Biographical Memoir of John Wesley Powell, 1834-1902-William Morris Davis

Shermans Memoirs March to the Sea and Columbia Burning · Nov 7, 2026 · 3h 40m

Biographical Memoir of John Wesley Powell, 1834-1902 by William Morris Davis.

This is Volume VIII of the National Academy of Sciences Biographical Memoirs series. John Wesley Powell (1834-1902) was a leading figure in the geological explorations of the West and helped establish the federal U.S. Geological Survey in 1879. He also led the Bureau of Ethnology and advocated for better treatment and study of Native American tribes and culture. He wrote a definitive study of the arid western U.S., advocating for thoughtful irrigation and land management practices. Powell predicted that water rights…