Charles Schuchert (1856-1942) was born in Cincinnati, Ohio on July 3, 1856 to Philip and Agatha (Mueller) Schuchert.  Schuchert began working in paleontology at the age of 26 and had a distinguished career that included a ten year stint at the National Museum.  Schuchert went to Yale in 1904. He was Chair of the Geology Department (1909-1921) and administrative head of the Peabody Museum (1904-1923) during the time of the Yale Elmo expedition (1921).

From Dunbar, 1924:

"Interest in...[the Elmo fossils that had Sellards had given to the Peabody Museum]...was reawakened by a visit made to Yale by Dr. R. J. Tillyard, distinguished paleontologist and Director of the Cawthron Institute of New Zealand...Stimulated by...[Tillyard's]...enthusiasm, Professor Schuchert, then curator of the Geological Collections, was led to undertake a search for more of these rare fossils.  After corresponding with Sellards, who kindly gave information about the locality and offered encouragement in the undertaking, plans were laid for an expedition to Kansas in the summer of 1921...The expedition was made possible by the National Academy of Sciences, which voted a grant from the Othniel Charles Marsh Fund to defray the field expenses...To Professor Schuchert alone...is due the honor of conceiving and recognizing the importance of the project and bringing it to a reality."

Photo and information courtesy of the Peabody Museum.

See the biography of Charles Schuchert at the Peabody Museum Web Site

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