Thomas Condon

Thomas Condon (1822 - 1907) was an Irish Congregational minister, geologist, and paleontologist who gained recognition for his work in the U.S. state of Oregon.cite book
last = Cogswell
first = Philip Jr.
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = Capitol Names: Individuals Woven Into Oregon's History
publisher = Oregon Historical Society
date = 1977
location = Portland, Oregon
pages = 103
url =
doi =
id = ]

Condon arrived in New York from Ireland in 1833 and graduated from theological seminary in 1852, after which he traveled to Oregon by ship. As a minister at The Dalles, he became interested in the fossils he found in the area. He found fossil seashells on the Crooked River and fossil camels and other animals along the John Day River. Many of his discoveries were in the present-day John Day Fossil Beds National Monument. He corresponded with scientists all over the country and provided specimens to major museums.

Condon was appointed the first State Geologist for Oregon in 1872. [cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = Administrative Overview
work =
publisher = Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries
date = July 1996
url = http://arcweb.sos.state.or.us/recmgmt/sched/special/state/overview/19960013dogamiadov.pdf
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2007-03-04 ] He resigned that post to become first professor of geology at the University of Oregon.

Legacy

Several places are named for Condon:
*Condon Hall at the University of Oregon, which originally housed the geology department [ [http://libweb.uoregon.edu/guides/architecture/oregon/condon.html Condon Hall [Architecture of the University of Oregon ] ]
*The Thomas Condon Paleontology Center in Dayville, Oregon.

"Note:"
*Condon, Oregon was named for a nephew of Condon's.cite book
last = McArthur
first = Lewis A.
authorlink = Lewis A. McArthur
coauthors = Lewis L. McArthur
title = Oregon Geographic Names
origyear = 1928
edition = Seventh Edition
year = 2003
publisher = Oregon Historical Society Press
location = Portland, Oregon
id = ISBN 0-87595-277-1
pages = ]

References

Further reading

*cite book
last = Sheldon
first = Henry D.
authorlink = Henry Davidson Sheldon
coauthors =
title = History of University of Oregon
publisher = Binfords & Mort
date = 1940
location = Portland, Oregon
pages =
url =
doi =
id =

External links

* [http://bluebook.state.or.us/notable/notcondon.htm Notable Oregonians: Thomas Condon] from the Oregon Blue Book
* [http://www.ochcom.org/thomcondon Thomas Condon profile] from the Oregon Cultural Heritage Commission
* [http://www.nps.gov/archive/joda/condon.htm Thomas Condon biography] from the National Park Service