 | and sons, George F. Charles M. and Levi History of Geology |
Born 1850, Otsego County, New York; died 1943.
George F. Sternberg (1883-1969).
Charles M. Sternberg (1885-1981).
Levi Sternberg (1894-1976).
| Abstract | Introduction |
| Fossil hunter | Sternberg's sons |
| Historical assessment | Related websites |
After collecting fossils throughout the western United States, Sternberg moved into western Canada. There he developed the spectacular upper Cretaceous dinosaur fossil beds in eastern Alberta. He helped found the Calgary Zoo, which is famous for its dinosaur exhibits, and his two younger sons remained permanently in Canada. Oldest son, George F., returned to Kansas, where he was appointed curator of museums at Fort Hays State University in 1933. The FHSU student geology club and the museum are both named in honor of the Sternberg family.
C.H. Sternberg spent the first 15 years of his life near Cooperstown, New York, in the Susquehanna River valley. His father, Rev. Dr. Levi Sternberg, was principal at Hartwick Seminary. Throughout his career Sternberg had strong religious convictions. He had an early love for nature, but at age 10 he fell and dislocated his left fibula. He never fully recovered from this injury and limped for the rest of his life. In 1865 the family moved to Albion, Iowa, where his father had a new teaching position. Two years later Charles H. and his twin brother moved to central Kansas to work on an older brother's ranch. The ranch was located in Ellsworth County, at the western terminus of the Union Pacific railroad, where buffalo herds roamed freely.
At age 17, Sternberg decided to devote his life to the study of fossils and earth history. He wanted to bring the wonders of God's creation to light scientifically through fossils. He made a large collection of fossil leaves from the Dakota Formation of the local area. In 1870 he sent specimens to the Smithsonian for identification, and in 1872 he met Leo Lesquereux, famous paleobotanist, who came to collect in the vicinity. Lesquereux was so impressed by Sternberg, that he named a new fossil plant for him—Protophyllum sternbergii. Sternberg continued to work with Dakota material off and on until 1897. In 1875-76, he studied at Kansas State Agricultural College (now Kansas State University), but apparently without completing a degree. In 1880 he married Anna Reynolds, and they had three sons.
In 1877 Sternberg was back in Kansas again to collect from the chalk beds. He discovered rich Tertiary fossil beds of the Ogallala in northwestern Kansas. He collected for both Cope and later Marsh—elephants, turtles, three-toed horse, rhinoceras, etc. Many of these specimens came from the famous "Sternberg quarry" in Phillips County. In August 1877, he returned to his family in Ellsworth County long enough to say goodbye and head out to Oregon. Sternberg spent the next couple of years collecting Tertiary fossils for Cope. Human artifacts at one site initially were thought to be evidence for "Pliocene Man," but Sternberg later decided the old fossils had been mixed with younger artifacts. He collected mostly fossil mammals from volcanoclastic strata, including oreodont, rhinoceras, rodents, saber-toothed tiger, flamingo, etc. In 1878 an Indian war broke out, which forced Sternberg to hide his fossils and flee the area. A fossil camel from Washington was named for him by Cope, Paratylopus sternbergi.
In 1882, Sternberg turned his attention to the Permian red beds of Texas, where he collected for the Museum of Comparative Anatomy (founded by Agassiz) at Harvard University. This was a desolate, harsh situation without good water. He spent six field seasons, at first without much success. Eventually he found early reptiles and amphibians, including Eyrops and Dimetrodon (early sail-backed reptile). He also conducted more work for Cope in 1895 and 1897. He collected excellent specimens of fin-backed dinosaurs and giant lizards. Cope died in 1897 while Sternberg was in the field. Sternberg considered his work for Cope to have been his greatest scientific contribution.
Having collected in most of the western United States, the Sternbergs moved into the badlands of eastern Alberta, Canada in 1912. Dinosaurs of the Drumheller region produced some of the best late Cretaceous specimens ever found. The Sternbergs participated in founding of the Calgary Zoo, which includes world-famous dinosaur exhibits. The two younger sons eventually remained in Canada, where they worked at national and provincial museums.
The senior Sternberg's position on the significance of fossils was clear—fossils are testiments to God's wonder, and scientific study of fossils was man's attempt to understand better the work of God in creating the Earth. His point of view was expounded in poetic style in a slim volume titled A story of the past (Sternberg 1911). I then resolved that, come what may, Of life upon the earth we tread
I here profess my strong belief For forty years I've lived with God, I've found the crust of our old earth And left in sepulchers of stone When plants and creatures waged the war
Return to history of geology syllabus or schedule.Introduction
C.H. Sternberg was a professional fossil collector and amateur paleontologist who discovered many of the greatest vertebrate fossils in North America. Among his sons, George F. eventually became Curator of Museums at Fort Hays State University (Kansas). Charles M. was associated for many years with the National Museum in Ottawa, Canada, and Levi was a member of the Royal Ontario Musuem in Toronto (Canada).
Rock City, near Minneapolis, Kansas, displays large concretions in sandstone of the Dakota Formation. Ground view (left) and vertical aerial shot (right); the building roof is about 20 feet (~6 m) long. Photos by S.W. and J.S. Aber
Professional fossil hunter
Sternberg's professional career began in 1876, when he attempted to join Mudge's field party that was working for Marsh. There was no room for Sternberg, so he wrote to Cope and offered his services. Cope sent $300 to collect fossils. Marsh and Cope were bitter rivals in paleontology and each sought to possess the biggest and best vertebrate fossils. Both Mudge's party and Sternberg were based at Buffalo Park (now Park) in Gove County of west-central Kansas, where there was good well water. The two field parties shared the base camp peacefully, but they competed in the field for fossils of mosasaurs, giant fish, sharks, and crinoids in the Cretaceous chalk beds. Sternberg continued to work for Cope for many years. Later he also worked for Marsh, other museums, and himself as a professional fossil hunter.
Chalk monuments in the Smoky Hill River valley, western Gove County, Kansas. Oblique (left) and vertical (right) views of these well-known landmarks eroded in upper Cretaceous chalk. These are among the best known geological features in Kansas.
Little Jerusalem, an area of chalk badlands in Logan County along the Smoky Hill River valley. The Chalk Buttes region is famous for marine reptile and aquatic bird fossils. Kite aerial photographs © J.S. and S.W. Aber.
Charles Hazelius Sternberg in the California tar pits during the 1920s. According to M. Everhart, the main photo was actually published in 1929 in Popular Science Monthly. This picture is in album 4 of the Sternberg Albums at Fort Hays State University. On the page, George Sternberg
wrote "California Tar Pit Operation by Charles H." It was used later without attribution and has been cited erroneously from other sources. In the public domain; obtained from Wikimedia Commons.
Sternberg's sons
About 1905 his second son, Charles M., discovered a nearly complete (except skull) Hesperornis regalis, an example of Marsh's toothed bird. This had been a lifelong dream of the senior Sternberg. His first son, George F., also began directing fossil expeditions in the early 1900s. Spectacular finds included a giant buffalo (6-foot horn cores) near Hoxie, Kansas and Triceratops from Wyoming in 1908.
Zoo, Alberta, Canada. Photo © J.S. Aber. 
Historical assessment
C.H. Sternberg was neither a scientist nor geologist by academic training. Nonetheless, he was among the most successful fossil hunters of his era. On his work rested the fame of several paleontologists and museums. His sons made equally important contributions in terms of collecting and curating significant fossil specimens. In total, Sternberg fossils now form the centerpiece exhibits in many American, Canadian, and European museums. In this way their contribution to geology and paleontology cannot be underestimated.
The wonders of the past;
And as I into manhood grow,
I choose my work at last.
I'd give my brawn and brain
From manhood till I'm old and grey,
To lengthen out the chain
Since, early dawn of life.
Now, I think that I've led
To enter this great strife. (p. 1)
In my revealéd Lord;
I've found Him in the rocky leaf,
And in his inspired word.
Oft from the haunts of men.
I've thought upon His wonderous word
And scenes beyond our ken.
A might funeral urn
Where countless forms of life had birth;
Then others took their turn
The dead He buried there.
But they are not dry bones alone;
I see them as they were
That from the first they wrought
For daily bread, or offspring care,
Or love's sweet battles fought. (p. 4)
Related websites
References
© J.S. Aber (2020).
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