Fonds MS-2-20 - George Vibert Douglas fonds

George Vibert Douglas was a Canadian geologist and educator. Born in Montreal on July 2, 1892, he was educated in British private schools, graduated from McGill with a BSc (1920) and MSc (1921) and pursued doctoral studies at Harvard University. He was married to Olga Margaret Chrichton, with whom he had four children.

Douglas was a captain with the British Army in World War One, serving with the 17th Northumberland Fusiliers from 1915-1919 in Flanders and France. He received the Military Cross for his efforts. From 192-1922 he worked as a geologist on a Shackleton-Rowett Antarctic expedition and subsequently spent a year at Cambridge. In 1923 he began a PhD at Harvard, where he also lectured in geology. He ended his studies prematurely in 1926 to become chief geologist at the Spanish company Rio Tinto. From 1930-1931 he was a member of the exploration of the Rhodesia-Congo Border Concession.

Douglas came to Dalhousie in the early 1930s and was appointed the first Carnegie Professor of Geology, also serving as Head of Geology from 1932-1957. He was an active member of the university community, helping to establish both the Dalhousie Art Gallery and a student employment centre to assist students seeking work in mining and related fields. He led Dalhousie expeditions to Labrador in 1946 and 1947 and served as Nova Scotia's Provincial Geologist. Douglas retired from Dalhousie in 1957 and died October 8, 1958. The Douglas Prize in Geology was established in his honour.