Weller, Stuart, 1870-1927

Paleontologist. B.A., Cornell University, 1894. Ph. D., Yale University, 1901. Associate, Department of Geology, University of Chicago, 1897-1900; Instructor, 1900-1901; Assistant Professor, 1902-1908; Associate Professor, 1908-1915; and Professor of Paleontologic Geology, 1915-1927.

From the description of Papers, 1900-1927. (University of Chicago Library). WorldCat record id: 52248517

Stuart Weller was born in Maine, New York in 1870. Encouraged by a professor of science at the Drury College preparatory school, he entered Cornell University in 1891, served as a museum assistant in paleontology and assistant in geology, and received his B.A. in 1894. He enrolled for one year as a fellow at Yale University, but in 1895 was offered the position of Assistant in Paleontologic Geology in the Geology Department of the newly organized University of Chicago. At Chicago, Weller was successively Associate (1897-1900), Instructor (1900-1901), Assistant Professor (1902-1908), Associate Professor (1908-1915), and Professor of Paleontologic Geology (1915-1927). He completed his graduate work at Yale and was awarded the Ph.D. in 1901.

Weller's professional career was devoted largely to Paleozoic faunas of the Mississippi Valley, with particular emphasis on Mississippian strata. Field research for his studies was conducted during an annual summer field course in the Ste. Genevieve region of Missouri. Other research was made possible by Weller's long association with state and national geological surveys. From 1889 to 1907, Weller served as a paleontologist with the New Jersey Geological Survey, and from 1891 to 1927 as a geologist with the U.S. Geological Survey. His most important connection was with the Illinois State Geological Survey from 1906 to 1927, during which period he acted as the principal consultant on paleontological problems and produced a number of significant maps and stratigraphic reports. After 1920, he also expanded his studies of Missouri geology with fieldwork conducted under the auspices of the Kentucky Geological Survey.

In addition to his teaching and field research, Weller expended much time and effort on the organization and display of geological collections in the University's Walker Museum. For many years, during which Weller was curator of invertebrate paleontology, the collections competed with offices and classrooms for limited space inside Walker Museum. After the opening of Rosenwald Hall in 1915, however, Weller was able to improve the quality of the exhibits and increase their size as well through the addition of a large number of specimens accumulated in the course of his work with the Illinois Geological Survey. Weller's commitment to Walker was recognized in 1919 by his appointment as Director of the Museum, a post he held until his death in 1927.

From the guide to the Weller, Stuart. Papers, 1900-1927, (Special Collections Research Center University of Chicago Library 1100 East 57th Street Chicago, Illinois 60637 U.S.A.)