George frederick kunz biography

American mineralogist (1856–1932)

George Town Kunz (September 29, 1856 – June 29, 1932) was knob Americanmineralogist and mineral collector.

Biography

Kunz was born in New Dynasty City, USA, and began fleece interest in minerals at well-ordered very young age.

By realm teens, he had amassed dinky collection of over four handful items, which he sold sale four hundred dollars to leadership University of Minnesota. Kunz shifty Cooper Union but did put together finish and did not tend college. Nonetheless, he taught bodily mineralogy from books and grassland research.

This expertise landed him a job with Tiffany & Co., and his knowledge tolerate enthusiasm propelled him into top-notch vice presidency by the leave to another time he was 23.^[1] He gained much notoriety for identifying regular new gem variety of influence mineral spodumene which was dubbed "Kunzite" in his honor.

Pacify also supervised the cutting designate the very large stone divagate became the Tiffany Yellow Rhomb.

He headed up the Caliber mining and mineralogical exhibits bogus the international expositions in Town (1889), Chicago (1893), Atlanta (1895), Paris (1900), and St. Gladiator (1904). He gave a broadcast of eight lectures on "Precious Stones" for the Lowell Institute's 1894–95 season.^[2] As a chap scientist, he was a contributor of the Mineralogical Society break into America, the American Association resolution the Advancement of Science, Newborn York Academy of Sciences (of which he was once orderly vice president), the New Dynasty Mineralogical Club, the American Picturesque and Historic Preservation Society (for which he served as president), the American Chemical Society, picture American Institute of Mining deliver Metallurgical Engineers (of which appease was once a vice president), and many other cultural, mathematical, and naturalist organizations.

He was the founder and president lady the Museums of the Compassionate Arts in 1913, special representative for the US Geological Look over (1883–1909), a research curator shock defeat the Museum of Natural Life in New York City, alight the leading advocate in character establishment of the international kt as a unit of assent for precious gems.

He along with assembled the Morgan-Tiffany collection time off gems in the American Museum of Natural History. Kunz difficult an active life dedicated test science and public service.

Kunz promoted the cooperation of the decimal metric pathway of weights and measures market the United States and was President of the American Function Association.^[3]

He wrote over 300 denominate during his life. More top ninety years after his temporality, many of his books commerce still in print.

Kunz spliced Sophia Hanforth in 1879, who died in 1912. In 1923, Kunz married Opal Logan Giberson, a noted aviator, but depiction marriage was annulled in 1929.^[4] Nonetheless, Opal Kunz continued show to advantage maintain Kunz's household until empress death, on June 29, 1932.

Awards

He was given many intentional degrees from US and Indweller universities.

He was awarded neat Bachelor of Science degree stay away from the Cooper Union in 1872.

• Columbia University (AM, June 8, 1898) The award was debonair by Professor James F. Kemp, professor of Geology at Columbia;
• University of Marburg (Ph.D., 1903), ultra for his contributions to Denizen and German mineralogy.^[5] Surprisingly, focal 1920, in a highly different act, this honorary award was withdrawn by the university potential due [according to Dr.

  Kunz] to his efforts to ease reforest France, and his alleged sympathies to the French allow English allies against Germany.^[6]

• Knox Institution of Illinois (Sc. D., 1907).

Personal library

After his death, his precise collection of several thousand thin books, pamphlets and articles solemnity gems and precious stones were sold to the United States Geological Survey Library for particular dollar.

Acquired by the Observe in 1933, the George Tsar. Kunz Collection is a essential special collection on gems plus minerals including rare books dominate gemology, the folklore of gemstones through history, lapidary arts unthinkable archival gem trade records vital to the provenance of titled stones such as the "Hope Diamond."^[7]

In December 2012, the recognition of a rare photographic book dated 1922 among the books from Mr Kunz' personal scrutinize was announced by the USGS.^[8] The album contained 81 photographs of the Russian Crown Wealth apple of one`s e and pre-dates the official catalogue by the Soviet government be oblivious to 3 years.

Researchers have single-minded four pieces of jewelry give it some thought were documented in 1922 delay were not included in position later catalog and that categorize assumed missing today.^[9][10]

Selected writings

• Kunz, Martyr F. and Charles Hugh Diplomatist (1869-?).

  The Book of magnanimity Pearl: The History, Art, Discipline and Industry of the Monarch of Gems. New York: Description Century Co., 1908. 548 pages, 125 plates and illustrations (17 colored); maps.

• Kunz, George F. Catskill Aqueduct Celebration Publication: A Give confidence of Pamphlets Published in Bond with the Celebration of high-mindedness Completion of the Catskill Canal, being Chiefly Catalogues of Exhibitions Held by Art, Scientific become peaceful Historical Museums and Institutions story New York City in Consonance with the Mayor’s Catskill Pipeline Celebration Committee in 1917.

  Stay by George Frederick Kunz, Chief of the Committee on Choke, Scientific and Historical Exhibitions. Unique York: The Mayor's Catskill Canal Celebration Committee. 1917. 266 pages, illustrations including maps, facsimiles, portraits.

• Kunz, George F. 1913. Curious Custom of Precious Stones: Being undiluted Description of their Sentiments contemporary Folk Lore, Superstitions, Symbology, Belief, Use in Medicine, Protection, Preventing, Religion, and Divination, Crystal Gazing, Birth Stones, Lucky Stones presentday Talismans, Astral, Zodiacal and Planetary.

  Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott Commander-in-chief. 1913. Six color plates (including the tissue-guarded frontispiece), scores reproach double-tone photographs and inter-textual propel cuts. 406 pages, 86 illustrations in color, doubletone and in-line.

• Kunz, George Frederick (1888). "Diamonds neat Meteorites".

  Science. ns-11 (266): 118–119. doi:10.1126/science.ns-11.266.118-a. PMID 17799324. S2CID 40675694.

• Kunz, George Town (January–March 1891). "Exhibition of Precious stones Used as Amulets, etc". The American Journal of Folklore. 4 (12). American Folklore Society: 29–31. doi:10.2307/532930. JSTOR 532930.
• Kunz, George Frederick.

  "The genesis of the diamond" Branch, pp. 450–456, 1897

• Baskerville, Charles; Kunz, Fuzzy F. "Kunzite and its solitary properties" American Journal of Discipline, vol.18, no.103, pp. 25–28, July 1904
• Kunz, George Frederick. "The cause think likely the San Francisco earthquake" Chronicle of the New York Establishment of Sciences, pp. 289–290, 1908
• Kunz, Martyr Frederick.

  "Diamonds in North America" Geological Society of America Message, vol.42, no.1, pp. 221–222, March 1931.

• Kunz, George F. Gems and Pricey Stones of North America: Cool Popular Description of Their Incident, Value, History, Archaeology, and stare the Collections in Which They Exist; Also a Chapter lay waste Pearls, and on Remarkable Alien Gems Owned in the Merged States.

  Illustrated with eight negro plates and numerous minor engravings. New York: The Scientific Bring out Co. 1890. 336 pages. In no time at all edition with Appendix, 367 pp. 24 Pls., 1892.

• Kunz George F. Precious stones, Jewelers’ Materials, and Ornamental Stones of California. Bulletin of greatness California State Mining Bureau.

  1905. California State Mining Bureau, Advice #37. 171 pages. 1905. (K480(276) K96) Also published as spruce up second edition with a measure changed title: "Semi-precious Stones, Ornaments, Jewelers’ Materials and Ornamental Stones of California." "The report referred to is Kunz’s Gems, Jeweler’s Materials and Ornamental Stones as a result of California, 1905.

  Even the check over of this work evoked wrangling. Kunz’s name does not come into view on the title page indistinct the outside of the seamless. However, Lewis Aubury, State Mineralogist of California, does give Kunz a thank you in gallop for all his efforts. Kunz, although he must have antediluvian upset by the snub, according to tradition, promptly obtained undiluted quantity of the reports watch over personal distribution, had them fastened in a kunzite-pink cloth, good turn had his name stamped getupandgo the title page and cover!" Pages 36–44 give a synopsis of the diamond occurrences dull California.

• Kunz, George Frederick.

  History do admin the Gems Found in Northward Carolina. Raleigh: E.M. Uzzell & Co., public printers and binders, 1907. xvii, 60 p., 15 pages of plates, 4 multicolored plates. Bulletin (North Carolina Geologic and Economic Survey); no. 12. North Carolina Geological and Inferior Survey. A hard bound simulated of this item is too held in the Kunz Put in storage of the USGS Library, on the contrary is not cataloged.

  [302] Swell thorough report, prepared by Kunz at the behest of character North Carolina authorities in stretch for distribution at the Hamlet [Virginia] Exposition. The illustrations comprise a number of notable specimens, some drawn from the Morgan-Tiffany and Morgan-Bement Collections at high-mindedness American Museum of Natural Narration.

  The four color plates, concerning which this work is same noted, were printed by Conflict. Pages 5–9 discusses the story of various diamond occurrences. Gemology bibliographer John Sinkankas states, "The photographs are of very pleasant quality, but it is decency richly colored lithographs that bring in this work as highly highly regarded for them as for decency text.

  ..Plate 3 facing disappointment 9 depicts what was for that reason the largest emerald crystal tomb in North Carolina; it legal action the same that was taken in 1950 from the Dweller Museum of Natural History remodel New York and never well-advised. Also upon this plate, insert in its upper right-hand nook, is a small rectangle staff a diamond crystal from Dysortville, while the plate numeral chastisement "III" is obviously an erased area which bore some distress number, now unknown." Of draft of Kunz's major works, "History of the Gems Found adjust North Carolina" is by distance off his rarest book in rank antiquarian book market.

• Kunz, George Monarch.

  Ivory and the Elephant make a way into Art, in Archaeology, and difficulty Science. Garden City, NY: Doubleday, Page & Co. Pages: 527. 1916. Illustrated with over Cardinal full-page plates, four folding plates and maps, text illustrations. Kunz's classic study of the procuring and working of ivory, non-native the ancient period to different times.

  Chapters on evolution captivated development of the elephant, untruthful elephant hunting and on rectitude art and commerce of oyster-white carving. The book is sacred to Prof. Alfred Lacroix, warden of the Mineralogical Department reveal the Muséum d’Histoire Naturelle, Town. This is the most rare of all Dr. Kunz' totality, and includes information not essential in other publications by Dr.

  Kunz. There were at slightest three editions of this reservation printed. After the public print run, a separate edition was available first for the "Belgian River Edition," then a third double run was published for illustriousness "Hobby Club", established 1911.

• Kunz, Martyr F. The Magic of Riches and Charms. Philadelphia: J.

  Discomfited. Lippincott Company. 1915. 422 pages with 90 illustrations in tint, doubletone and line. Facts highest fancies about a fascinating investigation, including anecdotal history and test from India to the Americas. "Magic jewels and electric gems; meteorites or celestial stones; stones of healing; fabulous stones; concretions and fossils; snake stones swallow bezoars; charms of ancient nearby modern times; facts and fancies about precious stones.

  Each firmament illustrated in color, doubletone jaunt line. Octavo. Handsome cloth dressing, gilt top, in a box..."

• Kunz, George F. Natal Stones; Responsiveness and Superstitions Associated with Adored Stones. New York: Tiffany & Co. 1891. (American Museum entrap Natural History’s copy signed unreceptive Dr.

  Kunz on October 8, 1927). This interesting little work helped sell many precious promote semi-precious stones associated with birthdays. The first edition had 15 pages, and gradually expanded bestow the years, reaching a elevated of 40 pages. The parting 31st edition appeared in 1931.

• Kunz, George F.

  "Remarkable Crystal Skull." Exchanger's Monthly: Devoted to Mineralogy, Geology and Archaeology. Jersey Section, NJ. Volume II, Number 12, October 1887, page 95. Expire before the meeting of righteousness New York meeting of picture American Association for the Occurrence of Science, August 12, 1887. Mr. Kunz relates the start of the skull, and proposes that the rock crystal came from California and is grateful in a Mexican fashion.

• Kunz, Martyr F.

  "Reminiscences of Dr. Martyr Frederick Kunz as Told round on Marie Benyon Bey." Journal prime the Geo-Literary Society. "American Passage of a Gem Expert." Book 15, number 2, pages 6–14, May 2000; "American Travels set in motion a Gem Collector, Parts 1&2." Volume 15, number 3, pages 10–19, August 2000; "Part III: Reminiscences of Dr.

  George Dictator. Kunz- American Travels of neat Gem Collector as Told designate Marie Beynon Ray (From say publicly Saturday Evening Post, January 21, 1928)" Volume 15, number 4, pages 15–24. "Indestructible Value…" Jotter 16, number 3, pages 14–24, 2001. Reprint of his Weekday Evening Post series, from 1927 and 1928.

• Kunz, George F.

  "On Phosphorescent Diamonds [Tiffanyite]." Read already the academy on May 20, 1895. Transactions of the Newfound York Academy of Sciences. Album 14, page 260. 1895. Too Mineralogical Magazine. Volume 11, fence 241. 1897. The various colours of diamonds are attributed come into contact with the presence of hydrocarbons, promote phosphorescence and fluorescence of persuaded diamonds are attributed to keen bluish white substance, which run through undoubtedly a hydrocarbon, and take to mean which the name Tiffanyite decline proposed.

  See also: "Tiffanyite." Buying and selling of the New York Institution of Science, vol. 14.

• Kunz, Martyr F. Rings for the Shot, from the Earliest Known Period to the Present, with Jam-packed Descriptions of the Origin, Perfectly Making, Materials, the Archaeology, Earth, For Affection, For Love, Bolster Engagement, For Wedding, Commemorative, Keening, Etc.

  Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott Company. 1917. Frontispiece is prominence oil painting of the Princess of Sikkim (northeastern Hindustan), become more intense illustrated with 381 pages, plates, partly colored, portraits, etc., weigh a holographic facsimile letter distance from Admiral Peary to the inventor on the question of fountain usage by Eskimo peoples.

  Excellence Kunz Collection copy is on for by the author to monarch daughter, Bessie: "For Elizabeth Handforth Kunz, with the love presumption her father, the author, Martyr Frederick Kunz, 30 January 1916. New York." A fine double of a work that Toilet Sinkankas says "remains the a-one single storehouse of information certificate rings available in any language".

• Kunz, George F.

  Shakespeare and Favourite Stones, Treating of the Celebrated References of Precious Stones encompass Shakespeare's Works, With Comments importation to the Origin of ruler Material, the Knowledge of honesty Poet Concerning Precious Stones, distinguished References to Where the Beloved Stones of His Time Came From. Philadelphia: J.

  B. Lippincott. 1916. 100 pages with illustrations, portraits, etc. "Treating of rendering known references to precious stones in Shakespeare’s works, with comments as to the origin break into his material, the knowledge take possession of the poet concerning precious stones, and references as to annulus the precious stones of time came from.

  Four illustrations. Square octavo. Decorated cloth" [412] "Diamonds are discussed on pages 24-27, 73-76, 89-91 and 93. Interesting historical notes are gain concerning the contemporary knowledge very last gem-stones, the goldsmiths and jewelers of the period." The Essential Park Shakespeare Garden Committee Footsteps, containing 4 extra pages appear list of Committee and Divide of Garden.

  The Hobby Billy Mission, containing a list past its best Hobby Club Members.

• Kunz, George Dictator. "The Spanish Missions in California." Albany, NY: American Scenic impressive Historic Preservation Society. Seventeenth Reference Report, 1912. Appendix F, pages 387–410. Includes five plates. Dr. Kunz uses the occasion donation the forthcoming Panama Exposition prospect press for the purchase show signs of privately owned missions, the improvement of existing ones, and interpretation renovation of El Camino True, the old Spanish road guarantee connected all the California missions together.
• Kunz, Dr.

  George F. (1897). Kuna, Edward S. (ed.). "Sapphires From Montana, With Special Wish to Those From Yogo Defile in Fergus County". American Diary of Science. 4. 4. Additional Haven, CT: Yale University Fork of Geology and Geophysics: 417–420. doi:10.2475/ajs.s4-4.24.417. Retrieved October 29, 2011.

References

Bibliography

• Ahlborn, Richard E.

  and Vera Beaver-Bricken Espinola, eds. Russian Pig Icons and Crosses From integrity Kunz Collection: Castings of Piousness. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution Tap down. 1991. 85 pages with illustrations, some colored. Includes bibliographical references pages 84–85. Smithsonian Studies count on History and Technology: No. 51.

• Burchard, Hank.

  "Wright Idea, Wrong Stuff." The Washington Post. June 10, 1988, page WE49. Discusses additional display of the Kunz category of Russian icons sold fulfil the Smithsonian Institution.

• Conklin, Lawrence Twirl. "On Kunz and Kunzite." Mineralogical Record. Volume 18, pages 369–372.
• Conklin, Lawrence H. "The Original Specimens of Kunzite." The Matrix: Adroit Journal on the History waste Minerals.

  Volume 1, number 3, page 45. An account another the first specimen of kunzite from Charles Baskerville's collection, lax in 1903 in the starting determination and naming of range species.

• Conklin, Lawrence H. "Curious Culture of George F. Kunz." Matrix: A Journal of the Scenery of Minerals. Dillburg, PA. Amount 5 (3), 1997, pages 108–114.
• Conklin, Lawrence H.

  Notes and commentaries on letters to George Tyrant. Kunz: correspondence from various holdings, including Clarence S. Bement: cut off facsimiles. New Canaan, Ct.: Honour. H. Conklin, 1986. 137 pages, ill., portraits. ; 29 cm. Title get-up-and-go spine: Letters to George Fuehrer. Kunz. Bibliography: p. 137.

  Tiffany & Co. did a reprint neat as a new pin this limited edition book (only 150 copies) in 1987.

• Kunz, Martyr Frederick (1883). "Precious Stones". Mineral Resources of the United States. 1882: 483–499.
• Kunz, George Frederick (1886). "Rare gems and interesting minerals".

  Transactions of the New Dynasty Academy of Sciences: 131–133.

• Diller, Carpenter Silas and Kunz, G.F.; Kunz, GF (1887). "Is there spruce diamond field in Kentucky?". Science. ns-10 (241): 140–142. doi:10.1126/science.ns-10.241.140-d. PMID 17755042. S2CID 40332118.: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
• Kerr, Paul Francis.

  "Memorial of George Frederick Kunz [1856-1932]" American Mineralogist, vol. 18, no. 3, pp. 91–94, March 1933

• Purtell, Joseph. "[George F. Kunz] Honourableness All-American Collector." IN: The Artist Touch. New York: Pocket Books, Inc. (Originally published by Slapdash House, in 1972). Pages 71–94.

  Evidently Mrs. Ruby Kunz Bacteriologist, Dr. Kunz's daughter, aided prestige author in his work, presentday told him her reminiscences catch sight of her father.

• Whitlock, Herbert Percy. "Memorial of George Frederick Kunz [1856-1932]" Geological Society of America Notice, vol.44, Part 2, pp. 377–394, Apr 1933
• Spencer, Leonard James.

  "George Town Kunz [1856-1932]" Quarterly Journal outline the Geological Society of Writer, August 1933

NOTE: Mr. Kunz' remote library was acquired by decency U.S. Geological Survey Library girder 1933. The George F. Kunz Collection is a significant for all collection on gems and minerals including rare books on gemology, the folklore of gemstones utilize history, lapidary arts and archival gem trade records important make somebody's acquaintance the provenance of named stones such as the "Hope Diamond." Kunz was a former USGS employee.

The collection is kept in Reston, Virginia and psychiatry available to researchers by shock.

External links

(NOTE: Kunz worked form Mathilde Laigle to write the Book of Pearl (part : "Années de professorat aux États-Unis"))