R. A. F. Penrose, Jr.

Richard Alexander Fullerton Penrose, Jr. ( December 17, 1863 *, † July 31, 1931 ) was an American geologist and entrepreneur.

Richard Alexander Fullerton Penrose, Jr., during his career, better known as RAF Penrose, Jr., graduated from Harvard in 1885 with a thesis on phosphates. After graduation he went to 1892 geological mapping in Texas and Arkansas, then to tour the country as a prospector. The best-known work, which grew out of this work was his study of the Cripple Creek in Colorado, which he carried out on behalf of the U.S. Geological Survey ( USGS).

Penrose was a person of high personal integrity, so that he did not make any purchases of land or mining concessions in his study area during his activities as an employee of the USGS. He did, however, during this time, at other locations. So he bought some silver nd copper mines in Arizona. After the death of his father in 1908 Penrose changed his field of activity, and became a successful entrepreneur and investor, not only in the field of mining. However, in this area he particularly benefited from his experience as a geologist.

After Penrose had come to considerable wealth, he donated 1927 Penrose Medal of the Geological Society of America (GSA ). He was an active member of the Geological Society: included in the company in 1889, he sat 1924-1916 on the board of GSA, 1919 was its vice-president, a member of the Finance Committee 1924-1929, and finally its president in 1930 after. it is also called the Penrose Gold Medal.

With his death in 1931 he left the company a generous legacy by remaining after all other liabilities of both the GSA and the American Philosophical Society in Philadelphia each left a sum of nearly $ 4,000,000. This foundation is still used to fund the scholarship program of the GSA.

Links and literature

  • Edwin B. Eckel (eds.): The Geological Society of America - Life History of a Learned Society. Geological Society of America Memoir 155, pp. 14-24. , Boulder ( Colorado) 1982
  • Helen R. Fairbanks and Charles P. Berkey: Life and Letters of RAF Penrose, Jr.
  • Penrose 's relation to the GSA
  • Texas Geological Survey by R.A.F. Penrose
  • A Directory of Selected Awards and Medals for the Geosciences (MS Word document, 153 Kb)
  • GSA Benefactor Inducted into the National Mining Hall of Fame
  • About the GSA Awards & Medals
  • Geologist ( 19th century)
  • Geologist ( 20th century)
  • Americans
  • Born in 1863
  • Died in 1931
  • Man
  • A member of the Geological Society of America
Academic degree Harvard University Prospecting Cripple Creek (Colorado) List of Penrose Medal winners
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