Department of Geology

Among the first departments established at the University of Chicago was the Department of Geology. President Harper successfully lured Thomas Chrowder Chamberlin away from the University of Wisconsin (where he served as President from 1887 until 1892) with promises of "light" work. Chamberlin was by this time an eminent geologist, whose study of the multiple stages of glaciation informed his interest in climate change and the future habitability of earth. While the work in building and running the department was not as minimal as promised, Chamberlin did still have opportunity to return to research.