Madison, Wisconsin 53705-5100
Tel 608/262-1705
Fax 608/262-8086
Director and State Geologist, James M. Robertson
www.uwex.edu/wgnhs
The Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey (WGNHS) was created by the Wisconsin Legislature in 1897. It is the descendant of earlier state surveys in Wisconsin that date back to 1854. As part of the University of Wisconsin-Extension, WGNHS is an interdisciplinary organization that conducts natural resources surveys and research to meet critical information needs. WGNHS publications, presentations, and recommendations are frequently requested for use in governmental decision-making, environmental management, land use development, and educational purposes. For example, WGNHS staff members were recently called upon to discuss geologic and hydrologic conditions in Spring Green, Wisconsin, in response to severe flooding that occurred in June 2008.
Throughout its existence, WGNHS has accumulated invaluable research collections from field studies conducted by our geologists, collaborators, and other private and public organizations interested in the natural resources of our state. WGNHS is proud to be the largest archival repository for Wisconsin geological information and strives to share this wealth of information with the general public.
The preservation of field notes, data, reports, and physical samples is an important part of the Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey’s mission. In an effort to improve archival practices and to increase public access to our numerous paper, digital, and three-dimensional records, WGNHS is participating in the National Geological and Geophysical Data Preservation Program (NGGDPP). Established by the United States Geological Survey, NGGDPP offers an unprecedented opportunity for geological surveys throughout the nation to collaborate, share resources and better serve scientists and citizens alike, today and for future generations.
Physical geoscience datasets are stored in the Research Collections and Education Center in Mt. Horeb, Wisconsin. The WGNHS rock core collection (pictured above) includes almost 60,000 boxes representing over 600,000 feet of core.
Citation: “From Acquisition to Access: Management of Physical Geoscience Collections and Related Data at WGNHS,” presentation by Thomas J. Evans, Assistant Director
Geological field notes, meticulously linked to photographs and rock samples from the region studied, afford rich insights into Wisconsin’s geological composition and the history of WGNHS.
Citation: WGNHS 1037, Palms quartz slate, Penokee Gap [T.44N R.3W] 1915, H67 v.16, p. 43
Images courtesy of the Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey.
Entry compiled by Katie Scanlan
Katie,
ReplyDeleteI am not sure if you know but my husband Tyler helped to create the core warehouse in Mt. Horeb. He worked on the project for several months and I think he designed the spread sheet that all the core is cataloged in.
Simone