Historical Videos

This is a selection of historical videos from the Department. 

More videos are available in our archive of Geosciences Lectures Series and Climate Sciences Seminars recordings on Princeton's Media Central.

TC Onstott Memorial Symposium Part 1

To commemorate the life and contributions of Professor Tullis Onstott *81 a day-long symposium in his honor, was hosted by the Department of Geosciences at Princeton University on May 14, 2022 (9 AM - 4 PM).
Visit: T.C. Onstott In Memoriam

Geosciences Lecture Series: When the Apollo 11 Moon Rocks Came to Princeton

A 50th anniversary reflection.

10 Guyot Hall, Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Over 4,450 people viewed the display of Princeton's moon rocks in Guyot Hall the weekend following their arrival. At times the lines reached from Guyot past the entrance to McCosh Infirmary. People waited as long as 45 minutes to view the three gravel sized pieces of the moon. — Daily Princetonian, 24 November 1969

Lincoln Hollister's presentation on the early experiences of the late Professor Robert Hargraves and himself in their studies of the moon rocks at Princeton, which began with the arrival of the Apollo 11 samples in Princeton in early November, 1969. 

Geosciences Lecture Series: Fifty Years of Plate Tectonics

10 Guyot Hall, Tuesday, March 27, 2018

W. Jason Morgan *68, Knox Taylor Professor of Geology, Emeritus, presented on Tuesday, March 27 in 10 Guyot Hall at the Department of Geosciences.

In 1967, Prof. Morgan established the modern theory of plate tectonics & its basic mechanisms. In this presentation he talks about his personal recollection of some of the ideas and people at Princeton that led to the discovery of plate tectonics at that time.

Geosciences Oldest Ice Expedition

U.S. McMurdo Research Station, November 5, 2015

On November 5, 2015, John Higgins led a five scientists expedition to the remote hills of Allan Hills, Antarctica, in order to collect the Earth's ever-recorded, oldest ice core. The samples were determined to be 1-million-years old and extended the record of previous climate change. Seen in this video is the team inspecting their tent at the U.S. McMurdo Research Station before the trip. Video by Preston Kemeny '15

1926 Geological Expedition to the Grand Canyon

Grand Canyon, Colorado, Summer, 1926

This 1926 footage is from a reel-to-reel that was found in the late William Bonini's cabinets files on the fourth floor of Guyot Hall. These geological expedition are better known as the Pullman Train Trips across North America. The video's corresponds to a journal titled: "1926 Geology trip from Princeton to the Western States including a trip to Canada" that is currently under preservation at the Mudd Library.

TC Onstott Memorial Symposium Part 2

To commemorate the life and contributions of Professor Tullis Onstott *81 a day-long symposium in his honor, was hosted by the Department of Geosciences at Princeton University on May 14, 2022 (9 AM - 4 PM).
Visit: T.C. Onstott In Memoriam

Science Beyond Guyot: 25 Years of Hess Fellows

10 Guyot Hall, Friday, May 31, 2019

A symposium during the 2019 Geosciences Reunion celebrating the Hess Fellowship. Visit our previous news article for more details.

Invited speakers, former Hess Postdoctoral Fellows (HPF):
Abby Kavner, Professor, UCLA (HPF 1997-1999)
Mak Saito, Senior Scientist, WHOI (HPF 2001-2003)
Masha Prokopenko, Professor, Pomona College (HPF 2005-2007)
Kevin Lewis, Assistant Professor, Johns Hopkins (HPF 2009-2011)
June Wicks, Assistant Professor, Johns Hopkins (HPF 2013-2015)

Panelists, current Princeton Faculty:
John Higgins (HPF 2009-2011), Daniel Sigman (HPF 1998-1999) and Frederik Simons (HPF 2002-2004)

And with current Hess Postdoctoral Fellows: Behrooz Ferdowsi, Nadir Jeevanjee & Ashley Maloney

Chaired and moderated by Inaugural Hess Visiting Faculty Fellow: Sasha (Van Dusen) Turchyn ’97 and Reader, University of Cambridge

Princeton's Lost Museum: Arnold Guyot's E. M. Museum and the history of American natural science

Frist Student Center, Thursday, May 11, 2017

In the late 19th century, Nassau Hall housed a natural science museum unlike any other. The E. M. Museum featured the second mounted dinosaur skeleton in the world and collections rivaling that of the Smithsonian. Far-flung institutions in Russia and Argentina wrote letters begging to exchange fossils. The museum's central room juxtaposed skeletons, aboriginal artifacts, classical statues and portraits of George Washington. The museum's organization was the brainchild of its first curator, the Swiss-American geographer Arnold Guyot. In this presentation, the adaptation of Harrison Blackman's spring Junior Paper for the department of history,  he will take you on a guided tour through the historic museum with insight into Arnold Guyot's worldview: his education, religion and ambition to be remembered as one of the discoverers of the Ice Age. On this tour, we will also encounter the problematic social world of Guyot's time: creationism, racism and Manifest Destiny. Currently, The Department of Geosciences is housed at Guyot Hall.

A VISIT TO GUYOT HALL WHEN IT WAS THE E.M. Museum of Geology and Archaeology

Guyot Hall, August 12, 1990

This video shows Geosciences Facilities Manager Mike Morris, his wife Cindy Morris, and his two daughters on a visit to Guyot Hall at a time when it was still the E. M. Museum of Geology and Archaeology in 1990. The department is currently housed at Guyot Hall. Mike’s daughters, at that time, were 4-yo Jessica and 2-yo Alana. The entire family seem pretty excited to be at the museum. Mike’s wife Cindy filmed the video, she is briefly seen in a glass reflection. Mike’s now adult daughter Jessica has revitalized this Morris family home video and published for all to see on her YouTube account.