James M. Schopf was born June 2nd, 1911, in Cheyenne, Wyoming. He was a graduate of the University of Wyoming, and received his Master of Science degree and his Doctorate in plant ecology, geology and botany from the University of Illinois. He worked for 10 years as a geologist with the Illinois Geological Survey, then for 4 yeas as a paleobotanist with the US bureau of Mines. In 1947, Schopf transferred to the National Museum as a member of the Branch of Paleontology and Stratigraphy with the US Geological Survey. Soon after, from 1949-76, he began work as a geologist at the U.S. Geological Survey's Coal Geology Laboratory on the campus of The Ohio State University. He joined the University's faculty in 1950, and was an active member for the remainder of his life. Dr. Schopf made several expeditions to Antarctica for the US Geological Survey and Ohio State's Institute of Polar Studies. He authored more than 150 published reports on subjects including and related to plant fossils, ancient climates, and coal. Schopf received the Geological Society of America's first Gilbert H. Cady award for outstanding contributions to the field of coal geology, the Botanical Society of America's Certificate of Merit for his work in the fields of fossil plants and coal petrology, and posthumously, the Paleontological Society's Ford Medal. He died of cardiac arrest on September 15, 1978, in Columbus, Ohio.
From the guide to the James M. Schopf Papers, 1965-1992, (The Ohio State University. Byrd Polar Research Center Archival Program.)
