| Helen Morningstar | |
| Birth Date: | September 23, 1891 |
| Birth Place: | Columbus, Ohio, US |
| Death Place: | Columbus, Ohio, US |
| Fields: | Paleontology, Geology |
| Workplaces: | Phi Beta Kappa, Sigma Xi, American Association for the Advancement of Science, Paleontological Society of America |
| Spouse: | Raymond Lamborn |
| Children: | 2 |
| Education: | Ohio State University(BA, MA) Bryn Mawr College (Ph.D.) |
Helen Morningstar was a geologist and paleontologist from Columbus, Ohio.[1] She was born on September 23, 1891, and was an instructor for Ohio State University from 1917 to 1922. She died on July 31, 1951, at the age of 59 due to health complications.
Morningstar graduated from East Highschool in Columbus, Ohio in 1909.[2] She furthered her studies in 1913, where she had earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the Ohio State University. She decided to continue her schooling and received a Masters of Arts degree by 1915. During this time she was a graduate assistant for the English department of Ohio State University. She then decided to move to Pennsylvania and attended Bryn Mawr College, which offered higher education to women,[3] where she earned her Ph.D in philosophy in 1923. During her time of studies she gained the title of being one of Florence Bascom's top students.[4] The faculty of Bryn Mawr College awarded Morningstar the President's European fellowship.
Morningstar started her career as an instructor of geology and paleontology at Ohio State University from 1917 to 1923, and it was reported her salary at the time was estimated to be around $1,800.
She wrote three books during her career: The Fauna of the Pottsville Formation, Pottsville fauna of Ohio[5] and 'Catalogue of Type Fossils in the Geological Museum at the Ohio State University [6] In 1923, Morningstar was commended by Professor Charles Schuchert of Yale and the once President of the Geological Society of America for her work of Pottsville Fauna of Ohio and praised its contributions towards Paleontology in the American Journal of Sciences.[7]
After the publication of her novel The Fauna of the Pottsville Formation, she became a well recognized female geologist. This novel allowed her to inform the public of her research and share her findings. This novel was the formal takeoff of her career.
She also wrote a paper with Percy E. Raymond which discusses the future of Pennsylvanian formations in Illinois and the Appalachian basin.[8] In addition, she had contributed 5 specimens of Carboniferous bryozoans from Ohio, which were added to the United States National Museum in the year 1922–1923.[9] She also discovered a new species of Pennsylvanian pseudozygopleurid gastropod during her studies. It is distinguishable from other species by its coarse texture of the transverse cords, as well as the flatness of the whorl profile. The new species was named Gamizyga morningstarae in her honor.[10]
With all of her outstanding accomplishments, her career ended up shifting from a paleontologist and geologist to a stay at home mother after the birth of her first child in 1923.
Morningstar married Raymond Lamborn in 1922 and had 2 children named Charles and Martha Lamborn. Her marriage with Robert was controversial as it seemed she pursued family at the risk of her career.
Morningstar died on July 31, 1951, in her hometown of Columbus, Ohio, at the age of 59 from arteriosclerosis and hypertension. She was buried at the Green Lawn Cemetery (Columbus, Ohio).
Morningstar wrote a dissertation, which was published as part of her doctorate degree of philosophy, titled The Fauna of the Pottsville Formation of Ohio Below the Lower Merser Limestone (1922). Her study was focused on the Pottsville formation, varying from 100–350 feet, but averaging 255 feet in thickness and located at the base of the Pennsylvanian system. Her book discusses the stratigraphy and paleontology of the Pottsville formation, including 3 limestone horizons, boggs, upper and lower Mercer fossils collected at four localities[16] The formation lacked clear division from the Allegheny formations due to shales creating a gradual transition between the formations. There was a large unconformity at the bottom of the formation, characteristic of irregularly shaped surface of the rocks. The shift in water levels and the alternation of marine sediment and coal was discovered and noted within the formation.[17]
Research on the Economic Value of the Pottsville Formation: it is a considerable value, as it is a natural resource that accumulates wealth. The lower and upper mercer ores are especially important to economic contribution as they are thick and contain a high amount of iron content. Most of the coal content is used for local purposes, however it has been mined for commercial use as well.
Morningstar provided extensive research on the various members of the Pottsville formation and other geologists roles in their findings. She goes into detail of the different ores she had discovered throughout the counties in Ohio:
Helen gives excellent detail of the ores and fossils that were found through her exploration of the Pottsville Formation and documents her findings within her novel The Fauna of the Pottsville Formation of Ohio Below the Lower Merser Limestone (1922).