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Robert T. Hill, an early Texas geologist, developed a general interest in science and a
particular fascination for geology during his late teens in Comanche, Texas. He received
his formal geological training at Cornell University in New York. After graduation, he was
associated with the Smithsonian Institution and the United States Geological Survey in
Washington, D.C. In the late 1880’s, he helped organize the Texas Geological Survey,
the precursor to the Texas Bureau of Economic Geology. during his colorful career, he made
significant contributions to the geography and geology of southwest. He not only defined
and named the physiographic provinces of Texas but also was responsible for organizing and
subdividing Cretaceous strata of Texas and adjacent areas into useful stratigraphic units.
He also contributed to the structural framework of Texas by recognizing and describing the
Balcones fault zone of Central Texas and the Texas lineament of southwest Texas. In 1900,
Hill gained national fame for his exploration of major canyons along the Rio Grande in the
Big Bend area. Although he was a "giant" in the field of geology, he felt
persecuted by some of his geological associates. Hill died in 1941 after an outstanding
professional career that spanned more than 60 years.
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Figure 1. Profile of Dr. Robert T. Hill with a background sketch
of his physiographic map of the Texas region (map from Hill, 1901). |
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direct comments and inquiries about this page to: schieber@uta.edu
This Page was last updated 02/18/03
Department of Geology, University of Texas at Arlington
UTA Box 19049
Arlington, Texas 76019, U.S.A.
phone: 817-272-2987, fax: 817-272-2628
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