The Women Who Popularized Geology in the 19th Century

The female authors highlighted in this monograph represent a special breed of science writer, women who not only synthesized the science of their day (often drawing upon their own direct experience in the laboratory, field, classroom, and/or public lecture hall), but used their works to simultaneously educate, entertain, and, in many cases, evangelize. Women played a central role in the popularization of science in the 19th century, as penning such works (written for an audience of other women and children) was considered proper "e;women's work."e; Many of these writers excelled in a particular literary technique known as the "e;familiar format,"e; in which science is described in the form of a conversation between characters, especially women and children. However, the biological sciences were considered more "e;feminine"e; than the natural sciences (such as astronomy and physics), hence the number of geological "e;conversations"e; was limited. This, in turn, makes the few that were completed all the more crucial to analyze.

The female authors highlighted in this monograph represent a special breed of science writer, women who not only synthesized the science of their day (often drawing upon their own direct experience in the laboratory, field, classroom, and/or public lecture hall), but used their works to simultaneously educate, entertain, and, in many cases, evangelize. Women played a central role in the popularization of science in the 19th century, as penning such works (written for an audience of other women and children) was considered proper "women's work." Many of these writers excelled in a particular literary technique known as the "familiar format," in which science is described in the form of a conversation between characters, especially women and children. However, the biological sciences were considered more “feminine” than the natural sciences (such as astronomy and physics), hence the number of geological “conversations” was limited. This, in turn, makes the few that were completed all the more crucial to analyze.

Preface. - Chapter 1: The Bedrock: Setting the Stage.- 1.1: The status of geological knowledge in the early 19th century.- 1.2: The role of religion in European geology.- 1.3 The role of religion in American geology.- 1.4 The (limited) role of women in early 19th century geology.- Chapter 2: The Avalanche Begins: Popularizing Geology.- 2.1 The popularization of geology.- 2.2 The birth of the familiar format.- 2.3 A space for women.- Chapter 3: Jane Haldimand Marcet (1769 – 1858).- 3.1 Biographical sketch.- 3.2 Main work to be analyzed: Conversations for Children: On Land and Water(1838).- 3.3 Commercial and Critical reception.- Chapter 4: Delvalle Lowry (1800-1860).- 4.1 Biographical sketch.- 4.2 Main work to be analyzed: Conversations on Mineralogy(1822).- 4.3 Commercial and Critical reception.- Chapter 5: Maria Hack (1777 – 1844).- 5.1 Biographical sketch.- 5.2 Main work to be analyzed: Geological Sketches and Glimpses of the Ancient Earth (1832).- 5.3 Commercial and Critical reception.- Chapter 6: Jane Kilby Welsh (1783 - ?).- 6.1 Biographical sketch.- 6.2 Main work to be analyzed: Familiar Lessons in Mineralogy and Geology (two volumes: 1832/1833).- 6.3 Commercial and Critical reception.- Chapter 7: Delia W. Godding (1812(?) – 1861).- 7.1 Biographical sketch.- 7.2 Main work to be analyzed: First Lessons in Geology (1847).- 7.3 Commercial and Critical reception.- Chapter 8: Other Voices [geological works written by women in this time frame not using the familiar format].- 8.1 Emma Hart Willard: American author of Ancient Geography (1824).- 8.2 Almira Hart Phelps: the sister of Emma Hart Willard, author of Geology for Beginners (1834).- 8.3 Mary Roberts: British author of the Natural Philosophy book Progress of Creation (1837).- 8.4 TBA.- Epilogue: The Death of the Familiar Format.