Helen Morningstar

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Helen Morningstar
Born(1891-09-23)September 23, 1891
Columbus, Ohio
DiedJuly 31, 1951(1951-07-31) (aged 59)
Columbus, Ohio
NationalityAmerican
CitizenshipUnited States of America
EducationOhio State University(BA, MA)
Bryn Mawr College (Ph.D.)
Spouse(s)Raymond Lamborn
Children2, Charles Lamborn and Martha Lamborn
Scientific career
FieldsPaleontology, Geology
InstitutionsPhi Beta Kappa, Sigma Xi, American Association for the Advancement of Science, Paleontological Society of America

Helen Morningstar was a geologist and paleontologist from Columbus, Ohio.[1] She was born on September 23, 1891 and was an instructor for Ohio State University from 1917-1922. She died on July, 31 1951 at the age of 59 due to health complications.[1]

Biography[]

Education[]

Morningstar graduated from East Highschool in Columbus, Ohio in 1909.[2] She then furthered her studies in 1913 where she had earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the Ohio State University, as well, she decided to continue her schooling to receive a Masters of Arts degree by 1915.[1] During this time she was a graduate assistant for the English department of the Ohio State University.[2] She then decided to move to Pennsylvania and attended Bryn Mawr College, which offered higher education to women,[3] where she earned her Ph.D in philosophy in 1923.[1] During her time of studies she gained the title of being one of Florence Bascom's top students.[4] The faculty of Bryn Mawr College awarded Morningstar the President's European fellowship.[2]

Career[]

Morningstar started her career as an instructor of Geology and Paleontology at Ohio State University from 1917-1923,[1] it was reported her salary at the time was estimated around $1,800 USD.[4]

She wrote two books during her career 'The Fauna of the Pottsville Formation' and 'Catalogue of Type Fossils in the Geological Museum at the Ohio State University'.[5] In 1923 Morningstar was commended by Professor Charles Schuchert of Yale and the once President of the Geological Society of America for her work of "Pottsville Fauna of Ohio' and praised its contributions towards Paleontology in the "American Journal of Sciences".[6]

She also wrote a paper with Percy E. Raymond which discusses the future of Pennsylvanian formations in Illinois and the Appalachian basin.[7] As well, she had contributed 5 specimens of Carboniferous bryozoans from Ohio, that were added to the United States National Museum in the year 1922-1923.[8] She also discovered a new species of Pennsylvanian Pseudo zygopleurid Gastropod during her studies. It is distinguishable from other species by its coarse texture of the transverse cords, as well as the flatness of the whorl profile.[2]

The new species was named Gamizyga Morningstarae in her honor.[9]

Pictured Helen Morningstar (2nd on the left) on a geological trip to Hartman Farm near Lithopolis during the spring of 1911. Taken by W.J. Kostir of the Department of Zoology at the Ohio State University.[10]

Awards and recognition[]

  • Elected Fellow of the Academy of Science[11]
  • Member of Phi Beta Kappa, a highly recognized academic society, reflecting her academic achievements[12]
  • Member of Sigma Xi, a scientific honor society[13]

Home life[]

Morningstar decided to marry Raymond Lamborn in 1922 and had 2 children named Charles and Martha Lamborn.[1] Her marriage with Robert was controversial as it seemed she pursued family at the risk of her career.[4]

Death[]

Morningstar died on July 31, 1951 in her hometown of Columbus, Ohio at the age of 59 from arteriosclerosis and hypertension.[1] She was buried at the Green Lawn Cemetery (Columbus, Ohio).[1]

Research[]

Examples of fossils Helen Morningstar discovered at the Pottsville Formation

Morningstar wrote a dissertation which was published as part of her doctorate degree of philosophy, titled The Fauna of the Pottsville Formation of Ohio Below the Lower Merser Limestone (1922).[2] Her study was focused on the Pottsville formation, varying from 100-350 feet, but averaging 255 feet in thickness and located at the base of the Pennsylvanian system.[2] Her book discusses the stratigraphy and paleontology of the Pottsville formation, including 3 limestone horizons, boggs, upper and lower Mercer fossils collected at four localities[16]The formation lacked clear division from the Allegheny formations due to shales creating a gradual transition between the formations.[2] There was a large unconformity at the bottom of the formation, characteristic of irregularly shaped surface of the rocks.[2] It was noted the shift in water levels and the alternation of marine sediment and coal that was discovered within the formation.[17]

Research on the economic value of the Pottsville Formation: it is a considerable value as it is a natural resource that accumulates wealth. the lower and upper mercer ores are especially important to economic contribution as they are thick and contain a high amount of iron content.[2] Most of the Coals content is used for local purposes, however it has been mined for commercial use as well.[2]

Morningstar provided extensive research on the various members of the Pottsville formation and other geologists roles in their findings. She goes into detail of the different ores she had discovered throughout the counties in Ohio: The Harrison Ore- the oldest member, extremely patchy/ coarse texture, poor an iron content.[2] The Sharon Ore- only found in extreme southern parts of Ohio, varies in thickness, buff/brown color, course, highly silicious.[2] The Anthony Coal- a thin deposit of Coal laying over the Sciotoville clay.[2] The Quakertown- above the Anthony coal, it is of importance for stratigraphic purposes only and is very important for wealth and economic purposes.[2] The Bear Run Coal Horizon- the next fossiliferous horizon above the Quakertown coal.[2] Lowerville (poverty run) limestone- the oldest of the marine line stones which occur in the Pennsylvanian system and lastly The Boggs member- less than 2 inches thick, hard, blue, fossiliferous and good quality.[2] Helen gives excellent detail of the ores and fossils that were found through her exploration of the Pottsville Formation and documents her findings within her novel The Fauna of the Pottsville Formation of Ohio Below the Lower Merser Limestone (1922).[2]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i The Ohio Academy of Science (1952). "Annual Report of the Ohio Academy of Science 1952" (PDF). The Ohio Journal of Science 52 (4): 229–238.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Morningstar, Helen (1922). The fauna of the Pottsville formation of Ohio below the Lower Mercer limestone. S.l.: s.n.
  3. ^ "History | Bryn Mawr College". www.brynmawr.edu. Retrieved 2021-04-16.
  4. ^ a b c Spieker, E. M., Bates, R. L. (1969) History of the Department of Geology at the Ohio State University Ohio State University. Part 1 - 1873 - 1945
  5. ^ The Ohio Journal of Science. v24 n1 (January, 1924), 31-64
  6. ^ "Ohio State University Monthly". February 1923.
  7. ^ Savage, T. E. (October 1924). "Marine Invertebrate Fossils as Horizon Markers in the Pennsylvanian Rocks of Illinois". The Journal of Geology. 32 (7): 575–582. Bibcode:1924JG.....32..575S. doi:10.1086/623141. ISSN 0022-1376. S2CID 128493291.
  8. ^ Museum, United States National (1923). Report Upon the Condition and Progress of the U.S. National Museum During the Year Ending June 30 ... U.S. Government Printing Office.
  9. ^ Hoare, R. D.; Sturgeon, M. T. (1980). "The Pennsylvanian Pseudozygopleurid Gastropod Genus Gamizyga n.gen. from Ohio and West Virginia". Journal of Paleontology. 54 (1): 159–187. ISSN 0022-3360. JSTOR 1304173.
  10. ^ "Ohio State University Monthly, November 1928".
  11. ^ Geological Society of America (1890). Bulletin of the Geological Society of America. Smithsonian Libraries. [New York : The Society].
  12. ^ "Phi Beta Kappa | Ohio University". www.ohio.edu. Retrieved 2021-04-16.
  13. ^ "History". www.sigmaxi.org. Retrieved 2021-04-16.
  14. ^ "Mission and History | American Association for the Advancement of Science". www.aaas.org. Retrieved 2021-04-16.
  15. ^ "Who We Are". www.paleosoc.org. Retrieved 2021-04-16.
  16. ^ FRANKLIN, G. J. (1961). Geology Of Licking County, Ohio. (volumes I And Ii) (Order No. 6200768). Available from ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global. (302058811).
  17. ^ Morningstar Lamborn, Helen (1922). Pottsville Fauna of Ohio.
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