The History of the
Hofstra University
Geology Department
(1935 – 2004)
Drs. Bennington, Radcliffe, Wolff, and
Merguerian, March 2004
Compiled by Dr. Fred Wolff – Student and Faculty Member: 1957 –
2004
Edited and Digitized by Dr. Charles
Merguerian – Faculty Member Since 1981
© 2004
THE HISTORY OF THE
HOFSTRA UNIVERSITY GEOLOGY DEPARTMENT
THE ARCHEAN (1935 –
1947)
Academic Year
1935–39
Dr. George I.
Finlay – Professor of
Geology.
A.B., Harvard
(1898); Ph.D., Columbia University (1903)
Hofstra College was an extension of New York University during this interval. There was no Hofstra
Bulletin. Dr. Finlay was an old timer that probably came to the Hofstra
campus to teach a physical science course, to satisfy the science requirement
for students.
1939–40
George H.
Burnham – Assistant
Professor of Physics.
A.B., University of Colorado;
M.S. New York University.
Jacob M.
Schmidt – Assistant
Instructor.
A.B., Phillips University; M.S., University
of Oklahoma.
Along
with Dr. Finlay, Professor Burnham taught Physical Science 1–2 (a year
course). Graduating Hofstra seniors needed a science course and this was it!
1940–41
George H.
Burnham – Assistant
Professor of Physics.
Jacob M.
Schmidt – Assistant
Instructor.
At
this time, our offerings included Geology 1 (Physical) – Geology 2 (Historical)
course; 3 hours lecture and 3 hours lab (4 credits).
1941–42
George H.
Burnham – Assistant
Professor of Physics.
Jacob M.
Schmidt – Assistant
Instructor.
Dr. John T.
Hack – Instructor in
Geology.
A.B. (1935); A.M.
(1938), Ph.D. (1940), all from Harvard University.
The
Geology 1–2 course ran for the whole year. Dr. Hack must have been
pretty good – as he received all of his degrees from Harvard!
1942–43
George H.
Burnham – Assistant
Professor of Physics.
Jacob M.
Schmidt – Assistant
Instructor.
Dr. John T.
Hack – Instructor in
Geology.
By
this time we offered Geology 1 and Geology 2 courses (4 credits each).
1943–45
No
Instructors/No Courses.
Last
two years of World War II – very few students and fewer instructors.
1945–46
Dr. Loyal F. Ollmann – Chairman of Mathematics.
A.B., Ripon College (1935); M.S., University of Wisconsin
(1937), Ph.D., University of Michigan
(1939).
Dr.
Ollmann taught Physical
Science 1 and 2 (3 hours lecture and 3 hours lab – 4 credits). He was Chairman
of the Mathematics Department and remained in this position until 1966.
Dr. Loyal F. Ollmann, 1956.
1946–48
No Instructor
listed.
General
Geology 1 and 2 Courses offered (4 credits). Four biology courses and 8
advanced geology courses also offered for a B.A. Biology – Geology
specialization. Instructor was probably Henry A. Curtis.
THE PROTEROZOIC (1947 – 1957)
Start of Geology Program
– Curtisian Epoch
Starting
in 1947, the Geology Program included the following courses:
Physical Geology
– 1
Historical
Geology – 2
Meteorology – 11
Conservation of
Natural Resources – 12
Climatology – 13
Physical Geology
of U.S. – 14
Geology and
Geography of Long Island – 15
Coal and Oil
Geology – 17
Structural
Geology – 18
Sedimentation –
19
Economic Geology
of Metals – 20
Engineering
Geology – 21
Mineralogy – 31
Petrology – 32
Geomorphology –
33
Paleontology –
34
Stratigraphy –
36
Economic Geology
– 41
Special Problems
– 43–44
Military
Mapping– 46
That’s
20 courses! As new ones were added, some were dropped. Only 12 to 14 were in
the bulletin at any one time.
Curtisian Epoch
Epoch marked by
start of instructor continuity with 7 years of Henry A. Curtis and B.A.
specialization with Biology–Geology or Chemistry–Geology. Henry A. Curtis
started the geology program through the influence of William H. Kay, Lynn Bogue
Hunt, and other students.
Henry A. Curtis, 1951.
1947–48
Henry A.
Curtis – Instructor in
Geology.
A.B., Colgate University (1942), M.S. Hofstra University (1955).
1948–49
Henry A.
Curtis – Instructor in
Geology
No
Geology degree offered but a Biology–Geology specialization.
1949–50
Henry A.
Curtis – Instructor in
charge.
Austin D. Brixey
Jr. – Instructor.
A.B., University of Virginia
(1941), A.M. Columbia University (1948).
Hofstra
offers the B.A. biology–geology or chemistry–geology specialization.
1950–51
Henry A.
Curtis – Instructor in
charge.
Taught Geology
15 which included a $25 fee for plane fare across Long Island.
Joseph A. Puig – Instructor who taught hard rock
courses.
A.B. New York University (1948).
Robert A.
Finks – Lecturer.
B.S., Queens College, C.U.N.Y. (1947)
Dr.
Robert Finks became a paleontologist and professor at Queens College from 1955 to 2002). The Nexus Yearbook
finally has pictures of students with their degree and major listed).
Henry A. Curtis, 1952.
1951–52
Henry A.
Curtis – Instructor in
charge.
Joseph A. Puig – Instructor.
Hofstra
Geology offered Geology 1 and 2 plus 8 of 14 advanced courses toward the B.A.
Biology–Geology or Chemistry–Geology specialization.
1952–53
Henry A.
Curtis – Instructor in
charge.
Humbert Revel – Instructor.
B.A., New York University (1949).
Hofstra
Geology continued to offer Geology 1 and 2 plus 8 of 14 advanced courses toward
the B.A. Biology–Geology or Chemistry–Geology specialization.
Humbert S. Revel, 1955.
1953–54
Henry A.
Curtis – Instructor in
charge.
Humbert S.
Revel – Instructor.
James J. Geraghty – Lecturer.
B.S., City College of N.Y. (1949).
James
Geraghty received a M.A. from Columbia University became a hydrologist, and started the
(now international) geotechnical engineering firm of Geraghty and Miller.
Henry A. Curtis, 1953.
1954–55
Henry A.
Curtis – Instructor in
charge.
James J. Geraghty – Lecturer.
Humbert S.
Revel – Instructor.
Nathaniel M. Perlmutter – Lecturer.
B.A., Brooklyn College (1941); M.A., Columbia University (1953).
N.
M. Perlmutter worked as a hydrologist for the U.S. Geological Survey. The
Geology Club has its first yearbook picture that includes Humbert Revel and 8
students! (See our accompanying volume on the History of the Graduates and
Geology Club.)
1955–56
Dr. Roger H. Charlier – Chairman and Special Lecturer.
B.S., Liege University (1943), License/Science, Bruxelles University (1945), Ph.D., Friedrich–Alexandra
(1947); Professional Geologist Certificate, McGill University (1953).
Dr. William
J. Croft – Instructor in
charge.
B.S. (1950),
M.A. (1952), Ph.D. (1954); all from Columbia University.
Humbert S.
Revel – Instructor.
Seymour Tilson – Instructor.
B.S., Brooklyn College (1949).
Humbert S. Revel, 1956.
Dr. Roger H. Charlier, 1956
1956–57
Dr. Roger H. Charlier – Chairman.
Humbert S.
Revel – Instructor.
Olivia V. Haselau–Perry – Instructor.
A.B., Brooklyn College (1943); A. M., Columbia University (1948).
Department
still had the B.A. specialization in Biology–Geology for the last year.
Olivia V. Haselau–Perry, 1957.
THE PALEOZOIC (1957 –
1975)
Includes Durhamian and Wolffian
Epochs
Dr.
Forrest Durham
established the modern foundation for the Geology Department and the geology
major. Start of Chairman continuity and choice of B.A. or B.S. in Geology.
Dr. Forrest Durham, 1958.
1957–58
Dr. Forrest
Durham – Associate
Professor and Chairman of Geology.
A.B. (1948),
A.M. (1950), both from Cornell University; Ph.D., Syracuse
University (1954).
Dr. Roger Charlier – Special Lecturer (on leave).
Humbert S.
Revel – Instructor.
Olivia V. Haselau–Perry – Instructor.
The
department offers a B.A. degree in Geology with students required to have 32
semester hours of geology courses to graduate. A Geography program was
introduced by Dr. Charlier in 1957. The courses included:
Regional World
Geography 11
Principles of
Geography 14
Geography and
Geology of NY State 15
Senior Seminar
152
Workshop in
Geography 153, and,
Geology of Europe, 154.
Dr. Charlier
left for “greener pastures” in the mid–west, so the courses and the Geography
program were dropped late in 1958.
1958–59
Dr. Forrest
Durham – Chairman,
Geology Department.
Henry A.
Curtis – Lecturer in School of Education.
Humbert S.
Revel – Instructor
Olivia V. Haselau–Perry – Instructor.
Dr. Otto Haas – Visiting Professor.
L.L.D., Ph.D.,
University of Vienna (1914).
Julian Kane – Instructor.
B.A., New York University, M.A., Columbia
University (1950).
Dr.
Durham recognized the importance of a field program and introduced a summer
field course. By the 1958–59 academic year, the Geology Department had 6
instructors. Dr. Haas was a paleontologist working at the American Museum of Natural History. Julian Kane was to
teach as an adjunct for 31 years (until 1987). The Geology Program now
included the following courses:
Physical Geology
– 1
Historical
Geology – 2
Structural
Geology – 19
Field Methods –
20
Mineralogy – 31
Petrology – 32
Geomorphology –
33
Seminar – 52
Earth Science
(for Teachers) – 107/108
Hydrology – 121
Optical
Mineralogy – 131
Summer Field
Camp – 134
Sedimentation –
135
Paleontology –
137
Advanced
Paleontology – 138
Economic Geology
– 141/142
Petroleum
Geology – 144
Stratigraphy –
146
Special Problems
– 151/152
Engineering
Problems and Economic Geology – 209
Advanced
Historical Geology – 210
Readings in Geology – 251/252.
Dr. Otto Haas, 1959.
Olivia Haselau–Perry, 1959.
1959–60
Dr. Forrest
Durham – Associate Professor
– Chairman.
Dr. Laurence
E. Andrews Jr. –
Assistant Professor.
B.S., Virginia
Polytechnic Institute (1948); Ph.D., The Johns Hopkins University (1952).
Henry A.
Curtis – Lecturer – School of Education.
Dr. Otto Haas – Visiting Professor from Vienna.
Julian Kane – Adjunct Lecturer.
Dr. Laurence Andrews, 1959.
1960–61
Dr. Forrest
Durham – Associate
Professor – Chairman.
Dr. Laurence
E. Andrews Jr. –
Assistant Professor.
Humbert Revel – Instructor – (Left Hofstra for
U.S.G.S. in Washington D.C.).
Olivia
V. Haselau–Perry
– Instructor.
Julian Kane – Adjunct Lecturer – (Replacement for H.
A. Curtis in 1961).
By
this time the department offers B.A. with 10 geology courses and a B.S. degree
(12 geology courses + 1 year mathematics, chemistry, and physics and 2 years of
language).
1961–62
Dr. Forrest
Durham – Associate
Professor – Chairman.
Dr. Laurence
E. Andrews Jr. –
Assistant Professor.
Olivia
V. Haselau–Perry
– Instructor.
Julian Kane – Adjunct Lecturer.
Ruth L.
Rosenthal – Lecturer. (Replaced
Humbert Revel.)
B.A., CUNY, Brooklyn (1941); M.A., Hofstra (1959).
Arthur E. Wegweiser – Lecturer. (Replaced Dr. Otto Haas.)
B.A. (1955) and
M.A. (1958); both from Hofstra.
1962–63
Dr. Forrest
Durham – Associate
Professor – Chairman.
Dr. Laurence
E. Andrews Jr. –
Assistant Professor (On Leave).
Olivia
V. Haselau–Perry
– Instructor.
Julian Kane – Adjunct Lecturer.
Ruth L.
Rosenthal – Lecturer.
Arthur E. Wegweiser – Lecturer.
1963–64
Dr. Forrest
Durham – Associate
Professor – Chairman.
Dr. Laurence
Andrews – Assistant
Professor.
Olivia
V. Haselau–Perry
– Instructor.
Henry A.
Curtis – Adjunct
Lecturer.
Julian Kane – Adjunct Lecturer.
Ruth
Rosenthal – Adjunct
Lecturer.
1964–65
Dr. Forrest
Durham – Associate
Professor – Chairman.
Olivia
V. Haselau–Perry
– Instructor.
Henry A.
Curtis – Adjunct
Lecturer.
Julian Kane – Adjunct Lecturer.
Ruth
Rosenthal – Adjunct
Lecturer.
Dr. Laurence
Andrews – (Left
permanently for Minas Gerais, Brazil as a mining consultant; no replacement
for 10 years!).
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Olivia V. Haselau–Perry, 1964.
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Dr. Forrest Durham, 1964.
1965–66
Dr. Forrest
Durham – Associate
Professor – Chairman.
Olivia
V. Haselau–Perry
– Instructor.
Henry A.
Curtis – Adjunct
Lecturer.
Julian Kane – Adjunct Lecturer.
Ruth
Rosenthal – Adjunct
Lecturer.
1966–67
Dr. Forrest
Durham – Associate
Professor – Chairman.
Julian Kane – Adjunct Lecturer.
Ruth
Rosenthal – Adjunct
Lecturer.
Clifford
Bennett – Lecturer
(Replaced Henry Curtis, after 18 years of near continuous service).
B.A., Syracuse University, (1949); M.A., Hofstra (1961).
Olivia V. Haselau–Perry – (Left to get Ph.D. in Geography at Columbia University. Believed to have done research in India – but lost all contact with Hofstra).
1967–72
Dr. Forrest
Durham – Associate
Professor – Chairman.
Dr. Manfred
(Fred) Wolff – Assistant
Professor.
B.S., Hofstra
(1961); M.S., University of Rochester
(1963); Ph.D., Cornell University (1967). (Replaces, after 10 years of
dedicated service, Olivia V. Haselau–Perry.)
Julian Kane – Adjunct Lecturer.
Ruth
Rosenthal – Adjunct
Lecturer.
Clifford
Bennett – Lecturer.
Dr.
Wolff was the first undergraduate (Class of 1961) to “return to the roost” –
others will follow.
Wolffian Epoch
As
Chairman for four years, Dr. Fred
Wolff expanded the
variety of courses and convinced the Dean and Provost to keep the B.S. – B.A.
Geology major going. His pivotal chairmanship secured the viability and growth
of the Geology department for the future.
1972–73
Dr. Fred Wolff – Assistant Professor – (Acting Chairman
as Dr. Forrest Durham becomes terminally ill and passes away in 1974.)
Julian Kane – Adjunct Senior Professor
Ruth
Rosenthal – Adjunct
Lecturer.
Clifford
Bennett – Adjunct
Lecturer.
Tough
times as the department is down to one full–time professor plus three adjuncts
– but expansion would follow! Dr. Wolff brought long-standing stability to the
department for the first time and introduced new technology in the form of tens
of thousands of overhead slides. This stable interval resulted in the
development and modification of many new and more specialized courses for the
majors including:
Environmental
Geology – 10
Environmental
Geomorphology – 33
Lunar and
Planetary Geology – 115
Geochemistry –
132
Igneous and
Metamorphic Petrology – 133
Marine Geology –
136
Sedimentary
Petrology – 145
Physical Stratigraphy
– 156
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Fred Wolff, as Hofstra Student, 1961.
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Dr. Fred Wolff, as Faculty Member,
1975.
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During
the Wolffian Epoch updates in the Geology Program included:
Physical and
Environmental Geology – 1
Earth History
and Crustal Evolution – 2
Historical
Geology – 105 (was 170)
Oceanography –
123
Paleoecology –
138
Biostratigraphy
– 140
Conservation of
Economic Resources – 141
Dr. Wolff Pictures Page
Drs. Forrest Durham and Fred Wolff, 1970.
1973–74
Dr. Fred Wolff – Assistant Professor – Chairman.
Dr. Usman Sayeed – Assistant Professor.
B.S., Andhara University [India] (1960); M.S., Memorial University [Canada] (1970); Ph.D., University of Nebraska
(1973). Dr. Sayeed temporarily replaced, after 15 years of dedicated service,
Dr. Forrest Durham).
Julian Kane – Adjunct Senior Professor
Ruth
Rosenthal – Adjunct
Lecturer.
Clifford
Bennett – Adjunct
Lecturer.
1974–75
Dr. Fred Wolff – Assistant Professor – Chairman.
Dr. Usman Sayeed – Assistant Professor.
Julian Kane – Adjunct Senior Professor.
Ruth
Rosenthal – Adjunct
Lecturer.
Sister DeMontfort
Babb – Adjunct Lecturer.
B.A., Marywood College (1954); M.A.T., Indiana University (1969).
Dr. Harold E.
Roellig – Associate
Professor and Adjunct Special Lecturer from Adelphi
University.
B.A., Concordia
Seminary (1954); Ph.D., Columbia University (1967).
Dr. Wolff, circa 1985.
MESOZOIC (1975-)
Radcliffian Era
Dr.
Dennis Radcliffe was
appointed as Chairman and has guided the department and diversified programs
for 30 years. Under his direction the program included the B.A. degree in Earth
Resources (later Environmental Resources) and expanded to four full–time
faculty and 5–8 rotating adjunct faculty. Under his dedicated chairmanship the
department expanded to become the best classical undergraduate Geology
Department in the New York City area.
Dr. Dennis Radcliffe, 1975.
1975–77
Dr. Dennis Radcliffe – Associate Professor – Chairman.
B.S., University
of Durham (1960); M.S., University of Alberta
(1964); Ph.D., Queens University of Ontario (1966).
Dr. Fred
Wolff – Associate
Professor.
Dr. Harold E.
Roellig – Associate
Professor.
Julian Kane – Senior Professor – Earth Science
Sister DeMontfort
Babb – Adjunct
Lecturer. (Replaces R. Rosenthal.)
Michael Sichko – Adjunct Lecturer as of Fall 1976.
(Our longest consecutive semester adjunct as of 2004, and still going strong!)
B.S., City College – CUNY (1963); M.A., Brooklyn College – CUNY (1966).
Stanley Schleifer – Adjunct Lecturer. (Fall 1976.)
B.S. (1966);
M.A. (1970); both degrees from Brooklyn College, CUNY.
Dr. Radcliffe Pictures Page
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Climbing Mt. Askival in western Scotland, Isle of Mull, 1958.
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Jan Lake, northern Saskatchewan,
1963.
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Talamantes, Chihuahua, Mexico;
exploring manganese tungsten deposits, 1971.
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Twirlin’ the dials of the atomic absorption
machine, 1980.
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Drs. Fred Wolff and Dennis Radcliffe, 1976.
1977–78
Dr. Dennis Radcliffe – Associate Professor – Chairman.
Dr. Fred
Wolff – Associate
Professor.
Dr. Harold E.
Roellig – Associate
Professor.
Julian Kane – Adjunct Lecturer.
Sister DeMontfort
Babb – Adjunct Lecturer.
Michael Sichko – Adjunct Lecturer.
Dr. John Remo – Adjunct Lecturer.
B.S. Manhattan College, (1972); Ph.D., Brooklyn Polytechnic
Institute, (1976).
Standing (L to R): Michael Sichko, Dr. Fred Wolff, Dr. Dennis Radcliffe, Julian Kane.
Seated: Sister deMontfort Babb, and Dr. John Remo, 1978.
1978–80
Dr. Dennis Radcliffe – Associate Professor – Chairman.
Dr. Fred
Wolff – Associate
Professor.
Dr. Harold E.
Roellig – Associate
Professor.
Julian Kane – Adjunct Lecturer.
Sister DeMontfort
Babb – Adjunct Lecturer.
Dr. John Remo – Adjunct Lecturer.
Stanley Schleifer – Adjunct Lecturer.
Michael Sichko – Adjunct Lecturer.
The
department forges ahead with a full staff. New and respected adjuncts were
added in the 1976-78 period including Dr. John Remo, Stanley Schleifer,
and Michael Sichko. Our adjunct instructor cornerstone, Professor Sichko
has taught at least one course in consecutive semesters from 1976 to 2004 (a
28-year record!) and is still going strong. Although not offering continuous
service, Adjunct Professor Julian Kane holds the record for longevity
(1975 – 1989), a 31 year record. On the full-time staff, Dr. Fred Wolff
has served from 1967 to 2004, an astounding record of continuous, dedicated
service for 37 years! Best yet, Dr. Wolff boasts a 47 year involvement
with the department including his days as a student (from 1957). The B.A. in
Earth Resources is approved and additional courses added include:
Introduction to
Earth Resources – 9
Honors Research
Essay – 100
Space Geology –
103
Introduction to
Geophysics – 120
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Sister DeMontfort
Babb, 1980.
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Faculty (L to R): Dr. Dennis Radcliffe,
Dr. Fred Wolff, Michael Sichko, and Dr. John Remo,
1979.
1980–81
Dr.
Dennis Radcliffe
– Professor – Chairman.
Dr. Fred Wolff – Associate Professor.
Dr. Harold E.
Roellig – Adjunct
Associate Professor.
Sister DeMontfort
Babb – Adjunct Assistant
Professor
Julian Kane – Adjunct Senior Professor
Dr. John Remo – Adjunct Assistant Professor.
Stanley Schleifer – Adjunct Assistant Professor.
Michael Sichko – Adjunct Associate Professor.
Arthur Loring – Adjunct Assistant Professor.
B.S. (1970);
M.A., (1972), both from Brooklyn College – CUNY.
Faculty (L to R): Drs. Fred Wolff, Dennis Radcliffe, Arthur Loring,
Michael Sichko, 1980.
1981–83
Dr. Dennis Radcliffe – Professor – Chairman.
Dr. Fred Wolff – Professor.
Dr. Charles
Merguerian – Assistant
Professor.
B.S. (1972),
M.A. (1977), both from The City College – CUNY; M.Phil. (1983), Ph.D. (1985),
both from Lamont–Doherty Geological Observatory of Columbia University.
Julian Kane – Adjunct Senior Professor.
Sister DeMontfort
Babb – Adjunct Assistant
Professor.
Dr. Harold E.
Roellig – Adjunct
Associate Professor.
Dr. Charles
Rockwell – Adjunct
Professor.
B.A., Hofstra
University (1952); M.S. University of Oklahoma
(1957); Ph.D., Cornell University (1975).
Charles
Merguerian joins staff in January 1981. After nearly 30 years of effort,
the department finally gets a third full–time faculty line! Merguerian becomes
a welcome addition to the department. His long-standing field research in New York City, Connecticut, and California
(while at Columbia University) provide a rigorous field component to
the major (a long established tradition with the Hofstra Geology Program) and
helps to establish Hofstra Geology as a center for local geologic research.
Dr.
Chuck Rockwell graduated
from Hofstra in 1952 and thus became second former student and oldest geology
alumnus to return to the scene of the crime [Dr. Wolff was first!]. Department
added a new course – Geology 104, Excursions in Field Geology.
Dr. Charles Merguerian, circa 1995.
Dr. Merguerian Pictures
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Field Discussions in the Appalachians On-The-Rocks, 1991.
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