Founding of the University of Iowa.¹

James Hall, American geologist and paleontologist who was a major contributor to the geosynclinal theory of mountain building, becomes the first State Geologist of Iowa. He was state geologist of Iowa from 1855 to 1858 and of Wisconsin from 1857 to 1860.

Cabinet of Natural History collection exists and contains Geological Survey materials.²

By act of the General Assembly of Iowa, un January, 1855, a geological survey of the State was ordered. The work was continued during subsequent years, when in the winter of 1858-9 their final report was printed in two volumes by order of the General Assembly. No provision was subsequently made for continuing the work until the meeting of the Eleventh General Assembly, when in view of its unfinished condition the re-organization of the survey was ordered in April, 1866.

Samuel Calvin (1840-1911) becomes UI Chair of Natural History which included geology, botany and zoology and curator of the University Cabinet. He was the first head of the State University of Iowa Geology Department and served as State Geologist from 1892 – 1911 (excluding 1904-1906).^{3, 4, 5}

Geoscience Library organizes as an actual library, previously known as the Cabinet of Natural History.²

A permanent geological survey, as a separate agency of state government, was established in 1892. In accordance with the legislative provisions, a Geological Board also was established to govern the broad administrative policies of the Survey and to appoint the State Geologist. (This Board was dissolved in December 1980, and the State Geologist was to be appointed directly by the Governor.) The Board was composed of the Governor, the State Auditor, and the presidents of Iowa State University, the University of Iowa, and the Iowa Academy of Science. They elected Professor Samuel Calvin, Chairman of the Department of Geology at the University of Iowa, as State Geologist, and from that time until 1947 (through the Wilder, Kay, and Trowbridge administrations), both positions were held by the same individual.

George Frederick Kay joins UI Geology Department; is department head and Iowa State Geologist from 1911-1934, Dean of College of Liberal Arts 1917-1941.⁸

Bohumil Shimek (1861 – 1937) confirms the windblown origin of loess in Iowa.⁹

Arthur C. Trowbridge invited to join the faculty by George F. Kay; serves as is State Geologist and Director of the State Geological Survey 1934-1947.¹⁰

Chester K. Wentworth (M.S. 1921, Ph.D. 1923) developed the Wentworth Grain Size Scale.^{11, 12}

Prior to 1924 the Geoscience Library is located in the Science Building, aka future Calvin Hall.²

Phillip B. King achieves M.S., received the GSA 1965 Penrose Medal, and awarded Distinguished Service Medal of the U.S. Department of the Interior.¹⁵

The State Geologist of Iowa and the Chairman of the Department of Geology at the University of Iowa are no longer held by the same person.

Trowbridge Hall named and designated as the new home of geosciences as Health Science relocates to the new Medical Campus. The Geology Library relocates to Trowbridge Hall.^{2, 17}

Environmental Sciences (ENVS) degree (BS, with three tracks) approved by the Iowa Regents.¹⁹

The Geosciences Library is closed in Trowbridge Hall and moved to the Sciences Library building.²

TILE classrooms installed at Trowbridge Hall.²³

First seismometer is installed in basement of Trowbridge Hall.²⁴