Then Regent Rasmuson said: "Otto William Geist." A short, stocky,
dark-skinned man in his late sixties rose from his chair among the dignitaries
an the platform. He stepped toward the speaker's stand. Again Regent Rasmuson
said "Otto William Geist," then "Pioneer Alaskan Archaeologist,
Palaeontologist, and Naturalist." The audience had become somewhat restless
during the long ceremony, but the chair-scraping, coughing, and fidgeting
stopped while Rasmuson read the remainder of the long, illuminated citation:
Born in Eiselfing, Bavaria, and came to the United States
which he served honorably as a soldier in three wars.
Initiated the
archaeological work an St. Lawrence Island; contributed greatly to the
geographical knowledge and Eskimo nomenclature of that island; secured for the
University of Alaska museum one of the largest Eskimo archaeological
collections in the world; is chiefly responsible for the present status of that
museum; gathered thousands of natural history specimens for the University of
Alaska and other institutions; made the only accurate observations of the Black
Rapids Gla cier advance in 1937; conducted several expeditions in the Yukon
Territory and Alaska; has been in charge of the Frick Laboratory collection in
Alaska; publisher of the book "Ar chaeological Excavations at Kukulik" and of
numerous articles; has always been generous in sharing his vast amount of
scientific information.
Fellow of the American Associatiori for the
Advancement of Science, The American Anthropological Association, and Arctic
Institute of North America; member of numerous other scientific societies.
The University of Alaska this day honors Otto William Geist in recognition
of his distinguished services in archaeological and palaeontological research
in Alaska.
This citation read at the University of Alaska Commencement
Ceremonies May 13, 1957, before conferring upon Otto William Geist the Honorary
Degree of Doctor of Science by the University. |
|
