Berkey, Charles Peter, 1867-

Berkey received the first doctorate in geology from the University of Minnesota in 1897. He achived recognition for excellence in teaching at Columbia University, geological engineering with the New York City Catskill Aqueduct, geological consultation about the world's four highest dams, & geological exploration of the Mongolian desert.

Charles P. Berkey was born in Goshen, Indiana in 1867 . He moved with his family to a farm outside Minneapolis, Minnesota as a young adult, and enrolled in the University of Minnesota directly after graduation from Farmington High School . He continued his studies at Minnesota, earning a Ph.D. in Geology in 1894 . After teaching and researching in Minnesota for several years, he transferred to Columbia University in 1903. He flourished under his mentor, James Furman Kemp, and rose through every rank of academia at Columbia until retiring in 1932 as the Newberry Professor of Geology. He lived in Palisades, N.J. with his wife Minnie (until her death in 1940), his daughter Virginia and his son Paul . He died in 1955 at the age of 88.

Professor Berkey was a celebrated instructor of geology but his skill and passion lay in fieldwork. He spent most of his career travelling the United States and select international locations surveying geological formations and advising engineering firms. He is credited with transforming the field of geology from pure science to applied science. His close work with engineers in dam construction earned him U.S. government accolades and honorary membership into the American Society of Civil Engineering . He worked consistently past retirement and could be found in the field right up until his death.

During his career he authored several books and articles and had an edited book dedicated as a fetschschrift ( The Berkey Volume ). He achieved international fame with his participation in the Mongolian Scientific Expedition of 1925, led by Charles Andrews . He was the recipient of many awards for outstanding contributions to the field of geology included Honorary Doctorates in Science from Columbia University and the University of Minnesota, and the first Kemp Medal in Geology to be award by Columbia University.