Minnesota Geological Survey

After the completion of the Minnesota Geological and Natural History Survey in 1900 with the retirement of Dr. Newton H. Winchell, it was ten years before a survey of Minnesota was again initiated. In 1911, University president George Vincent requested, and received, monetary support from the Minnesota Legislature to revive the survey under the direction of geology professor William H. Emmons. The survey had a permanent home at the University of Minnesota in Pillsbury Hall and was administered by staff of the department of geology. The work of the survey included the study of the geology of the state and the economic aspects of iron ore, stone, water and soils.

After Dr. Emmons retirement in 1944, professor Frank R. Grout became director of the survey and later, G.M. Schwartz was appointed as director. Unlike the previous survey under Dr. Winchell, those who participated in the Minnesota Geological Survey since 1911 could only devote a limited amount of time to research because of their classroom responsibilities. Upon the retirement of Dr. Schwartz in 1961, the Minnesota Legislature appropriated additional funds to the survey to allow for a thorough investigation of the geology, and specifically, the mineral resources of Minnesota. Paul K. Simms was appointed as director and led the survey into a prosperous period during the 1960s until the legislature cut its funding in 1973.

Dr. Simms left the University and was replaced by Matt Walton. Helping the survey to recover from the 1973 financial set back, Walton initiated a program of collecting data that was below the glacial drift. Walton retired in 1986 and Priscilla Grew was appointed as director. After being cut by the Minnesota Governor's line item vetoes in 1993, the Minnesota Geological Survey was reestablished as one of four components of the Newton Horace Winchell School of Earth Science at the University.

From the guide to the Minnesota Geological Survey papers, 1912-1978, (University of Minnesota Libraries. University Archives [uarc])