author
Romayne Skartvedt
1916–1990
A clear, practical guide to Illinois plant fossils came from this mid-20th-century writer, whose work helped make paleobotany more approachable for beginners and collectors. Her best-known book pairs scientific accuracy with an inviting field-guide style.
1 Audiobook
Field Book: Pennsylvanian Plant Fossils of Illinois
by Charles William Collinson, Romayne Skartvedt
About the author
Working with Charles Collinson, Romayne Skartvedt coauthored Field Book: Pennsylvanian Plant Fossils of Illinois, published by the Illinois State Geological Survey in 1960 and reprinted in 1966. The book was designed as an introductory guide, helping readers collect, recognize, and classify plant fossils from Illinois's rich Pennsylvanian deposits.
Her writing stands out for being useful and welcoming rather than overly technical. That practical approach has helped the book remain of interest well beyond its original publication, especially for readers curious about fossils, natural history, and the deep past recorded in the Midwest.
Available records identify her as Muriel Romayne "Romayne" Skartvedt-West, born in 1916 and deceased in 1990. While detailed biographical information appears limited, her published work endures as a concise and accessible contribution to fossil education.