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GENTH, Frederich August.

(1820 – 1893)

(Born: Wachtersbach, Hess-Cassel, Germany, 17 May 1820; Died: Philadelphia, Pennsylvannia, U.S.A., 2 February 1893) German chemist & mineralogist.

Genth attended the University of Marburg, 1845-1848. Thereafter he emigrated to the U.S.A., finding employment as a mining geologist throughout much of his career. In 1872, he became professor of chemistry at the University of Pennsylvania. He remained there until 1888. He was appointed the chief chemist and mineralogist of the second Pennsylvania Geological Survey. Genth's research focused on rare minerals and meteorites, and he eventually described 23 new mineral species. He advertised his mineral collection for sale, but this was eventually given, bequeathed or purchased by Pennsylvania State University.

Biographical references: ABA: I 604, 17-22. Adams, Dictionary of American Authors, 1904: 144. American Chemists & Chemical Engineers: 1, 168-9 [by W.D. Miles]. American Journal of Science: Series 3, 45, 257-8. Barr, Index to Biographical Fragments, 1973: 96. Biographical Memoirs of the National Academy of Science: 4 (1902), 201-31, portrait. Cleevely, World Palæontological Collections, 1983: 126. Conklin, L.H., "Portrait Gallery: Frederick A. Genth", Matrix, 1, (1988), no. 5, 76, portrait. DAB: 4, pt. 1, 209-10. DBA: II 438, 38-41. DSB: 5, 349-50 [by G.B. Kaufmann; other refs.]. Myers, W.M. and S. Zerfoss, "Frederick Augustus Genth, 1820-1893. Chemist-mineralogist-collector", Journal of the Franklin Institute, 241, (1946), 341-54, portrait. National Cyclopedia of American Biography: 7, 493. Poggendorff: 3, 506-7 & 4, 490. Proceedings of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences: 28 (1893), 393-4. Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society: 40 (1901), preface, p. x-xii, portait. Sarjeant, Geologists, 1980: 2, 1076-7. Schürmann, K., 200 Jahre Hessisches Mineralien-Kabinet 1790-1990. Festschrift. Marburg, 1990: 16. WBI. World Who's Who in Science: 643.

1. English, 1875.
Second Geological Survey Of Pennsylvania. | 1874. | [rule] | Preliminary Report | On The | Mineralogy Of Pennsylvania | By | F.A. Genth. | [rule] | With An Appendix | On The | Hydrocarbon Compounds, | By | Samuel P. Sadtler. | [rule] | Harrisburg: | Published by the Board of Commissioners | [ ...one line...] | 1875.

8°: [4], v, [1], [1]-238 p., folding topographical map by J. Peter Lesley. Very scarce.

Contents: [Frontispiece, map of Pennsylvania].; [2 pgs], Title page, verso "Entered, for the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in the year 1875, ..."; [1 pg], "Board Of Commissioners."; [1 pg], Blank.; [B. I]-B.v, Introduction beginning, "Prof. J.P. Lesley, | ...", signed F.A. Genth.; [1 pg], Blank.; [1], "Classification."; 2-232,Text.; [233]-238, "Index."

Bibliographical references: BL [W37/4297]. Dana's 7th (Bibliography): 71. NUC. USGS Library Catalog.

2. English, 1885.
The Minerals | And | Mineral Localities | Of | North Carolina, | Being Chapter I, Of The Second Volume Of The | Geology Of North Carolina. | [rule] | Reprinted by Order of the Board of Agriculture. | [rule] | Raleigh: | P.M. Hale, State Printer and Binder. | 1885.

8°: [1]-128 p. Page size: 216 x 134 mm.

Contents: [1-2], Title page, verso "Presses of | E.M. Uzzell | Raleigh, N.C."; [3]-93, Text (=Descriptive mineralogy of North Carolina minerals).; [94], Blank.; 95-128, "Synopsis | Of | Minerals And Mineral Localities By Counties."

Scarce. Co-authored with W.C. Kerr, who was State Geologist of North Carolina, this is a description of minerals found in that state, reprinted as a separate book from volume two of the larger Geology of North Carolina. The first section gives a descriptive mineralogy of North Carolina minerals, while the remainder of the text provides a "synopsis of minerals and mineral localites by counties".

Bibliographical references: NUC.

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