Dr. Florence Bascom, PhD, pioneer woman geologist

Novice

Florence Bascom conquered many firsts for women on her way to become the first American woman to attain a career as a professional geologist and tenured professor.

  • 1st woman to receive a Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins University.
  • 1st woman geologist to join the United States Geological Survey.
  • 1st woman to present a paper before the Geological Society of Washington. 
  • 1st woman elected to the Council of the Geological Society of America. 
  • 1st woman officer of the Geological Society of America. 
  • Founded the first geology department in a women’s university