Billie Untermann (1906–1973) was a

geologist A geologist is a scientist who studies the structure, composition, and History of Earth, history of Earth. Geologists incorporate techniques from physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics, and geography to perform research in the Field research, ...

who had a significant contribution to the understanding and recognition of the

Uintah Basin The Uinta Basin (also known as the Uintah Basin) is a Physiographic regions of the world, physiographic section of the larger Colorado Plateaus province, which in turn is part of the larger Intermontane Plateaus physiographic division. It is als ...

. She was the single author of the text "The Uinta Basin—Past and Present." This text highlighted the history of the Uinta Basin, which is a stretch of land in Utah which was first

colonized 475px, Map of the year each country achieved List of sovereign states by date of formation, independence. Colonization (British English: colonisation) is a process of establishing occupation of or control over foreign territories or peoples f ...

15,000-20,000 years ago. She received her B.A. in geology (1929) and later an M.A.(1934) at the

University of California The University of California (UC) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university, research university system in the U.S. state of California. Headquartered in Oakland, California, Oakland, the system is co ...

(1934). She discovered and assembled many dinosaur skeletons, which were a popular attraction at the

Utah Field House of Natural History The Utah Field House of Natural History State Park Museum is a museum and state park in Vernal, Utah, United States. State park The Utah Field House of Natural History State Park consists of a structure on a property. The museum displays pr ...

, to which she was a museum technician. She eventually become its director. Along with her husband

Ernest Untermann Gerhard Ernest Untermann, Sr. (1864–1956) was a German Americans, German-American seaman, socialist author, translator, newspaper editor. In his later life he was Director of the old Washington Park Zoo in Milwaukee, a geologist, fossil hunter, ...

they published a popular text "Geology of Dinosaur National Monument". Her works were instrumental in fostering tourism in Vernal.

References

American women geologists 20th-century American geologists 1906 births 1973 deaths Place of birth missing 20th-century American women scientists University of California alumni {{US-geologist-stub