author
William Henry Matthews
b. 1919
A clear, approachable geology writer, he helped open up earth science for general readers and students through books on fossils, soils, and the story of the planet itself. His work is especially remembered for making big geological ideas feel readable and grounded in everyday curiosity.
2 Audiobooks
The Geologic Story of Palo Duro Canyon
by William Henry Matthews
Texas Fossils: An Amateur Collector's Handbook
by William Henry Matthews
About the author
Born on March 1, 1919, in Henryetta, Oklahoma, William H. Matthews III grew up in Texas and became known as a geologist, teacher, and popular science author. A memorial published by the Geological Society of America says he first started college as a pre-med student, served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, and then returned to study geology at Texas Christian University, where he earned both his bachelor's and master's degrees.
Matthews taught geology at Lamar University and wrote a long list of books that introduced earth science to broad audiences. Works associated with him include Fossils, Science Probes the Earth, Readings in the Earth Sciences, Introducing the Earth, and Geology Made Simple, reflecting his gift for explaining the natural world in a direct, welcoming way.
He died on February 14, 1991, in Beaumont, Texas. Colleagues remembered him as an unpretentious and engaging communicator, and that seems to fit the books he left behind: practical, lively introductions that helped many readers discover geology for themselves.