author
William O. (William Otis) Crosby
1850–1925
A longtime MIT geologist and engineer, he spent decades studying the rocks, landforms, and building materials of New England and beyond. His work bridged academic geology with practical engineering problems, from mining to water supply and construction.
1 Audiobook
Common Minerals and Rocks
by William O. (William Otis) Crosby
About the author
Born in Ohio in 1850, William Otis Crosby became an American geologist and engineer whose career was closely tied to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He graduated from MIT in 1876 and went on to serve there for many years as a teacher and researcher, eventually becoming professor of geology.
Crosby was known for work in physical geology, mineralogy, and petrography, and he also took on a wide range of consulting work. His research and reports dealt with subjects such as building stone, regional geology, mining, and the geology of water supply and construction sites, especially in New England.
He was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1881, a sign of the respect he earned early in his career. Crosby died in Boston in 1925, leaving behind a body of scientific and practical work that connected classroom geology with the needs of industry and public works.