David White (geologist)

(Charles) David White
Born	July 1, 1862 Palmyra, New York
Died	February 7, 1935 Washington, D.C.
Citizenship	American
Fields	Geology, Paleobotany
Alma mater	Cornell University
Known for	Chief Geologist, USGS

David White (July 1, 1862 – February 7, 1935) was an American geologist, born in Palmyra, New York.

He graduated from Cornell University in 1886, and in 1889 became a member of the United States Geological Survey. Eventually, he rose to be chief geologist.

In 1903 he became an associate curator of paleobotany at the Smithsonian Institution. He wrote numerous papers on geological and paleontological subjects.

The David White House, his home for 15 years, is a U.S. National Historic Landmark.^[1]

He made one of the most comprehensive studies on the Glossopteris Flora, the main component of the fossil deposits of mineral coal in Brazil ^[2].

David White won the Thompson Medal in 1931 and the Walcott Medal in 1934. He "himself considered that his structure-carbon ratio for the occurrence of oil and gas was his greatest scientific achievement."^[3]

Publications

• Flora of the outlying Carboniferous basins of southwestern Missouri US Geological Survey Bulletin No. 98 (1893)
• Fossil flora of the lower coal measures of Missouri US Geological Survey Monograph No. 37 (1899)
• The geology of the Perry Basin in southeastern Maine with G.O. Smith. US Geological Survey Professional Paper No. 35 (1905)
• The effect of oxygen in coal US Geological Survey Bulletin No. 382 (1909)
• Shorter contributions to general geology, 1913 US Geological Survey Professional Paper No. 85 (1914)

References

1. ^ James Sheire (July, 1975), National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: David White HousePDF (32 KB), National Park Service 
2. ^ White, D. (1908) Fossil Flora of the Coal Measures of Brazil, pp. 337-617 + 14 plates IN: White, I.C. (1908) "Commissão de Estudos das Minas de Carvão de Pedra do Brazil”, Final Report, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Part I, p. 1-300 ; Part II, p. 301-617 [Bilingual report, Portuguese & English]. (Facsimile edition: 1988)
3. ^ "David White (1862-1935): paleobotanist and geologist". Geological Memoir 185. Geological Society of America. 1995. pp. 134–148. http://books.google.com/books?isbn=0813711851. 

Persondata
Name	White, David
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	July 1, 1862
Place of birth	Palmyra, New York
Date of death	February 7, 1935
Place of death	Washington, D.C.