Wheeler, George Montague, 1842-1905

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Wheeler was born in Hopkinton, Massachusetts, the son of John Wheeler and Miriam P. Daniels. He graduated from West Point in 1866, ranked sixth in his class, and was commissioned as a lieutenant in the US Army Corps of Engineers. He first served in California from 1866 to 1871. In 1869 General Edward O. C. Ord sent him on a reconnaissance through the eastern Nevada.

In 1872, the US Congress authorized an ambitious plan to map the portion of the United States west of the 100th meridian at a scale of 8 miles to the inch. This plan necessitated what became known as the Wheeler Survey, lasting until 1879, when the survey, along with the King and Powell Surveys, were terminated and their work was reorganized as the United States Geological Survey.

Wheeler was promoted to captain in 1879. In 1881 he represented the United States at the Third International Geographical Congress and Exhibition in Venice, Italy. He entered semi-retirement in 1883 but continued to write scientific reports until his full retirement from the army in 1888 at the rank of major. He died in New York City in 1905.

Wheeler Peak in Nevada (part of the Great Basin National Park), Wheeler Peak in New Mexico (the state high point), and the scenic Wheeler Geologic Area in southern Colorado are named for George Wheeler.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Thompson, G. (Gilbert), 1839-1909. [Gilbert Thompson collection]. Library of Congress
referencedIn Geographical surveys west of the 100th meridian (U.S.) papers, 1871-1877 Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Powell, John Wesley, 1834-1902. Correspondence, 1869-1879, of the Powell Survey. American Philosophical Society Library
referencedIn O'Sullivan, Timothy H., 1840-1882. Papers, 1868-1873. Duke University Libraries, Duke University Library; Perkins Library
creatorOf Indians of North America Pictorial Collection The University of New Mexico, University Libraries, Center for SouthwestResearch
contributorOf Records of the U.S. Geological Survey. 1839 - 2008. Report National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Janin family. Janin family papers, 1735-1932. Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens
referencedIn National Archives And Records Administration. Rg 23: Coast And Geodetic Survey.
referencedIn Smithsonian Institution. Office of the Secretary. Correspondence, 1865-1891 Smithsonian Institution Archives
contributorOf Wheeler Expedition Stereoscopic Photographs, 1871 - ca. 1874 National Archives at Riverside
referencedIn Smithsonian Archives. Ru 7079: Philosophical Society Of Washington.
contributorOf Records of the U.S. Geological Survey. 1839 - 2008. Photographic Prints Taken During Geological Surveys West of the 100th Meridian (Wheeler Survey) National Archives at College Park
creatorOf United States. Army. Corps of Engineers. United States Army Corps of Engineers. Records of the Geographical Surveys West of the 100th Meridian, 1871-1879. University of New Mexico-Main Campus
contributorOf Records of the Wheeler Survey, 7/1873 - 6/1875 National Archives at Washington, D.C
referencedIn Records of the U.S. Geological Survey. 1839 - 2008. Letters Received National Archives at College Park
contributorOf Cleveland-Harrison (1885-1893): Wheeler, George National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Engelmann, George, 1809-1884. George Engelmann papers, 1831-1914. Missouri Botanical Garden, Peter H Raven Library
referencedIn Smithsonian Archives. Ru 52: Assistant Secretary, Incoming Correspondenc.
referencedIn Records of the U.S. Geological Survey. 1839 - 2008. Portraits of Agency Personnel National Archives at College Park
creatorOf Press Copies of Letters Sent By Captain George M. Wheeler, 1874 - 1883 National Archives at Washington, D.C
referencedIn Karrow, Robert W. Robert Karrow research papers, 1980-1990. Newberry Library
referencedIn United States Army Corps of Engineers. Records of the Geographical Surveys West of the 100th Meridian, 1871-1879 The University of New Mexico, University Libraries, Center for SouthwestResearch
referencedIn Dawdy, Doris Ostrander. Doris Ostrander Dawdy papers, 1970-1999 [manuscript]. Denver Public Library, Central Library
referencedIn Peckham, Stephen Farnum, 1839-1918. Stephen Farnum Peckham papers, 1865-1881. Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
referencedIn Smithsonian Archives. Ru 305: U.S. National Museum Accession Records.
creatorOf Wheeler, George M. (George Montague), 1842-1905. George M. Wheeler scrapbook : and related material. UC Berkeley Libraries
referencedIn Vinnie Ream and R. L. Hoxie Papers, 1853-1937, (bulk 1853-1914) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
creatorOf Wheeler, George M. (George Montague), 1842-1905. Wheeler survey, 1869-1879. University of Colorado, Boulder
referencedIn Indians of North America Pictorial Collection The University of New Mexico, University Libraries, Center for SouthwestResearch
creatorOf Records of the U.S. Geological Survey. 1839 - 2008. Report National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Hoxie, R. L. (Richard Leveridge), 1844-1930. The Richard Leveridge Hoxie notebooks. 1872-1873. University of Utah, J. Willard Marriott Library
referencedIn Dubois, Alfred. Diary : Nevada, 1876 Aug 28-Nov 26. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Bell, William. William Bell photographs, 1872. Duke University Libraries, Duke University Library; Perkins Library
referencedIn Powell, John Wesley, 1834-1902. Correspondence of the Powell Survey, 1869-1879 American Philosophical Society
referencedIn Wheeler's geographical survey stereoscopic views, 1871-1874 Utah State University. Merrill-Cazier Library. Special Collections and ArchivesUniversity Archives
creatorOf Wheeler, George M. (George Montague), 1842-1905. Letter book relating to Geographical Surveys West of the 100th Meridian, 1879 Oct 18-1880 Jun 26. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
creatorOf O'Sullivan, Timothy H. Looking across the Colorado River to mouth of Paria Creek [graphic]. UC Berkeley Libraries
contributorOf Letters Sent, 1/9/1871 - 1928 National Archives at Riverside
creatorOf Wheeler, George M. (George Montague), 1842-1905. Letter book relating to Geographical Surveys West of the 100th Meridian, 1879 Oct 18-1880 Jun 26. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Dubois, Alfred. Diary : Nevada, 1876 Aug 28-Nov 26. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Coffin, James H. (James Henry), 1806-1873. James Henry Coffin Papers, 1848-1884 Smithsonian Institution Archives
referencedIn National Archives And Records Administration. Rg 77: Chief Of Engineers.
creatorOf Wheeler, George M. (George Montague), 1842-1905. Letter, 1880. Wisconsin Historical Society, Newspaper Project
referencedIn Geological Survey (U.S.). Records of Early Surveys. National Archives Library, National Archives Records Administration
referencedIn Consolidated Military Officer's File of Captain George M. Wheeler, Corps of Engineers National Archives at Washington, D.C
contributorOf Records of the U.S. Geological Survey. 1839 - 2008. Photographic Prints Taken During the Wheeler Survey National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Smithsonian Institution. Office of the Secretary. Correspondence, 1863-1879 Smithsonian Institution Archives
creatorOf Wheeler, George W., 1842-. Letters / George W. Wheeler. Dartmouth College Library
referencedIn Geographical Surveys West of the 100th Meridian photographs, 1871-1874. Wisconsin Historical Society, Newspaper Project
Relation Name
associatedWith Adams, Samuel R. person
correspondedWith Alexander, Barton Stone person
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correspondedWith Holden, William person
associatedWith Hoxie, R. L. (Richard Leveridge), 1844-1930. person
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memberOf United States. Army. Corps of Engineers. corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Department of the Interior. Geological Survey. corporateBody
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alumnusOrAlumnaOf United States Military Academy corporateBody
associatedWith University of Colorado Libraries. Archives Dept. corporateBody
correspondedWith Watson, Sereno person
correspondedWith Watts, Frederick person
associatedWith Wesley, William person
associatedWith Wheeler, James W. person
correspondedWith White, C. A. person
associatedWith Wood, Horatio C., Jr. person
correspondedWith Yarrow, H. C. person
associatedWith Yellowstone National Park corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
New York City NY US
Colorado CO US
West Point NY US
Grafton MA US
New Mexico NM US
Nevada NV US
Utah UT US
Subject
Agriculture
Army Engineers
Astronomy
Astronomy
Coasts
Department Of Agriculture
Discoveries in geography
Ethnology Archaeology Anthropology
Exchanges Of Publications
Exposition
Geology
Indians
Meteorology
Meteorology
National Academy of Sciences
National Museum
Natural history
Physical geography
Recommendations For Positions
Scientific organizations
Scientific publications
Smithsonian Exchange
Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Publications
Surveys And Explorations, General
Occupation
Cartographers
Explorers
Soldiers
Activity

Person

Birth 1842-10-09

Death 1905-05-03

Male

Americans

English

Information

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