Patton, John B. (John Barratt), 1915-

John B. Patton was a member of the faculty of the Geology Department at Indiana University from 1947-1986. In 1959 he became State Geologist, director of the Indiana Geological Survey, and chairman of the IU geology department. He served as department chair for 12 years and as State Geologist and director of the Geological Survey until his retirement in 1986.

From the description of John B. Patton papers, 1945-1988. (Indiana University). WorldCat record id: 298951255

John Barratt Patton was born in Marion, Indiana, on July 1, 1915. He was president of his graduating high school class in Anderson, Indiana. Patton was an alumnus of Indiana University, having received his A.B. in Chemistry in 1938, an M.A. in Geology in 1940, and a Ph.D. in Economic Geology in 1954, all from Indiana University.

After graduating with his A.B. from IU, Patton worked as an Assistant Geologist for the Indiana Department of Conservation from May 1939 to September 1940. For the next seven years, he was a geologist for the Magnolia Petroleum Company of Dallas, Texas.

Patton began his service to Indiana University in 1947 as a Research Associate in the Geology Department. During this time, he also decided to obtain his doctorate degree. While studying for his doctorate, he developed special interests in stratigraphy and the economic geology of both fuels and industrial minerals, for which he would later be recognized for his expertise. Patton was appointed as Associate Professor of Geology in 1952, and advanced to the rank of Professor of Geology in 1955, one year after having received his Ph.D. In 1959 he was appointed Chairman of the Geology Department and served in this position for 12 years. During his years as Professor of Geology, Patton also served as Associate Dean in the Office of Research and Graduate Development from July 1973 to June 1975, and as State Geologist and Director of the Indiana Geological Survey from December 1959 to June 1986. It was tradition that the Chair of the IU Geology Department took on dual roles as State Geologist and Director of the Indiana Geological Survey. Patton broke this tradition when he relinquished his title as Chair in 1971, but remained as the State Geologist and as Director of the Indiana Geological Survey until his retirement in 1986.

His other service appointments included the National Research Council, the Interstate Oil Compact Commission, the Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission, the North American Commission on Stratigraphic Nomenclature, the Indiana Energy Development Board, the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, and the Bloomington Environmental Quality and Conservations Commission. Patton also had administrative positions in a number of professional organizations, including the presidencies of the Association of American State Geologists, the Indiana Academy of Science, and the IU chapters of Phi Beta Kappa and the American Association of University Professors. He was also a member of Sigma Xi, the Geological Society of America, the Society of Economic Paleontologists and Mineralogists, the Indiana-Kentucky Geological Society, the Society of Economic Geologists, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Among his honors and awards were being elected as Distinguished Member of the Society of Mining Engineers, the Public Service Award from the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, and a Centennial of Science Award in 1966 from the University of Notre Dame in recognition of his research contributions to the State. Upon his retirement in 1986, John B. Patton was designated the State’s first State Geologist Emeritus by the Indiana Natural Resources Commission.

Patton’s expertise in building stone involved him in many projects in historic preservation and restoration. Most notably, he was a consultant in the restoration of the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas, which was the last of a long list of historic residences, monuments and government and private buildings he helped to restore. In 1986, the Indiana University Conference on Historic Preservation awarded him a citation for his contributions to this field.

John Barratt Patton died in Bloomington, Indiana, in 1988 at the age of 73.

From the guide to the John B. Patton papers, 1945-1988, (Indiana University Office of University Archives and Records Management http://www.libraries.iub.edu/archives)