Dorothy Wyckoff


Dorothy Wyckoff was a professor of geology at Bryn Mawr College who specialized in the study of the composition of rocks. She is also known for her work in translating Albertus Magnus' Book of Minerals.

Early life and education

Wyckoff was born on July 22 1900 in Topsfield Massachusetts. She was a student at Bryn Mawr College where she studied Latin and Greek. She graduated Magna cum laude in 1921. In 1928 Wyckoff received an M.A. from Bryn Mawr. She went on to earn a Ph.D in geology in 1932 from Bryn Mawr, where she was a student of Florence Bascom. During her time at Bryn Mawr College Wyckoff received a fellowship to study in Oslo Norway where she worked at the for two years after completing her Masters in geology.

Career

Wyckoff was a professor of geology at Bryn Mawr College from 1930-1966, having been promoted to professor during the 1956 to 1957 academic year. While at Bryn Mawr she taught classes with Jane M. Oppenheimer and also worked with Dorothy Burr Thompson.
During World War II Wyckoff left Bryn Mawr to work at the U.S. Geological Survey, where she worked on preparing maps.
Wyckoff died in 1982.

Research

Wyckoff's research included investigations into lizards, and based on the similarities between lizards and dinosaurs, she concluded that dinosaurs could have been colorful animals.

Selected publications

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