Norah Dowell Stearns (1891–Unknown) was an American

hydrogeologist Hydrogeology (''hydro-'' meaning water, and ''-geology'' meaning the study of the Earth) is the area of geology that deals with the distribution and movement of groundwater in the soil and rocks of the Earth's crust (commonly in aquif ...

from

Providence, Rhode Island Providence is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Rhode Island. One of the oldest cities in New England, it was founded in 1636 by Roger Williams, a Reformed Baptist theologian and religious exile from the Massachusetts Bay ...

. She was one of the earliest-known women to contribute to hydrogeology.

Biography

In the early 20th century, she published without co-authors,. Her work continued to be cited in the later 20th century. She frequently collaborated with her husband, Harold Thornton Stearns, who was also a

geologist A geologist is a scientist who studies the solid, liquid, and gaseous matter that constitutes Earth and other terrestrial planets, as well as the processes that shape them. Geologists usually study geology, earth science, or geophysics, althou ...

. Although there are few records about her education, she is referred to as Dr. Norah D. Stearns, suggesting that she received a PhD. She was an American hydrogeologist and one of the first women to contribute to the field of hydrogeology. Norah Stearns was born on June 14, 1891, in the city of Providence of Rhode Island. She got her undergraduate degree in 1913 from Browns University. Later in 1916, she would obtain a pHD in geography from the same university. Starting in 1924, Norah Stearns would work for the United States Geological Survey (specifically the Groundwater Division which was directed by

Oscar Edward Meinzer Oscar Edward Meinzer (November 28, 1876 – June 14, 1948) was an American hydrogeologist who has been called the "father of modern groundwater hydrology". He was awarded the William Bowie Medal The William Bowie Medal is awarded annually by t ...

). Norah Stearns married Harold Thornton Stearns, a geoscientist, in 1925. It is speculated that they met while working at the Groundwater Division Project Together they would have two children. The oldest being Stanley Stearns (1926-2013) and a younger daughter, Dorothy E. Stearns (1927-?). Together, they would travel through the United States for work. After Norah and Harold divorced in 1938, she moved to Seattle with her children. Vincent believes that she then started working for the

Office of Strategic Services The Office of Strategic Services (OSS) was the intelligence agency of the United States during World War II. The OSS was formed as an agency of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) to coordinate espionage activities behind enemy lines for all branc ...

, a precursor to the

CIA The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA ), known informally as the Agency and historically as the Company, is a civilian intelligence agency, foreign intelligence service of the federal government of the United States, officially tasked with gat ...

, and worked there until 1962. Although little is known about her later life, it is evident that she was an overlooked but accomplished geologist. In the early 20th century, she published without co-authors. Her work continued to be cited in the later 20th century. She frequently collaborated with her husband, Harold Thornton Stearns who was also a geologist Her sister Dorothy was one of the Hopevale Martyrs. Norah Stearn worked on papers with Harold. T Stearns but the credit was only given to her husband, it is suggested that she could have contributed to other pieces of work but did not receive credit for them.

Education

* 1913, Undergraduate degree from Browns University * 1916, pHD in geography from Browns University

Career and Accomplishments

* One of the earliest known women to contribute to the study of hydrogeology * Part of the Groundwater division * Worked closely with the notable Oscar Edward Mainzer who is considered the "father of modern groundwater hydrology" * Worked on three papers with Mainzer. He supervised part of her work for her first paper in 1927 * Between 1927 and 1938, Norah Stearns authored and co authored at least 13 scientific publications * Focused on geology, hydrogeology, and the formation of the Hawaiian Islands and Guam. * Co-authored ''Thermal Springs in the United States'' with Harold T. Stearns and Gerald A. Waring * Made an appearance with her husband in the ''Mauna Loa Volcano Hawaii''- ''1930's eruption''. * Mentioned but not always cited as a co author in two other pieces of work: "Geology of reservoir and dam sites- geology of the Owyhee irrigation project" and "The Theim method for determining permeability of water bearing materials and its application to the determination of specific yield: results of investigations in the Platte River Valley. Nebraska. * From 1938 to 1962, she worked for the Office of Strategic Services

Bibliography

* Meinzer, Oscar E. and Stearns, Norah D
A study of groundwater in the Pomperaug Basin, Connecticut. ''US Geological Survey Water Supply Paper''
1927/1929, vol. 2309. 597-B, p. 73-146.
Stearns, Norah Dowell. Laboratory tests on physical properties of water-bearing materials. 1927. ''US Geological Survey Water Supply Paper'', 596
* Stearns, Norah D. (1935). "Annotated Bibliography and Index of Geology and Water Supply of the Island of Oahu, Hawaii (Bulletin 3)". * Stearns, Norah D.(1935). ''An island is born; Oahu roars up from the deep to claim its place in the Hawaiian group of Polynesia; a story of geological genesis''. Honolulu, Hawaii: Honolulu Star-Bulletin Co. * Stearns, Norah D.; Stearns, Harold Thornton; Waring, Gerald Ashley (1937). ''Thermal Springs in the United States''. U.S. Government Printing Office.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Stearns, Norah Dowell American women geologists 20th-century American geologists Hydrogeologists Scientists from Providence, Rhode Island 1890s births Year of death missing 20th-century American women scientists