User:Sally.haaheim/Florence Bascom

Florence Bascom
Florence Bascom Florence Bascom (July 14, 1862 – June 18, 1945) was a pioneer for women as a geologist's and educator in the 1800s. Bascom became an anomaly in the 19th Century when she earned two Bachelors degrees. Earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1882, and a Bachelor of Science degree in 1884. Both earned at the University of Wisconsin. Shortly after in 1987 Bascom earned her Masters degree in geology at University of Wisconsin. Bascom was the second woman to earn her PhD in geology in the United States, in 1893. Receiving her PhD from Johns Hopkins University, this made her the first female to earn a degree at the institution. Shortly after earning her doctorate in geology, in 1896 Bascom became the first woman to work for the United States Geological Survey. As well as being one of the first women to earn a master's degree in geology, Bascom was known for her innovative findings in this field, and led the next generation of female geologists. Geologists consider Bascom to be the "first woman geologist in this country America."

"The fascination of any search after truth lies not in the attainment, which at best is found to be very relative, but in the pursuit, where all the powers of the mind and character are brought into play and are absorbed by the task. One feels oneself in contact with something that is infinite and one finds joy that is beyond expression in sounding the abyss of science and the secrets of the infinite mind." - Florence Bascom

Early Life
Florence Bascom was born in Williamstown, Massachusetts on July 14, 1862.[1] The youngest of five children, Bascom came from a family who, unlike most at the time, encouraged women's entrance into society.[2] Bascom was born at a time when Civil War was splitting the country. Bascom grew up in a household where her family emphasized the importance of gender equality. Bascom's father John Bascom, commemorated women and their importance in society. Bascom had a very high maturity level from a very young age and was very close to her father. John Bascom had struggled with mental illness and used his children as a way to help him overcome those challenges. John Bascom did so by bringing his children to the mountains and did this to promote natural science. Bascom graduated with high grades from Madison High School at the age of 16.[5]

John Bascom, was a professor at Williams College, and later President of the University of Wisconsin in 1874. Just one year later in 1875, the University of Wisconsin began accepting women. Bascom Hill within the Madison campus was named after the family and their legacy.[4] John Bascom was the driving factor of Bascom's career and first contact in the field of Geology.[2] Bascom's mother, Emma Curtiss Bascom, was a women's rights activist involved in the suffrage movement.[2] Bascom's parents were steadfast supporters of women's rights and encouraged women to obtain a college education.

Contents
Bascom graduated The University of Wisconsin with two bachelor’s degrees. The first first degree was in Arts which was received in 1882 and the second was a Bachelor of Science in 1884. Bascom also received her Master’s in Geology in 1887 at the same university and this is where she discovered her interest in geology but specifically in the very unknown field at that time- petrography. After completing her Master’s, Bascom enrolled in Johns Hopkins Univeristy when it allowed women to attend graduate school and continued her studies in petrography there. Bascom’s thesis was on “certain formations in the South Mountain in Maryland”. Bascom graduated John Hopkins with her Ph.D in 1983 making her the first woman to graduate the university with that degree and the second women in the United States to earn a Ph.D.
 * Education


 * Work
 * Notable mentors
 * Legacy
 * Death
 * Named in honor of Florence Bascom
 * Publications
 * See also
 * References
 * Further reading
 * External links