Charles Doolittle Walcott

Charles Doolittle Walcott (March 31, 1850 - February 9, 1927) was an eminent American invertebrate paleontologist. He has become well-known for his discovery in 1909 of well-preserved fossils in the Burgess shale formation of British Columbia, Canada.

Beiginning of Scientific Career

In 1876 he became the assistant to James Hall the state geologist of New York. He became a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Related Topics:
James Hall - American Association for the Advancement of Science

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Walcott joined US Geological Survey in 1879 and rose to become its director in 1894. He worked especially on the Cambrian layer in locations throughout the United States, making numerous field trips and linking the fossils he collected to the sequence of rocks in a way that made important contributions to stratigraphy.

Related Topics:
US Geological Survey - Cambrian - Fossil - Stratigraphy

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He married Helena Breese Stevens in 1888. They had four children between 1889 and 1896: Charles Doolittle Walcott, Sydney Stevens Walcott, Helena Breese Walcott and Benjamin Stuart Walcott.

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Walcott was elected to the National Academy of Sciences in 1896. In 1902 he met with Andrew Carnegie and became one of the founders and incorporators of the Carnegie Institution of Washington. He served in various administrative and research positions in that organization.

Related Topics:
National Academy - Andrew Carnegie - Carnegie Institution of Washington

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