Wrather, William Embry, 1883-1963

William Embry Wrather (January 20, 1883 - November 28, 1963) was born on a farm near Brandenburg in Meade County, Kentucky on January 20, 1883. He was the only son of Richard Anselm and Glovy Washington (Munford) Wrather. Wrather moved to Chicago at the age of 14 to live with relatives and to attend South Chicago High School. He worked as a USGS field assistant and at Guffey Petroleum from 1908-1916, before he began to search for new oil fields. In 1918 his efforts contributed to the identification of the Desdemona field in Comanche County, Texas. Wrather then moved to Dallas and opened an office as a consulting geologist. He was a founding member of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, was a member of the Town and Gown Club in Dallas, and also served as President of the Texas State Historical Association for seven years. In 1942, Wrather came to Washington, D.C. to be Assistant Chief of the Foreign Economic Administration for Metals and Minerals. In 1943, after the retirement of Walter Curran Mendenhall, he was selected to be the Director of the US Geological Survey.

From the description of William Embry Wrather memoirs, circa 1960. (Southern Methodist University). WorldCat record id: 497912087

Mining engineer.

From the description of Reminiscences of William Embry Wrather : oral history, 1961. (Columbia University In the City of New York). WorldCat record id: 122440835

Born to Richard Anslem and Glovy Washington Munford Wrather in Bradenburg, Kentucky, William Embry Wrather (1883-1963) entered the University of Chicago in 1903 with the intention of becoming a lawyer. Instead, he was drawn to geology and graduated in 1907 with a Ph.B. in the subject. In 1910, Wrather married Alice Mildred Dalling, with whom he had two daughters. In 1908, he moved Texas to work as an oil field geologist and scout for the J. M. Guffey Company and in 1916 became an independent consultant, contributing to the discovery of the Desdemona Oil Field two years later. Wrather served as president of both the Texas Geological Society and Texas Historical Association and was called to Washington in 1942 to serve as Associate Chief of the Metals and Minerals Division of the Board of Economic Warfare. The following year, he became Director of the U. S. Geological Survey, a position he held until 1956.

Source:

Brantley, J. E. “Memorial to William Embry Wrather.” Geological Society of America Bulletin, 1964.

From the guide to the Wrather, William Embry, Papers, 1904, 1942, undated, (Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin)

Born to Richard Anslem and Glovy Washington Munford Wrather in Bradenburg, Kentucky, William Embry Wrather (1883-1963) entered the University of Chicago in 1903 with the intention of becoming a lawyer.

Instead, he was drawn to geology and graduated in 1907 with a Ph.B. in the subject. In 1910, Wrather married Alice Mildred Dalling, with whom he had two daughters. In 1908, he moved Texas to work as an oil field geologist and scout for the J. M. Guffey Company and in 1916 became an independent consultant, contributing to the discovery of the Desdemona Oil Field two years later. Wrather served as president of both the Texas Geological Society and Texas Historical Association and was called to Washington in 1942 to serve as Associate Chief of the Metals and Minerals Division of the Board of Economic Warfare. The following year, he became Director of the U. S. Geological Survey, a position he held until 1956.

Source:

Brantley, J. E. "Memorial to William Embry Wrather." Geological Society of America Bulletin, 1964.

From the description of Wrather, William Embry, Papers, 1904, 1942, undated (University of Texas Libraries). WorldCat record id: 773703019