THE BEGINNINGS OF THE PENINSULA: WILLIAM HEALEY DALL AND FLORIDA

William Healey Dall, one of the leading American naturalists of the late nineteenth century, was active in several different disciplines, including geology, paleontology, oceanography, invertebrate zoology and anthropology. While known primarily for his work in Alaska, Dall also did significant research in Florida. Through a series of expeditions from 1885–1893 and the extensive writing that accompanied them, Dall contributed greatly to our knowledge of Florida’s geologic origins and development. His findings on the peninsula, especially his landmark Contributions to the Tertiary Fauna of Florida, continue to influence scientists today.