Joseph Barrell. 255 



from sitting in one position, he would turn around, put 

 his book on the chair, kneel down, and continue to read. 

 When he was about ten years old, his father bought him 

 a planisphere, and often at night he would take it and 

 a book on astronomy, along with a lantern, and then 

 lie on his back gazing at the stars and so learning their 

 names with the use of the planisphere. Joseph attended 

 the public school in New Providence until he was six- 

 teen years old. The school combined grammar and high 

 school studies, but very few scholars went further than 

 the lower grades. He had two excellent principals, Mr. 

 J. W. Kenneday and Mr. W. C. Armstrong, both college- 

 bred men, and they took him through the higher studies 

 necessary for college entrance. His elder brother Robert 

 was then at Lehigh, and we could not afford the expense 

 of two boys- at college at the same time, so Joseph passed 

 the examination for a teacher's certificate and taught a 

 small school near home during the school year 1886-1887. 

 His salary was $200, but as he boarded at home with- 

 out charge, he saved that amount towards college ex- 

 penses. The following year he attended Stevens Pre- 

 paratory School at Hoboken, New Jersey, and won a 

 scholarship for Stevens Institute, but preferred a col- 

 lege course at Lehigh University, which he began in 

 September, 1888. In those days tuition was free at 

 Lehigh, and Joseph probably did not receive more than 

 $1,000 from home during the four years he was an 

 undergraduate, the rest he earned. At home from boy- 

 hood he helped with the farm work during vacations. 

 We had a sulky plow which he rode. He early became 

 interested in geology, and when plowing would stop the 

 horses and examine every peculiar stone turned up. His 

 father was a naturalist and early interested his chil- 

 dren in birds, moths, butterflies, plants, and in fact 

 everything pertaining to nature. ' ' 



As we have seen, Barrell took up collegiate work at 

 Lehigh in 1888, and was graduated four years later with 

 high honors. In 1893 he received from the same Uni- 

 versity the E.M. degree,, in 1897 its M.S., and in 1916 its 

 honorary degree of Doctor of Science. In conferring 

 this last degree, President Drinker said: "Joseph 

 Barrell. — Distinguished scientist, a recognized leader in 

 the study and teaching of geology, known and honored 

 for his research and writing in the science of the 



