Jay Backus Woodworth (January 2, 1865 – August 4, 1925) was an American geologist and educator. He was one of several American pioneers in the scientific study of earthquakes, and he became a recognized authority on

glacial geology Glaciology (; ) is the scientific study of glaciers, or, more generally, ice and natural phenomena that involve ice. Glaciology is an interdisciplinary Earth science that integrates geophysics, geology, physical geography, geomorphology, clim ...

in New England.

Biography

Woodworth was born in

Newfield, New York Newfield is a town in Tompkins County, New York, United States. The population was 5,184 at the 2020 census. The town's name is derived from the many unoccupied tracts of land that were once in the town. The Town of Newfield is in the southwest ...

on January 2, 1865, the son of Reverend Allen Beach Woodworth and Amanda née Smith. As a youth he developed a love of nature and an interest in the geology of New York. After a few years working in business, he matriculated to the

Lawrence Scientific School The Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) is the engineering education, engineering school within Harvard University's Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, offering degrees in eng ...

Harvard University Harvard University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. Founded in 1636 and named for its first benefactor, the History of the Puritans in North America, Puritan clergyma ...

to begin technical training.

Nathaniel Shaler Nathaniel Southgate Shaler (February 20, 1841 – April 10, 1906) was an American paleontologist and geologist who wrote extensively on the theological and scientific implications of the theory of evolution, whose work is now considered scientif ...

chose Woodworth as his personal assistant for a lengthy study of the coast of New England. In 1890 Woodworth was appointed a geology assistant, and he became associated with the

United States Geological Survey The United States Geological Survey (USGS), founded as the Geological Survey, is an agency of the U.S. Department of the Interior whose work spans the disciplines of biology, geography, geology, and hydrology. The agency was founded on Mar ...

. He was promoted to instructor in geology in 1893. The following year he was awarded a B.S. degree in geology, ''cum laude''. Woodworth continued to teach at Harvard, becoming assistant professor in 1901. From 1904 until 1908 he was chairman in charge of the department of geology and geography at Harvard. Woodworth was placed in charge of establishing and maintaining the Harvard Seismographic Station in 1908, and he would become noted for his accurate and meticulous record keeping. For eight months in 1908, he took a leave of absence to lead the first Shaler Memorial Expedition to South America. This geological expedition studied glacial phenomenon in Brazil and traced changes to the shoreline in Chile. Woodworth was named a Fellow of the

Geological Society of America The Geological Society of America (GSA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of the geosciences. History The society was founded in Ithaca, New York, in 1888 by Alexander Winchell, John J. Stevenson, Charles H. Hi ...

in 1896, becoming a counselor during 1910–1912. He was elected to the

American Academy of Arts and Sciences The American Academy of Arts and Sciences (The Academy) is one of the oldest learned societies in the United States. It was founded in 1780 during the American Revolution by John Adams, John Hancock, James Bowdoin, Andrew Oliver, and other ...

in 1910. On January 21, 1911, the '' Cambridge Tribune'' reported that Mrs. Geneva Downs Woodworth, the wife of Jay B. Woodworth, had died at her home at the age of 44. She was survived by her husband and daughter. There is no mention of the marriage in Woodworth's obituary. Woodworth was named associate professor at Harvard in 1912. During 1915–1919 he was engaged by the U.S. Geological Survey on a survey of S.E.

Massachusetts Massachusetts ( ; ), officially the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Maine to its east, Connecticut and Rhode ...

. He was elected president of the

Seismological Society of America The Seismological Society of America (SSA) is an international Learned society, scientific society devoted to the advancement of seismology and the understanding of earthquakes for the benefit of society. Founded in 1906, the society has members ...

, 1916–1917. When the country entered

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

, he chaired the sub-committee on the use of seismographs in war for the National Research Council. Following the war, Woodworth was a geologist for the U.S. Geological Survey. After a lengthy illness, Woodworth died on August 4, 1925. He was survived by his daughter Ethel. A Harvard graduate fellowship in geology was established in his memory, largely based on contributions by his former students.

Biography

References

Further reading