GEORGE HAMMELL COOK AND HIS LEGACY AS NEW JERSEY STATE GEOLOGIST AND RUTGERS PROFESSOR

George Hammell Cook, born in 1818 in Hanover, New Jersey, is one of the most prominent historical figures at Rutgers University, due primarily to his agricultural innovations. While he was involved in many of the agricultural advances in the mid-1800s in New Jersey, his background, training, and research were rooted in geology and the practical applications of this field in both industry and education.

Cook studied engineering, geology, and natural history at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute from 1838 to 1840. He taught at several prominent schools and universities before relocating to New Jersey for the position of Professor of Chemistry and Natural History at Rutgers University. Shortly after arriving at Rutgers in 1854, he was named the State Geologist by the New Jersey Geological Survey, a position he retained until his death in 1889. Cook’s dual appointment at Rutgers and the State Geological Survey was typical of many state geologists at this time. He accumulated many more titles and accolades during his tenure, including an honorary doctorate from New York University in 1856, the promotion to Vice-President of Rutgers University in 1864, and the addition of Professor of Agriculture and Natural History to his title in 1867. Cook was responsible for many advancements at Rutgers College, including the creation of one of the first experimental agricultural field stations in the country, designation of Rutgers College as the New Jersey Land Grant Institution, and the establishment of the Rutgers University Geology Museum. As the State Geologist, his research also led to the publication of numerous volumes on the development of New Jersey’s geologic resources. George Cook's role at both the Geological Survey and at Rutgers led him to work directly with the agricultural community in NJ and beyond, leaving a lasting legacy of a man who was devoted to the practical applications of science and the agricultural community.