Edward Hitchcock: America’s First Dinosaur Expert [Virtual]

Join us for this Zoom presentation by biographer Bob McMaster. McMaster published the first biography of Hitchcock in 2021, “All the Light Here Comes From Above: The Life and Legacy of Edward Hitchcock. This fascinating Connecticut Valley resident and scientist, was an Amherst college professor and one of the 19th century’s important scientists. He was known for his discovery and research on what he called the “fossil footmarks” of the Connecticut Valley. In this Zoom presentation, McMaster will review the life and legacy of Edward Hitchcock, focusing on his central role in developing our understanding of dinosaurs. He will also discuss Hitchcock’s work in Vermont where he completed the first geological survey of the Green Mountain State in 1861. The Hitchcock collection is on display at the Beneski Museum of Natural History at Amherst. Bob McMaster is a graduate of Boston College, Smith College, and the University of Massachusetts. He taught biology at Holyoke Community College, and has authored five novels as well as many articles on botany, conservation biology, and the history of science. For more information and to register hartlandlibraryvt.org/calendar or call 802.436.2473