In november of 1931, his book snow crystals was published by mcgrawhill and is still in print today. Harpers electricity book for boys english as contributor baker, josephine turck, 18731942 the art of conversation. Jan 09, 2017 snow crystals was first published in 1931 by wilson bentley, in collaboration with william j. The strange tale of the snowflake man art and design the. That same year, less than a month after the book s release, wilson a. Nor is the aesthetic urge of its very tiniest flake or smallest crystal that gently floats from heaven to earth any less compelling. He photographed over 5,000 snow crystals and no two were alike. The 66year old who came to be known as the snowflake man died of pneumonia at his farmhouse in jericho, vermont.
It is no wonder that he earned the moniker snowflake bentley. As a youngster, he was so taken with these little sixsided ice crystals that his parents scraped together their savings to buy him a camera with a microscope. He perfected a process of catching flakes on black velvet in such a way that their images could be captured before they either melted or sublimated. Those who know me can contest to my type a personality always needing a plan, but for nicaragua, i went with all of stacey beelers suggestions, which i believe are based on a travel book. The man who revealed the hidden structure of falling snowflakes. And he determined that one day his camera would capture for others the wonder of the tiny crystal. The bentley snow crystal collection of the buffalo museum of science is a digital.
Snowflake bentley is the story of wilson bentley, a farmer born in 1865 in jericho, vermont, a small town between lake champlain and mount mansfield, in the heart of vermonts snowbelt. In childhood and adulthood, he saw each tiny crystal of a snowflake as a little miracle and wanted to understand. Bentley walked home in a raging snow blizzard to make yet more photos of his beloved form of precipitation, and, contracting pneumonia from. His photographs and publications provide valuable scientific records of snow crystals and their many types. Bentleys original glass slide photographs of snow crystals, and includes. Humphreys, a physicist with the us weather bureau, published these findings in snow crystals, a volume containing 2300 of his photographs for all to study and enjoy. Blanchard wrote that bentley saw god in the workings of the universe and in particular in the splendor and grandeur of the snow crystalshe was familiar with the bible, for in two or three of his articles on snow crystals he quoted some scripture. Homeschool share offers a free lapbook to go along with this book and is where i found all the minibooks we used. Bentley and links to several of bentley s photomicrographs. Dec 23, 2015 closeup of a snowflake, 1902, by wilson bentley. The last 24 hours have been nothing but a wonderful whirlwind and full of spontaneous activities. Many of these sets found their way to colleges and universities around the united states.
Because of his wonderful work with snow crystals, he became affectionately know as snowflake bentley. Snowflake bentley earned his nickname by taking photomicrographs of snow crystals. Dec 23, 2017 having continued his painstaking research, by the 1920s he had amassed a gallery of more than 5000 snowflake images, some 2400 of which were selected for publication in a book, snow crystals, in 1931. Snow, the beautiful snow, as the raptured poet sang, winters spotless downy blanket for forest and field, has ever challenged pen to describe, and brush to paint, its marvelous mass effects.
One hundred years ago in vermont this guy figured out how to photograph individual snowflakes, and apart from an introduction thats what this book is 200 pages of white on black photographs of individual snowflakes, and some hoarfrost, rime, and frozen dew thrown in at the end. Photographer of snow crystals history of photography monograph series. Wilson bentley 18651931 from the time he was a small boy in vermont, wilson bentley saw snowflakes as small miracles. Bentleys original glass slide photographs of snow crystals, and includes dynamic resources to further an appreciation and understanding of bentley and his work. Jan, 2021 before bentley died in 1931from catching pneumonia in a blizzardhe published a book, snow crystals, with physicist and atmospheric researcher william j. Wilson alwyn bentley, dictionary of american biography.
Perhaps it was no accident that bentley always loved snow more than anything else in the world. This discovery was made by a man named wilson bentley, a farmer from vermont, who became affectionately known as snowflake bentley. A photomicrograph is a photograph of something very small taken through a microscope. Bentley wrote in 1925, under the microscope, i found that snowflakes were miracles of beauty. There are many pages of them and they are just so amazing. Wilson alwyn snowflake bentley february 7, 1865 december 23, 1931 is one of the first known photographers of snowflakes. In the spirit of wilson alwyn bentley and his commitment to innovation and discovery, the bentley snow crystal collection of the buffalo museum of science serves as an enriching legacy for all to share in the fascinating product of his lifes work carefully observing and recording the intricate, dazzling wonder of snowflakes. This is a great book to introduce a unit on diversity. It bore the title snow crystals, and the text was supplied by william j. For decades, wilson alwyn bentley took detailed photographs of snow crystals, effectively pioneering photomicrography. Bentleys extraordinarily beautiful photographs of snow crystals. Dec 23, 2020 wilson also released his book snow crystals in 1931, with 2000 of his photographs. Libbrecht notes that the techniques used by bentley to photograph snowflakes are essentially the same. Libbrecht notes that the techniques used by bentley to photograph snowflakes are essentially the same as those used today, and that whil.
Humphreys on a book, snow crystals, illustrated with 2,500 of snowflakes snowflakes. Bentley spent most of his adult life photographing snowflakes. Nearly 2,500 photomicrographs are shown, most of snow crystals but some of dew, frost, and hail. Snow crystals, a book of wilson bentley s photomicrographs was published with almost 2,500 of his photos. But the results can be rewarding, as the work of wilson a. Shortly after, on december 23, 1931, wilson bentley died at the family farmhouse in jericho where he lived his entire life.
Nov 24, 2014 robert hooke first illustrated the varied structures of snow crystals in his 1665 work micrographia. Includes over 2400 plates of snowflakes, frost, and dew. Snowflake bentley from the earliest days of our childhood, many of us can remember hearing the phrase no two snowflakes are alike. It is done in only black and white as this book was published in the 1900s. The university of wisconsins department of atmospheric and oceanic sciences donated their collection to the schwerdtfeger library in 2000. This is a picture book biography for four to eight year olds. The book snowflake bentley tells the story of a determined boy, william bentley, and his curiosity for ice crystals. His parents supported his curiosity and saved until they could give him his own camera and microscope. This amazing book was written by wilson bentley snowflake bentley.
Wilson alwyn snowflake bentley was the first known american photographer of snowflakes. It was wilson bentley, a teenage farmer with no formal scientific training, who pioneered photomicrography and took the first picture of an individual snow crystal. His quest to photograph snowflakes gave the world brilliant new pictures, wonders never seen before. And he determined that one day his camera would capture for. This book is a feast for the eyes and mind, for the artist and the scientist, for the imagination and the mathematician. He could play the violin, piano, organ, clarinet and coronet. His book, snow crystals, illustrated with 2,500 photographs was still the definitive volume on the subject matter, and he sold many of his slides to. Bentley snow crystal collection is an important resource for all who seek inspiring examples of the artistry of snow crystals and knowledge of the science behind snow crystal formation. A vermont farmer, bentley made snowflake photography his lifelong passion.
Jan 15, 2021 by the 1930s, demand was growing for a definitive volume of bentley s work. This article was triggered by a ups package i received a couple of days ago. The snowflake man a short film about snowflake bentley. Snowflake bentley, by jacqueline briggs martin is a book i happened upon at the. Snowflakes in photographs dover pictorial archive for almost a century, w.
Dec 25, 2017 in 1931, the united states weather bureau now known as the national weather service published bentley s research and 2,600 of his photographs in a book titled snow crystals, which he co. He partnered with william humphreys of the us weather bureau to create snow crystals, a book which contained nearly 2,500 of his photographs. In print for more than 85 years, snow crystals has inspired countless artists and crafters offering a large selection of snowflake designs. Jan 05, 2019 having grown up on a farm where the annual snowfall was 120 inches, bentley s obsession with precipitation began early, and sustained him throughout his life. Under the microscope, i found that snowflakes were miracles of beauty. The microphotographic wonders of vermonts snowflake man. Snow crystals dover pictorial archive offers valuable material not only to students of cryst.
From wikipedia, the free encyclopedia wilson alwyn bentley february 9, 1865 december 23, 1931, also known as snowflake bent ley, was an american meteorologist and photographer, who was the first known person to take detailed photographs of snowflakes and record their features. The book was released in 1931, but bentley did not live long past its publication. Snowflake bentley, story and activities snowflake photography. Wilson bentley, who comes alive in duncan blanchards wonderful 1998 biography the snowflake man public library, grew.
Snow crystals are very small and combine to make snowflakes. First snowflake photographer, wilson bentley, photographing snow crystals. A monograph featuring over 2,000 photographs of individual snowflakes, snow crystals revealed the true shapes of snowflakes to the general public. Of all the forms of water the tiny sixpointed crystals of ice called snow are incomparably the most beautiful and varied. Snow crystals dover pictorial archive ingles tapa blanda 1 junio 1962. Wilson bentley was born on february 9, 1865 in the town of jericho, vermont. Wilson snowflake bentley artists carl hammer gallery. It contained 2500 selected snow crystal photos plus 100 of frost and dew formation.
Bentley 18651931, the first man to ever photograph a snowflake. This book, displaying his incredible work, fills me with wonder, amazement, and appreciation for the beauty and symmetry of nature. It shows his incredible work and the most amazing snowflake images that one has ever seen. Wilson bentley was fascinated by snow, in childhood and adulthood, and, practically speaking, is the one who discovered snow crystals, by photographing them in all their variation. Wilson bentley is still known as an expert on snowflakes, and made history with his love for snow. Humphrey was published by mcgrawhill in november 1931. At last, a year before his death, he published this insight in the book snow crystals. Snowflake bentley by jacqueline briggs martin, mary. Snow crystals growing up in vermont and where snowfalls were high, wilson a. Cloudman tells about wilson bentley the snowflake man. As a young boy, bentley would handdraw pictures of snow crystals, and in his lifetime, wilson made over 5,000 photographic negatives of dew frost, snowflakes, raindrops, clouds and fog. Born on this day february 9 wilson bentley a pioneer in. Looking through a microscope given to him for his fifteenth birthday, bentley studied and made drawings of them. Twelve golden rules english as author baker, karle wilson, 18781960 wilson, karle.
The book contained more than 2400 snow crystal images, no two of them alike. Wilson bentley was born in 1865 on a farm in vermont where approximately 120 inches of snow blanketed the landscape each winter. Humphreys text and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Wilson alwyn bentley, also known as snowflake bentley, was an american meteorologist and photographer, who was the first known person to take detailed photographs of snowflakes and record their features. Bentley s original glass slide photographs of snow crystals, and includes dynamic resources to further an appreciation and understanding of bentley and his work. From the earliest days of our childhood, many of us can remember hearing the phrase no two snowflakes are alike. Dec 28, 2009 wilson bentley was always fascinated by snow. See more ideas about snowflake bentley, snow crystal, snowflakes. He donated his collection of photomicrographs of snow crystals to the buffalo museum of science. Blanchard the snowflake man is a biography of wilson bentley, a farmer from jericho, vermont, who spent a lifetime 18651931 studying the beauty and science of snow crystals. Personality because of his wonderful work with snow crystals, wilson became affectionately known as snowflake bentley.
Book overview from the time he was a small boy, wilson bentley thought of snowflakes as small miracles and he determined that one day his camera would capture for others the wonder of the tiny crystals. Bentley s preoccupation with snow crystals got him the nickname of snowflake man. Snowflake bentley is the true story of wilson bentley who made it his lifes work to record images of snow crystals. Heres a look at some of the best nonfiction books about snow for kids. Wilson, who became knows as snowflake bentley because of his passion for snowflakes, grew up in vermont, which gets feet and feet of snow every winter. The way the book is arranged starts off with simple snow crystal structure. The bentley snow crystal collection of the buffalo museum of science is a digital library providing a highquality collection of stunning, unretouched images of wilson a.
Bentley 18651931 became fascinated with snowflakes. Bentley s snowflakes cdrom and book dover electronic clip art. We also perused the thousands of images in wilson bentley s original book, snow crystals. Top childrens books about snow a cookie before dinner. Snowflake bentley by jacqueline briggs martin, mary azarian. The strange tale of the snowflake man art and design. Bentley, a vermont farmer, photographed the marvels of snow crystals. To the great beyond bentley s log entry on 7 december 1931 reads, cold north wind afternoon. From gathering this large collection of snowflakes, bentley learned that every single snowflake was unique and in the year of his death he, along with william j. Bentley s prodigious body of work, snow crystals, was published in 1931 in new york, n. In 1931, the united states weather bureau now known as the national weather service published bentley s research and 2,600 of his photographs in a book titled snow crystals, which he cowrote. What better way to learn about crystals than to grow them. His quest to photograph snowflakes gave the world brilliant new pictures, wonders never seen before wilson bentley was born in 1865 on a farm in vermont where approximately 120 inches of snow blanketed the landscape each winter. In 1931, the united states weather bureau now known as the national weather service published bentleys research and 2,600 of his photographs in a book titled snow crystals, which he cowrote.
Born on this day february 9 wilson bentley a pioneer. By age sixtysix with the help of other scientists, bentley had his pictures made into a book called snow crystals. Bentleys long, frigid labors culminated just in the nick of time. Wilson alwyn bentley 18651931, famous for his photomicrographs of snowflakes, prepared sets of glass lantern slides of dew, frost and ice crystals. Sadly it was the last book he wrote before he died. Over 2,000 beautiful crystals on these pages reveal the wonder of natures diversity in uniformity. He lived to see snow crystals, a book of his snow crystals images. It contained 2500 selected snow crystal photos plus 100 of. A short documentary about snowflake bentley wilson a. Bentley, photographer of snow crystals created by the jericho historical society.
Five hundred of his snowflake photos now reside in. A professor at the university of vermont convinced wilson bentley. Feb 09, 2021 in 1931 bentley and physicist william j humphreys published the book, snow crystals which displays 2300 of bentley s photos. Throughout his life, he also published 60 articles in various scientific and popular journals. Snowflake bentley by jacqueline briggs martin from the time he was a small boy in vermont, wilson bentley saw snowflakes as small miracles. For the first time, the americans could study snowflakes as objects of both beauty and. The publication of this book, entitled snow crystals, introduced the world to the. Wilson bentley project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. For almost half a century, bentley caught and photographed thousands of snowflakes in his workshop at jericho, vermont, and made available to scientists and art instructors samples of his remarkable work. In childhood and adulthood, he saw each tiny crystal of a snowflake as a little miracle, and wanted to understand them. The images in the database are crossreferenced to those contained on the jericho historical societys cdrom, wilson snowflake bentley digital archives and to those contained in the dover book, snow crystals 1962. In childhood and adulthood, he saw each tiny crystal of a snowflake as a little miracle and wanted to understand them. Bentley also sold his photographs to universities and published them in leading science magazines, including nature and the national geographic magazine. In this caldecott medalwinning picture book, the true story of wilson bentley and his singular fascination with snowflakes is rendered in rich prose and gorgeous artwork, perfect for the holidays, snow days, and everyday.
1373 1459 204 1539 1074 21 299 1062 1261 1032 916 1603 141 1387 560 301 455 85 1413 843