Charles H. (Charles Hazelius) Sternberg

Born in 1850, he became one of the best-known fossil collectors of his era, working largely in the field rather than through a traditional academic path. Over a long career, he searched the fossil-rich landscapes of Kansas, Texas, Alberta, and other parts of North America, supplying important specimens to museums and scientists.

He is especially remembered for his work on dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals, and for helping build public interest in paleontology at a time when major fossil discoveries were capturing wide attention. His practical experience, persistence, and eye for specimens made him an important figure in the growth of fossil collecting in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

He also wrote about his life and discoveries, leaving behind accounts that mix science, travel, and frontier adventure. Those writings, together with the specimens he collected, preserve the story of a remarkable field naturalist whose work continued into the 20th century before his death in 1943.