author
William O. (William Otis) Crosby
1850–1925
An American geologist and engineer, he spent much of his career at MIT and became known for careful work on the geology of eastern Massachusetts and the Boston Basin.
1 Audiobook
Common Minerals and Rocks
by William O. (William Otis) Crosby
About the author
Born in Ohio in 1850 and educated at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, he built a long academic career there, eventually serving as professor of geology. Reliable biographical sources also note his election to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, reflecting the respect he earned in his field.
His work centered on geology, mineralogy, and engineering problems, with a strong connection to New England. He published studies on eastern Massachusetts, the Boston Basin, glacial geology, and other topics, and archival records show that his consulting and research reached beyond Boston to projects in places such as Long Island, Colorado, Alaska, and mining districts in the western United States.
He died in Boston in 1925. Today, he is remembered as part of MIT's early scientific history and as a productive geological writer whose work helped document the landscape and rock history of Massachusetts.