Volumes and Specimens - 1971

In 1971, the Geology library contained 26,000 volumes, a significant amount, according to the 1970-1971 Course Catalogue.

In addition, its Museum had more than 100,000 specimens, rich in fossils of “Devonian, Mississippian and Pennsylvanian rocks of Missouri and the mid-continent,” the report continued.

“The collection of Conodonts is the most varied and nearly complete of its kind in the world. The collection of fossil Charophytes is the most nearly complete in existence. The Palaeontologic collections of the Missouri Geological Survey are also located here. More than 6,000 mineral specimens are on display, a part of more than 50,000 species in museum storage. Suites of minerals are present of most of the important mining districts of the West. The mineral collections are among the largest in the Midwest,” the report stated.

At the time, the field trip fee for geology (eight weeks) was $67.50 and students who were nonresidents had to pay a non-resident tuition, unlike today. The university at the time gave free immunization shots including influenza, typhoid and tetanus, with geology students “strongly encouraged” to get the tetanus shot, the report stated.