Michigan Geological Survey

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Michigan Geological Survey
AbbreviationMGS
Formation1837
TypeResearch & Education
Region served
Michigan
Websitemgs.geology.wmich.edu

The Michigan Geological Survey is a scientific agency of the U.S. state of Michigan. The survey is headed by the State Geologist of Michigan.

The survey has been composed of three individual surveys: the first from 1837 through 1845, the second from 1859 through 1862, and the third from 1869 to present. During most of that time, the survey has been a department of the state government. Since 2011 however, the survey has been administered by the Department of Geosciences at Western Michigan University.

History

First and second geological surveys

An act to provide for a geological survey of the state

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Michigan, That the governor is hereby authorized and directed to nominate, and by and with the advice and consent of the senate, to appoint a competent person, whose duty it shall be to make an accurate and complete geological survey of this State, which shall be accompanied with proper maps and diagrams, and furnish a full and scientific description of its rocks, soils, minerals, and of its botanical and geological productions, together with specimens of the same; which maps, diagrams, and specimens shall be deposited in the State library, and similar specimens shall be deposited in such literary and scientific institutions as the governor shall direct; and the governor is further authorized to appoint, from time to time, as the exigencies of the case may require, competent persons to act as assistants under the directions of the geologist.

SECTION 2. A sum not exceeding $3,000 for the year 1837, a sum not exceeding $6,000 for the year 1838, a sum not exceeding $8,000 for the year 1839, and a sum not exceeding $12,000 for the year 1840, is hereby appropriated to defray the expenses that may be incurred under this act, which sums shall be paid out of the treasury from any money not otherwise appropriated, at such times and in such sums as the governor may direct; and an account of all the expenditures of each year shall be annually reported to the legislature.

SECTION 3. The geologist appointed under the provisions of this act shall make a report annually to the legislature, on the first Monday of January, in each year, setting forth generally the progress made in the survey hereby authorized.

Approved February 23, 1837.[1]

On January 26, 1837, Michigan was admitted as a state. On that same day, a bill was introduced and approved in the

Upper Peninsula.[3] As established, the survey was expected to be completed in four years; however, it was soon realized that a proper survey of the entire state would take much longer.[5]

In March 1838, the survey was divided into four departments: geological and mineralogical, zoological, botanical, and topographical.[6] Each department was headed by a specialist under the direction of the State Geologist. In 1840, the botanical and zoological aspects of the survey were abolished by the legislature. They were perceived as offering the state little benefit, overriding Houghton's protests that they remain.[5] In 1845, Houghton was out sailing on Lake Superior when a storm overturned his boat and he drowned. After this incident the survey was suspended, although Houghton's assistant and another surveyor continued to map the mineralogical deposits on the south shore of Lake Superior.[7]

In the late 1850s, the Michigan Legislature received petitions from various interests to further investigate the state's salt resources, leading to the establishment of a second geological survey on February 15, 1859. Dr. Alexander Winchell of the University of Michigan was named State Geologist on March 9.[7][8] Winchell spent much of his time from 1859 through 1862 conducting field work that culminated in a single comprehensive report. His report included a general description of the state's geology and more detailed descriptions of some of its mineral resources of economic interest, including coal, gypsum, and salt in the Lower Peninsula, and iron in the Upper Peninsula. In 1863 the legislature did not approve further funding for the survey, as the state treasury was dedicated to funding the American Civil War.[7] Official termination of the survey occurred on March 7, 1863, by a joint resolution of the state legislature.[8]

Third geological survey

1869 to 1920

By 1869 there was widespread public support for resuming the geological survey, and legislation was passed in March.

ex officio Board of Geological Survey was created to oversee the department, consisting of the Governor, Superintendent of Public Instruction, and President of the State Board of Education. Unlike the previous two surveys, botanical and zoological investigations were not included.[7] On April 24, Winchell was reappointed as State Geologist.[10] This time Winchell's ideas for the direction of the survey were in conflict with those of the board. Winchell wanted to concentrate on a scholarly investigation of the Lower Peninsula, but the Board wanted the survey to focus on copper and iron resources in the Upper Peninsula. In response, the Board contracted independent surveys of the Marquette Iron Range and the Copper Country.[7] As a result of frequent debates and political infighting, Winchell resigned in April 1871.[7][10]

Dr.

Michigan Mining School, having previously relied on private offices or the homes of the various geologists.[11][12] In order that the Michigan Geological Survey could concentrate on economic geology, Wadsworth arranged for the United States Geological Survey to assume responsibility for studies of paleontology and other non-economic scientific topics.[11]

The Board of 1891 to 1892 recommended to the legislature a number of changes. These included incorporating the office of Mineral Statistics with the survey, appropriating offices in Lansing, and hiring geologists who were independent of state universities and who could dedicate the whole of their time to the survey. In 1893, Wadsworth became aware of these intentions, and offered to resign from the Michigan Mining School if he were given a raise to $4,000 per year. His offer was rejected and Wadsworth resigned.[13]

Dr.

Tufts College, and was succeeded by Roland C. Allen in September.[11][15]

Around the time that Allen became State Geologist, the survey took over the responsibilities of the Commissioner of Mineral Statistics, including preparing reports on the state's metallic and non-metallic minerals and conducting annual assessments of iron mines. The survey significantly reduced its activities during World War I due to a lack of funding and workers, but continued its topographical research, resulting in the relocation and marking of the Ohio-Michigan border. In 1919, Allen resigned and his assistant, Richard A. Smith, became State Geologist.[11] In 1920, responsibility for the survey was transferred to the newly created Michigan Department of Conservation.[9][16] However, the topographical elements of the survey were transferred to other state departments.[16]

1920 to present

In 1946 Smith retired, after 26 years as the longest-serving State Geologist to date.[16] Dr. Gerald E. Eddy succeeded Smith, and remained until 1951.[2] He was followed by Franklin G. Pardee from 1951 through 1952.[17] William L. Daoust succeeded him as Acting State Geologist through 1954 and as State Geologist through 1964.[2] After twelve years as the Department of Conservation's Director, Eddy was reappointed State Geologist in 1964.[17] In 1968, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources was created, to which the survey was transferred, retaining its name as the Geological Survey Division.[9][17]

Eddy was succeeded by Arthur E. Slaughter in 1971.

Michigan Department of Environmental Quality was created, taking over the survey.[9][18] In 1996, Harold R. Fitch became State Geologist.[9] In 2002 and 2004, the survey was respectively renamed the Geological and Land Management Division and the Office of Geological Survey.[19]

In 2010, Fitch began discussions with Western Michigan University (WMU) to assume the non-regulatory functions of the survey.[20] Funding cuts were restricting the survey's ability to perform any non-regulatory duties, so a transfer to a different institution would permit their accomplishment.[21] In October 2011, the survey was transferred to Western Michigan University's Department of Geosciences.[21][22] WMU professor Alan E. Kehew was then appointed director of the survey.[21] In 2013, John A. Yellich was appointed director of the survey.[23][24]

List of State Geologists

Portrait Name Post Took office Left office Division Ref(s)
Douglass Houghton
 State Geologist 1837 1845
(death) 		First Geological Survey [2]
Office suspended (1845–1859)
Alexander Winchell State Geologist March 9, 1859 1862 Second Geological Survey [2][8]
Office suspended (1862–1869)
Alexander Winchell State Geologist April 24, 1869 April 17, 1871 Third Geological Survey
Michigan Geological and Biological Survey 		[2][25]
Carl Rominger State Geologist 1871 1885 Third Geological Survey
Michigan Geological and Biological Survey 		[2]
Charles E. Wright State Geologist 1885 1888
(death) 		Third Geological Survey
Michigan Geological and Biological Survey 		[2]
Marshman E. Wadsworth

 State Geologist 1888 1893 Third Geological Survey
Michigan Geological and Biological Survey 		[2]
Lucius L. Hubbard
 State Geologist July 3, 1893 1899 Third Geological Survey
Michigan Geological and Biological Survey 		[2][26]
Alfred Church Lane
 State Geologist 1899 1909 Third Geological Survey
Michigan Geological and Biological Survey 		[2]
Roland C. Allen State Geologist 1909 1919 Third Geological Survey
Michigan Geological and Biological Survey 		[2]
Richard A. Smith State Geologist 1919 1920 Third Geological Survey
Michigan Geological and Biological Survey 		[2]
Richard A. Smith Division Chief and State Geologist 1920 1946 Third Geological Survey
Geological Survey Division, Department of Conservation 		[2]
Gerald E. Eddy Division Chief and State Geologist 1946 1951 Third Geological Survey
Geological Survey Division, Department of Conservation 		[2]
Franklin G. Pardee Division Chief and State Geologist 1951 1952 Third Geological Survey
Geological Survey Division, Department of Conservation 		[2]
William L. Daoust Acting State Geologist 1952 1954 Third Geological Survey
Geological Survey Division, Department of Conservation 		[2]
William L. Daoust Division Chief and State Geologist 1954 1964 Third Geological Survey
Geological Survey Division, Department of Conservation 		[2]
Gerald E. Eddy State Geologist 1964 1971 Third Geological Survey
Geological Survey Division, Department of Natural Resources 		[2]
Arthur E. Slaughter State Geologist 1971 1976 Third Geological Survey
Geological Survey Division, Department of Natural Resources 		[2]
Arthur E. Slaughter State Geologist 1976 1977 Third Geological Survey
Division of Geology, Department of Natural Resources 		[2]
Arthur E. Slaughter State Geologist 1977 1981 Third Geological Survey
Geological Survey Division, Department of Natural Resources 		[2]
R. Thomas Segall State Geologist 1981 1996 Third Geological Survey
Geological Survey Division, Department of Natural Resources 		[2][27]
Harold R. Fitch State Geologist 1996 2002 Third Geological Survey
Geological Survey Division, Department of Environmental Quality 		[27]
Harold R. Fitch State Geologist 2002 2004 Third Geological Survey
Geological and Land Management Division, Department of Environmental Quality 		[27]
Harold R. Fitch State Geologist 2004 2011 Third Geological Survey
Office of Geological Survey, Department of Environmental Quality 		[27]
Alan E. Kehew Director 2011 2013 Third Geological Survey
WMU Department of Geosciences 		[21]
John A. Yellich Director 2013 — Third Geological Survey
WMU Department of Geosciences 		[23]

References

  1. ^ Merrill 1920, pp. 158–159.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z Segall 1980s, p. 1.
  3. ^ a b c Merrill 1920, p. 158.
  4. ^ Merrill 1920, p. 159.
  5. ^ a b Allen & Martin 1922, p. 2.
  6. ^ Bagg 1838, pp. 119–121.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h Segall 1980s, p. 2.
  8. ^ a b c Allen & Martin 1922, p. 3.
  9. ^ a b c d e f Cobb 2008, p. 492.
  10. ^ a b Allen & Martin 1922, p. 8.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h i Segall 1980s, p. 3.
  12. ^ Allen & Martin 1922, p. 9.
  13. ^ a b c Allen & Martin 1922, p. 11.
  14. ^ Allen & Martin 1922, p. 13.
  15. ^ Allen & Martin 1922, p. 17.
  16. ^ a b c Segall 1980s, p. 4.
  17. ^ a b c d Segall 1980s, p. 5.
  18. ^ "History of DEQ". Michigan Department of Environmental Quality. Retrieved February 24, 2013.
  19. ^ Cobb 2008, p. 493.
  20. ^ "Southwest Michigan legislators help transfer state geological survey to WMU". Michigan Senate Republicans. September 22, 2011. Archived from the original on February 24, 2013. Retrieved February 24, 2013.
  21. ^ a b c d Mack, Julie (October 12, 2011). "Western Michigan University takes ownership of the Michigan Geological Survey program". The Kalamazoo Gazette. Retrieved February 24, 2013.
  22. ^ "Act No. 167". Michigan Legislature. October 11, 2011. Retrieved February 24, 2013.
  23. ^ a b Zipp, Yvonne (November 4, 2013). "Western Michigan University announces new head of Michigan Geological Survey". mlive.com. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
  24. ^ Baron, Jeanne (November 7, 2013). "New director named for Michigan Geological Survey". WMU News. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
  25. ^ Allen & Martin 1922, p. 5.
  26. ^ Allen & Martin 1922, p. 23.
  27. ^ a b c d Cobb 2008, pp. 492–493.

Bibliography

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