Today we celebrate three women who received awards and accolades for their achievements in literature, theater and film, and sports.
Happy 274th Birthday to Aaron Arrowsmith
British Cartographer
Birthplace: Winston, England
Died: April 23, 1823 (72 years old)
Confession ~ I love maps!
I think it’s so fun when a movie shows a plane or a boat or a car moving along a route.
I think it’s so fun when a movie shows a plane or a boat or a car moving along a route.
So I’m excited to wish map-maker Aaron Arrowsmith the happiest of birthdays.
His primary claim to cartography fame are his maps of Scotland (1807) and North America (1796).
Trivia Tidbits
Meriwether Lewis, prior to embarking on the famed Lewis and Clark Expedition, studied the 1802 edition of Arrowsmith’s A Map Exhibiting All the New Discoveries in the Interior Parts of North America (originally published in 1795).
His primary claim to cartography fame are his maps of Scotland (1807) and North America (1796).
Trivia Tidbits
- Hydrographer to the Prince of Wales c. 1810 and subsequently to the King in 1820. (Hydrography is the study of the measurements and physical features of bodies of water.)
- Arrowsmith’s older son, also named Aaron, compiled a Biblical atlas along with other geographical compilations.
- Mount Arrowsmith, located on Vancouver Island, is named for the senior Aaron and his nephew, John Arrowsmith, another member of the Arrowsmith family of cartographers.
Lewis and Clark contributed information for a later updated edition.
Happy 162nd Birthday to Florence Bascom
U.S. Geologist
Born: July 14, 1862
Birthplace: Williamstown, Massachusetts, United States
Died: June 18, 1945 (82 years old)
Recognized as the first female geologist in the U.S., Florence Bascomb earned both a Bachelor of Arts (1882) and a Bachelor of Science (1884) from the University of Wisconsin—an unusual accomplishment for a woman in late 19th century.
But she wasn’t finished breaking through the “rock” ceiling yet!
Dr. Bascomb went on to earn her master’s degree in geology from UW in 1987 and her Ph.D. from John Hopkins University in 1893. She was the first woman to earn a degree from JHU and the second woman in the U.S. to receive a doctorate in geology.
Less than three years later, she became the first woman to be appointed to the U.S. Geological Survey.
Happy 162nd Birthday to Florence Bascom
U.S. Geologist
Birthplace: Williamstown, Massachusetts, United States
Died: June 18, 1945 (82 years old)
Recognized as the first female geologist in the U.S., Florence Bascomb earned both a Bachelor of Arts (1882) and a Bachelor of Science (1884) from the University of Wisconsin—an unusual accomplishment for a woman in late 19th century.
But she wasn’t finished breaking through the “rock” ceiling yet!
Dr. Bascomb went on to earn her master’s degree in geology from UW in 1987 and her Ph.D. from John Hopkins University in 1893. She was the first woman to earn a degree from JHU and the second woman in the U.S. to receive a doctorate in geology.
Less than three years later, she became the first woman to be appointed to the U.S. Geological Survey.
Career Highlights
- Taught at Hampton Institute of Negroes and American Indians (now Hampton University) in Hampton, Virginia; Rockford College in Rockford, Illinois; and The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio;
- Founded the department of geology at Bryn Mawr College in 1895;
- Became a councilor then vice-president of the Geological Society of America—the only woman to hold both those offices.
Dr. Bascomb isn’t renowned only for her “firsts” but also because of her legacy of significant discoveries and her pioneering influence as she trained women geologists who created their own scientific legacies.
Happy 114th Birthday to William Hanna
The Hanna in Hanna-Barbera
Born: July 14, 1910
Birthplace: Melrose, New Mexico, United States
Died: March 22, 2001 (90 years old)
Who else remembers sitting in front of the television on Saturday mornings watching the hilarious antics of cartoon characters?
We can thank William Hanna and his partner-in-cartoons Joseph Barbera for creating many of those beloved shows, including Tom and Jerry, The Jetsons, The Smurfs, Yogi Bear, and Scooby-Doo (one of my faves since I loved mysteries—still do!).
They also created The Flintstones, a parody of the 1950s hit The Honeymooners, which “was the most financially successful and longest-running network animated television series for three decades” (Flintstones).
TV Guide ranked the animated series, loved by kids and their parents, as the second-greatest cartoon of all time (2013). The Simpsons ranked first.
TV Guide ranked the animated series, loved by kids and their parents, as the second-greatest cartoon of all time (2013). The Simpsons ranked first.
Fun Facts
- A coin toss decided whose name came first.
- The Hanna-Barbera team, in the creation of 150 cartoon series, produced more than 3,000 half-hour television shows.
- Tom and Jerry won seven Academy Awards.
- Hanna, a musician who sang in a barber shop quartet, wrote the theme song for The Flintstones.
- The Huckleberry Hound Show won an Emmy in 1960, the first animated show to receive the coveted award.
Your Turn
Whose birthday party do you most want to attend? You can…
- Study historical maps with Aaron Arrowsmith;
- Hike wilderness trails in search of interesting rocks with Florence Bascomb; or
- Draw cartoons with Mr. Hanna.
Johnnie Alexander writers “Stories Past and Present” in multiple genres. A fan of classic movies, stacks of books, and road trips, she shares a life of quiet adventure with Griff, her happy-go-lucky collie, and Rugby, her racoon-treeing papillon. Visit her at johnnie-alexander.com.
Photos ~ individual photos in public domain; images created with Canva.
Downloaded from Pixabay:
- Flintstones ~ background
- Jerry ~ image
Sources
Aaron Arrowsmith ~ Rosita Forbes’ quote
Florence Bascomb ~ personal quote
William Hanna ~ personal quote
Flintstones ~ citation
Thank you for posting today. You come up with such fun things! I think I will sit beside Mr. Hanna for a while, though I don't have any artistic talent at all.
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