State+Geologist

The office of Territorial geologist and mining engineer was created by the 1879 Legislative Assembly, which also provided for his appointment by the governor with the consent of the legislative council, to hold his office, during his good behavior, until 1882 when the Legislative Assembly provided for his term to be two years. He was required to make reports on mining properties, to keep a record of all reports made by him, and to make a report to the gov­ernor, annually, of all the reports and examinations made on mining properties.
 * State Geologist **

The Constitution provides for a State Geologist appointed by the governor with consent of the senate for a term of six years, his duties to be prescribed by law; also shall ex-officio perform the duties of Inspector of Mines until otherwise provided by law.

The Sixth State Legislature, 1901, provided for a State Geologist to be appointed by the governor with consent of the senate, for a term of six years; his duties were to examine mining properties of the State; make reports on favorable properties; to ex-officio perform the duties of Inspector of Mines until otherwise provided by law; to report to the governor annually.

By the Seventh State Legislature, 1903, the State Geologist was designated as the Inspector of Mines (other than coal mines) and as such his duties are to examine the condition of mines, mills, machinery, mechanical devices, and all matters connected with the safety of persons employed therein.

By the Nineteenth State Legislature, 1927, the duties of the State Geologist were greatly increased by the amendment and re-enactment of the duties as set forth by the Fifteenth State Legislature, 1919.

By the Twenty-second State Legislature, 1933, the office of Geological Survey of Wyoming was created, providing for the professor of geology, head of the Geology Department of the University of Wyoming to be eligible for appointment as State Geologist, the office of the Geological Survey of Wyoming to be located at the office of the Department of Geology of the University; the purposes for this office are enumerated into eight sections in the 1933 Session Laws, which could be classified as duties; he does not receive any compensation; is a member of the Advisory Board of the Geological Survey of Wyoming which is composed of the Governor, president of the University, and the State Geologist.

Biennial reports are made by the State geologist on or before the first of November immediately preceding the meeting of the State legislature. The State Geologist publishes, at intervals, State geological bulletins. The State geological department had offices in the Capitol Building until the change was made by the 1933 State Legislature, when the office was transferred to the University of Wyoming.

=Territorial and State Geologists=


 * ~ Name ||~  ||~ Start Date ||~   ||~ End Date ||
 * Y.G. Murphy ||  || 1880 ||   ||   ||
 * Fred J. Stanton ||  || 1882 ||   ||   ||
 * Samuel Aughey ||  || April 21, 1882 ||   || August 11, 1882 ||
 * Gilbert E. Bailey ||  || August 11, 1882 ||   || March 31, 1886 ||
 * Samuel Aughey ||  || March 31, 1886 ||   || January 26, 1888 ||
 * Louis D. Ricketts ||  || January 26, 1888 ||   || March 31, 1891 ||
 * Henry C. Beeler ||  || June 1, 1901 ||   || February 20, 1909 ||
 * Edwin Hall ||  || February 20, 1909 ||   || February 1, 1911 ||
 * C.E. Jamison ||  || February 1, 1911 ||   || June 18, 1913 ||
 * Loyal W. Trumbull ||  || June 18, 1913 ||   || July 31, 1919 ||
 * G.B. Morgan ||  || July 31, 1919 ||   || April 10, 1923 ||
 * Albert B. Bartlett ||  || April 10, 1923 ||   || March 1, 1927 ||
 * John G. Marzel ||  || March 1, 1927 ||   || March 30, 1933 ||
 * Samuel H. Knight ||  || March 30, 1933 ||   || March 26, 1941 ||
 * Horace D. Thomas ||  || March 26, 1941 ||   ||   ||

=Additional Resources=
 * Wyoming State Geological Survey website (accessed September 2015)
 * Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of Wyoming website (accessed September 2015)
 * University of Wyoming Geology Museum website (accessed September 2015)