Belknap, Ralph Leroy, 1899-1960

Professor of geology at the University of Michigan.

Ralph LeRoy Belknap was born in St. Clair, Michigan. He enrolled in the University of Michigan in 1918, earning a bachelors' degree in civil engineering and masters and doctoral degree while serving as an instructor in the Department of Geology. He was appointed assistant professor in 1930 and associate professor in 1939.

Belknap was chief surveyor on the university's first expedition to Green land led by professor William. Hobbs and was assistant director of the second and third expeditions. In 1932 he led a final Greenland expedition, jointly sponsored by the University of Michigan and pan American Airways to record geological and meteorological conditions in previously uncharted wastes.

He later served as director of the Meteorological Station in Ann Arbor and of the geologic study at Camp Davis in Wyoming. Belknap suffered a career ending injury from a fall at Cam p Davis in 1946. He died December 17, 1960 in Ann Arbor.