A century of science in America : $b with special reference to the American Journal of Science, 1818-1918
History
A century of science in America : $b with special reference to the American Journal of Science, 1818-1918
American journal of science; Science -- United States -- History
George J. Brush entered on his scientific career at the moment when
science and scientific methods of research were just beginning to be
appreciated in this country, and he soon became one of the leading
pioneers in the movement. While his half century of active service was
largely occupied by administrative duties in connection with the
Sheffield Scientific School, his interest in mineralogy never flagged.
His papers on mineralogical subjects number about thirty, all of which
were published in the Journal. These began in 1849, even before his
graduation from college, and continued until his last paper (in
collaboration with S. L. Penfield) appeared in 1883. Three of the early
papers were written with J. Lawrence Smith as noted above. These papers
first set in this country the standard for thorough and accurate
scientific mineral investigation. Later in life he was active in the
development of the remarkable mineral locality at Branchville, Conn.,
and, with the collaboration of E. S. Dana, published in the Journal
(1878–90) five important articles on its minerals. This locality, with
the exception of the zinc deposits at Franklin Furnace, N. J., was the
most remarkable yet discovered in this country. Nearly forty different
mineral species were found there, of which nine (mostly phosphates) were
new to science. There has certainly been no other series of descriptive
papers on a mineralogical locality of equal importance published in this
country.
In addition to publishing original papers, Brush did considerable
editorial work in connection with the fourth (1854) and fifth (1868)
editions of the System of Mineralogy and the Appendices to them. His
Manual of Determinative Mineralogy, with a series of determinative
tables adapted from similar ones by von Kobell, was first published in
1874. It was revised in 1878 and later rewritten by S. L. Penfield. This
book did much to make possible the rapid and accurate determination of
mineral species. Throughout his life, Brush was an enthusiastic
collector of minerals, building up the notable collection that now bears
his name. Perhaps, however, his most important contribution to the
development of mineralogy in America lay rather in his influence upon
his many students. With his enthusiasm for accurate and painstaking
investigation he was an inspiration to all who came in contact with him
and his own field and science in general owes much to that influence.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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