428:Selected works
426:
382:
379:
375:Ventura County
366:
363:
346:
343:
334:
331:
326:
323:
263:
260:
252:Missouri River
192:
189:
148:
147:
141:
137:
136:
133:
129:
128:
125:
124:Known for
121:
120:
107:
103:
102:
97:
93:
92:
86:
84:(aged 76)
74:
70:
69:
64:
53:
49:
48:
45:
37:
36:
34:Josiah Whitney
33:
26:
24:
14:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1501:
1490:
1487:
1485:
1482:
1480:
1477:
1475:
1472:
1470:
1467:
1465:
1462:
1460:
1457:
1455:
1452:
1450:
1447:
1446:
1444:
1429:
1425:
1421:
1419:
1411:
1410:
1407:
1401:
1398:
1396:
1393:
1391:
1388:
1386:
1383:
1381:
1378:
1376:
1373:
1372:
1370:
1366:
1360:
1357:
1355:
1352:
1350:
1347:
1345:
1342:
1340:
1339:Hale D. Tharp
1337:
1335:
1332:
1330:
1327:
1325:
1322:
1321:
1319:
1315:
1309:
1306:
1304:
1301:
1299:
1296:
1294:
1291:
1289:
1286:
1284:
1281:
1279:
1276:
1274:
1271:
1269:
1266:
1264:
1261:
1259:
1256:
1254:
1251:
1249:
1248:Forester Pass
1246:
1244:
1241:
1239:
1236:
1235:
1233:
1229:
1223:
1220:
1218:
1215:
1213:
1210:
1208:
1205:
1203:
1200:
1198:
1197:Hospital Rock
1195:
1193:
1190:
1188:
1185:
1183:
1180:
1178:
1175:
1173:
1170:
1168:
1165:
1164:
1162:
1160:
1156:
1150:
1149:Mount Whitney
1147:
1145:
1142:
1140:
1139:Mount Tyndall
1137:
1135:
1132:
1130:
1127:
1125:
1124:Mount Stewart
1122:
1120:
1119:Sawtooth Peak
1117:
1115:
1114:Mount Russell
1112:
1110:
1107:
1105:
1102:
1100:
1097:
1095:
1092:
1090:
1089:Mount Mallory
1087:
1085:
1082:
1080:
1079:Mount Langley
1077:
1075:
1072:
1070:
1067:
1065:
1062:
1060:
1059:Junction Peak
1057:
1055:
1054:Florence Peak
1052:
1050:
1047:
1045:
1044:Mount Barnard
1042:
1040:
1037:
1036:
1034:
1032:
1028:
1021:
1011:
1008:
1006:
1003:
1001:
998:
996:
993:
991:
988:
986:
983:
981:
978:
976:
973:
971:
968:
966:
963:
961:
958:
956:
955:Franklin Tree
953:
951:
948:
947:
945:
943:
939:
935:
928:
923:
921:
916:
914:
909:
908:
905:
899:
896:
895:
891:
886:
882:
879:
875:
872:
868:
865:
861:
858:
854:
850:
849:
843:
837:
836:
832:
823:
822:
816:
808:
805:
800:
794:
790:
789:
781:
778:
773:
772:
766:
761:
757:
756:Wilson, J. G.
751:
748:
744:
738:
735:
731:
725:
722:
710:
706:
700:
697:
692:
691:
685:
677:
674:
669:
668:
662:
657:
651:
649:
645:
640:
639:
634:
628:
626:
622:
617:
616:
610:
605:
604:Gilman, D. C.
600:
599:public domain
594:
591:
584:
582:
576:
573:
570:
567:
564:
561:
557:
556:
550:
544:
542:
538:
536:
532:
529:
526:
522:
516:
500:
499:
493:
490:
486:
483:
471:
470:
464:
461:
457:
454:
442:
441:
436:
432:
431:
427:
425:
423:
419:
415:
411:
407:
405:
399:
395:
390:
388:
380:
378:
376:
372:
364:
362:
360:
356:
352:
344:
342:
340:
332:
330:
325:Controversies
324:
322:
320:
316:
311:
307:
303:
299:
295:
293:
292:Clarence King
289:
285:
281:
277:
273:
269:
261:
259:
257:
253:
249:
245:
241:
236:
234:
229:
224:
222:
221:Charles Lyell
217:
215:
210:
206:
202:
198:
190:
188:
186:
182:
178:
174:
173:Mount Whitney
170:
166:
162:
158:
154:
145:
142:
138:
134:
130:
127:Mount Whitney
126:
122:
119:
115:
111:
108:
106:Occupation(s)
104:
101:
98:
94:
89:
75:
71:
67:
54:
50:
43:
38:
31:
19:
1375:Three Rivers
1348:
1344:John Tyndall
1293:Mineral King
1238:Crystal Cave
1177:Cattle Cabin
1094:Mount McAdie
1074:Mount Kaweah
1069:Kaweah Queen
1049:Black Kaweah
985:Lincoln Tree
970:Giant Forest
884:
877:
870:
863:
856:
846:
819:
807:
787:
780:
769:
750:
742:
737:
729:
724:
712:. Retrieved
708:
699:
688:
676:
665:
637:
613:
593:
580:
574:
568:
562:
553:
540:
534:
527:
503:. Retrieved
501:. Albany, NY
497:
484:
474:. Retrieved
468:
460:J. W. Foster
455:
445:. Retrieved
439:
422:Lake Sunapee
414:Lake Eleanor
409:
401:
391:
384:
368:
348:
336:
328:
314:
312:
308:
304:
301:
297:
265:
237:
232:
225:
218:
194:
185:Mount Shasta
171:of the U.S.
152:
151:
88:Lake Sunapee
1454:1896 deaths
1449:1819 births
1324:C.C. Curtis
1005:Tharp's Log
980:King Arthur
714:16 February
404:Charlestown
191:Early years
116:, Chief at
1443:Categories
1380:Lemon Cove
1278:Kaweah Gap
1243:Eagle Lake
1109:Red Kaweah
1104:Mount Muir
995:Muir Grove
585:References
489:James Hall
394:Manchester
381:Later life
244:James Hall
179:, and the
80:1896-08-19
58:1819-11-23
1400:Lone Pine
1329:John Muir
1298:Moro Rock
1039:Alta Peak
1031:Mountains
1000:President
760:Fiske, J.
530:(1864–70)
515:cite book
462:(1851–52)
357:era (5.3
339:John Muir
146:(brother)
140:Relatives
110:geologist
1418:Category
635:(1874).
437:(1845).
355:Pliocene
1390:Visalia
601::
505:May 11,
487:, with
476:May 11,
458:, with
447:May 11,
157:geology
78: (
1395:Tulare
1385:Kaweah
1359:Yokuts
1317:People
795:
577:(1888)
571:(1882)
565:(1880)
537:(1869)
491:(1858)
290:, and
132:Father
793:ISBN
716:2021
521:link
507:2013
478:2013
449:2013
248:lead
73:Died
52:Born
416:in
359:mya
159:at
1445::
845:.
818:.
768:.
758:;
707:.
687:.
664:.
647:^
624:^
612:.
517:}}
513:{{
286:,
282:,
278:,
274:,
216:.
926:e
919:t
912:v
887:.
880:.
873:.
866:.
859:.
851:.
824:.
801:.
745:.
732:.
718:.
523:)
509:.
480:.
451:.
82:)
60:)
56:(
20:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.