Henry Fairfield Osborn

Best known for his long association with the American Museum of Natural History, he was a paleontologist, geologist, and teacher who played a major role in shaping vertebrate paleontology in the United States. He taught at Columbia University and later led the museum for many years, helping expand its collections, research programs, and public exhibits.

His scientific work focused especially on fossil mammals, and he was also closely linked with the great age of dinosaur discovery. Under his watch, the museum became one of the world's best-known centers for studying prehistoric life, and he wrote widely for both specialists and general readers.

His legacy is important but also deeply controversial. Alongside his scientific and administrative achievements, he was a prominent advocate of eugenics, and that part of his public life is now recognized as harmful and discredited.