Branner, John Casper, 1850-1922

John Casper Branner (1850-1922) was a geologist was born on July 4, 1850, in New Market, Tennessee. He enrolled at Maryville College, but after two years he transferred to Cornell. He developed an interest in Brazil and he accompanied his professor, Charles F. Hartt, there in 1874, staying until 1883. He studied the country's geology, and also searched for vegetable fibers that could be used to make incandescent light. At the same time, he studied insects that affected cotton plants, under the commission of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. He received his Bachelor's degree in 1882. In the same year, he was appointed assistant geologist to the Second Geological Survey of Pennsylvania. In 1885, he accepted position as professor and chairman of the Department of Geology at Indiana University, where he remained until 1891. He later became director of the Geological Survey of Arkansas, and was the state's geologist until March 16, 1893. He then became a professor of geology at Stanford University. He became vice president of Stanford in 1898, and president in 1913. He retired two years later. He died on March 1, 1922.

Smithsonian Institution Archives Field Book Project: Person : Description : rid_425_pid_EACP422

John C. Branner, American geologist, was the second president of Stanford University (1913-15). His career featured scientific expeditions to Brazil, where he went as a geologist and botanist.

From the description of Papers of John Casper Branner, 1881-1925. (Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens). WorldCat record id: 228718381

John Casper Branner, second president of Stanford University, was born in New Market, Tennessee in 1850. He entered Cornell University in 1870, but left for work in Brazil between 1874 and 1882. He returned to Cornell to complete his degree in 1882; Between 1883 and 1891 he served as topographic geologist for the state of Pennsylvania and as state geologist of arkansas, as well as professor of geology at Indiana University. In 1891 he went to Stanford University as professor of geology (1891-1913; emeritus 1913-1922) and executive head of the Geology Department. In 1899 he was named vice president of Stanford (1898-1913) and later served a short term as president of the University (1913-1915) shortly before his retirement. He died on March 1, 1922.

From the description of John Casper Branner, president of Stanford University, papers, 1913-1915. (Stanford University Libraries). WorldCat record id: 702129419

John Casper Branner, second president of Stanford University, was born in New Market, Tennessee in 1850. He entered Cornell University in 1870, but left in 1874 for Brazil first as assistant geologist on the Geological Survey of Brazil then as assistant engineer for the Sao Cyriaco Gold Mining Company. He returned to Cornell to finish his b.s. degree in 1882. Between 1883 and 1891, he served in a number of state positions including topographic geologist for Pennsylvania and State geologist of Arkansas; between 1885 and 1891, he also served as professor of geology at Indiana University. The first professor to be named at the new Stanford University in 1891, Branner served as professor of geology (emeritus, 1913-1922) at Stanford as well as executive head of the Geology Department. He later served as vice president of Stanford (1898-1913) and president of Stanford (1913-1915) and professor emeritus (1915-1922). He died on March 1, 1922.

From the description of John Casper Branner papers, 1882-1921. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122553620

Biography

John Casper Branner, second president of Stanford University, was born in New Market, Tennessee in 1850. He entered Cornell University in 1870, but left in 1874 for Brazil first as assistant geologist on the Geological Survey of Brazil then as assistant engineer for the Sao Cyriaco Gold Mining Company. He returned to Cornell to finish his b.s. degree in 1882. Between 1883 and 1891, he served in a number of state positions including topographic geologist for Pennsylvania and State Geologist of Arkansas; between 1885 and 1891, he also served as professor of geology at Indiana University. The first professor to be named at the new Stanford University in 1891, Branner served as professor of geology at Stanford as well as executive head of the Geology Department. He later served as vice president of Stanford (1898-1913) and president of Stanford (1913-1915) and professor emeritus (1915-1922). He died on March 1, 1922.

From the guide to the John Casper Branner papers, 1882-1925, (Department of Special Collections and University Archives)

BIOGRAPHY

John Casper Branner, the first professor to be named at the new Stanford University in 1891, served as professor of geology at Stanford as well as executive head of the Geology Department. He later served as vice president of Stanford (1898-1913) and president of Stanford (1913-1915) and professor emeritus (1915-1922). He died on March 1, 1922.

From the guide to the John Casper Branner, president of Stanford University, papers, 1913-1917, (Department of Special Collections and University Archives)