Geological and Natural History Survey of Minnesota

The Minnesota Geological and Natural History Survey was created by a state legislative act approved March 1, 1872, and carrying an appropriation of $1,000 annually to carry out its work, which was to be done under the direction of the Board of Regents of the University. In July 1872, Newton H. Winchell was invited by President William W. Folwell to direct the survey, a post in which he continued for 28 years. During much of this time he also served the University’s Department of Geology, as instructor, 1872-73, and professor, 1873-90. Winchell resigned in 1900 causing the survey to be abandoned until 1911 when William H. Emmons was hired to be the new director of the Survey.