New York State Division of Science and State Museum Geology Field Notes

Organized into three groupings: 1) Notes Relating to the Geological and Natural History Survey; 2) Notes Relating to the Geological Survey; 3) Notes Relating to Capitol District Ground Water Survey.

Alphabetical by author, then in chronological order.

Notebooks and occasional typed pages contain field notes of geological investigations.

Notes Relating to the Geological and Natural History Survey, ca. 1832-1845, Box 1: Most of these volumes contain notes made by Lewis C. Beck, Mineralogist of the Survey. Three volumes contain copies of Beck's printed annual reports for 1837-1839 supplemented with notes containing supporting or ancillary information and information from subsequently published sources. Four other volumes contain figures showing crystal structures, notes on his analyses of the properties of minerals, notes on soil formation and agricultural properties (Soils and Manures), and the manuscript of a lecture he delivered on New York's mineral resources.

One volume contains field notes and sketches by R.C. Taylor, assistant to Lardner Vanuxem, State Geologist for the Third District of the Survey. It contains a record of field observations made beginning at a point south of Ithaca, through Ithaca, the length of Cayuga Lake, east along the Erie Canal and Mohawk River to Albany, and east of Albany into western Massachusetts. This route also includes parts of the First and Fourth Districts. The sketches in this volume are mostly profiles showing surface features and geologic cross sections along the route. They are very finely executed in ink and watercolor. The geological survey of New York State was conducted pursuant to Chapter 142 of the Laws of 1836.

Notes Relating to the Geological Survey, 1885-1939, Boxes 2-5 and 7: These volumes contain notes on field work conducted. Many volumes contain glued in sections of topographic sheets and notes on geologic features observed. Others concern specific mineral industries in New York and contain notes on mines, quarries, wells, and mineral processing plants visited. Notes include travel information as well as scientific observations. Additional volumes concern the following topics: seismographic records; iron ores; building stones; World's Columbian Exposition (1893); catalog of mineral collection; and goniometer records.

Notes Relating to Capitol District Ground Water Survey, 1938, Boxes 6-7: These notebooks contain data forms for 420 individual water wells and springs surveyed in Schenectady and Saratoga counties and 9 wells in the Albany-Rensselaer vicinity. Each of these "well schedules" provides the following information on a single water source: location; owner; topography; elevation; type of well; depth; casing; chief aquifer (source of water); water level; pump; yield; type of use; water quality; and remarks (often include sketches of well or well's location). Additional notebooks contain maps showing the locations of water sources, and "Miscellaneous Data" consisting of notes on sources of information about groundwater.

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