Many of these sets found their way to colleges and universities around the united states. To experience bentleys childlike wonder for yourself, visit massanutten regional library to check out duncan c. 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. Wilson bentley is still known as an expert on snowflakes, and made history with his love for snow. The strange tale of the snowflake man art and design. The book is of great value both to students of ice forms and for textile and other designers who can use the natural designs of these snow crystals in their work. Wilson alwyn snowflake bentley february 7, 1865 december 23, 1931 is one of the first known photographers of snowflakes. His lectures were popular, and from them he was dubbed the snowflake man and snowflake bentley by the newspapers. There are many pages of them and they are just so amazing. With this thought in mind and snowflake bentley as our model, perhaps we can reclaim some of the pure joy of childhood snow days. Bentley s original glass slide photographs of snow crystals. In 1931, the book snow crystalsfeaturing 2,500 of his photographs and. Wilson alwyn bentley, known to his family as willie, was born.
Dec 24, 2009 a short documentary about snowflake bentley wilson a. Media in category wilson bentley snow crystals the following 3 files are in this category, out of 3 total. Throughout the following winters, until his death in 1931, bentley would go on to capture over 5000 snowflakes, or more correctly, snow crystals, on film. I just recently came into knowledge of our family tree and found out wilson bentley is my great uncle. It contained 2500 selected snow crystal photos plus 100 of frost and dew formation. It shows his incredible work and the most amazing snowflake images that one has ever seen. At the age of sixtysix, a book of his work was published. The caldecott medal winner in 1999 for the bestillustrated childrens book was snowflake bentley, which remembers bentleys life. The bentley snow crystal collection of the buffalo museum of science is a digital. Snowflake bentley does a great job of making a somewhat mundane topic seem.
This discovery was made in the small rural town of jericho, vermont by wilson a. Background wilson bentley was born on febreary 9, 1865, on the ancestral farm at jericho, vermont, united states, the youngest son of thomas edwin bentley, a farmer, who died in 1886, and fannie eliza colton bentley, who lived until 1906. He says the beauty of snow was known long ago for in the book of job is hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow. The introductory text covers the technique of photographing snow crystals, classification, the fundamentals of crystallography, and markings. Of all the forms of water the tiny sixpointed crystals of ice called snow are incomparably the most beautiful and varied. In 1885, at the age of twenty, wilson alwyn bentley, a farmer who would live all his life in the small town of jericho in vermont, gave the world its first ever photograph of a snowflake. Snow crystals information on the history of the snowflakes discovery and snowflake physics. Wilson bentley 18651931 from the time he was a small boy in vermont, wilson bentley saw snowflakes as small miracles.
Snowflake bentley, illustrated by mary azarian, text by jacqueline briggs martin mmcpsd biography j bio bentley a biography of a selftaught scientist who photographed thousands of individual snowflakes in order to study their unique formations. Bentley snow crystal collection a digital library providing a highquality collection of stunning, unretouched images of wilson a. Bentleys original glass slide photographs of snow crystals, and includes. Bentley 18651931, the first man to ever photograph a snowflake. Bentleys proudest moment came in 1931 upon publication of his book snow crystals, which contained 2,453 of his photographs. Snowflake bentley read aloud youtube read aloud of. He had discussions with bentley about the shape of snow crystals. If you want to know how this book was something special to look into at our house, check out the childrens book snowflake bentley, the story of this remarkable. Humphrey was published by mcgrawhill in november 1931. Nov 24, 2014 with this thought in mind and snowflake bentley as our model, perhaps we can reclaim some of the pure joy of childhood snow days. Blanchards the snowflake man, bentley s own snow crystals, or a charming picture book like. Photograph of a snow crystal by wilson bentley, ca.
Objectives children will learn about the life and work of wilson bentley. Snowflake bentley resources from carol hursts childrens. Nov 30, 2011 wilson willie bentley 18651931 was born on a farm in jericho, vermont. Blanchards the snowflake man, bentleys own snow crystals, or a charming picture book like. Bentley s studies among the snow crystals during the winter of 19012 with additional data collected during previous winters and twentytwo halftone plates. Wilson bentley introduced the world to his study of snow, but it didnt stop there. Born on 9 february 1865, bentley s lifetime work was farming his familys acreage in. Bentley took the time and had the persistence to photograph so many snow crystals they truly are intricate and gorgeous with so many designs the beautiful, magical, breathtaking artwork of god that fills the soul with wonder and awe. This book brought the beauty and wonder of the vermont snow to people all over the world. Published on dec 24, 2009 a short documentary about snowflake bentley wilson a. He taught himself how to photograph snow crystals through a microscope while still in his. An interactive look into bentleys snowflakes and lifes work can be found on the wilson bentley digital archives cdrom. Visit your local library or order from an online company a copy of wilson bentleys book, snow crystals. Jericho was an ideal place to study snow because it was in the heart of the snowbelt, producing an average annual snowfall of over 120 inches.
Bentley first published 1931 sort by title original date published date published avg rating num ratings format format paperback hardcover mass market paperback kindle edition nook ebook library binding audiobook audio cd audio cassette audible audio cdrom mp3 cd board book leather bound unbound spiralbound unknown binding. Guide to snowflake bentley pdf file from weston wood productions. Offers valuable material not only to students of crystallography but. 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. His photographs and publications provide valuable scientific records of snow crystals and their many types. The life and work of snowflake bentley the leipzig glocal. These bentley photomicrographs are shared courtesy of the smithsonian institute. People didnt know how unique and beautiful snow flakes could be until wilson b. The first snowflake photographer, wilson bentley old farmer. 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. Over 2,000 beautiful crystals on these pages reveal the wonder of natures diversity in uniformity. This amazing book was written by wilson bentley snowflake bentley. Bentley and links to several of bentley s photomicrographs.
Barnes, who was interested in the physics of ice, was in the audience. He donated his collection of photomicrographs of snow crystals to the buffalo museum of science. Five hundred of his snowflake photos now reside in the. Bentley, popularly known as the snowflake man, was born on the family farm. Snowflake bentley by jacqueline briggs martin 1998.
Horn book 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. On february 9, 1865, close to the end of the civil war, wilson bentley was born in jericho, vermont. Making snowflakes science activity goes along with the book snowflake bentley. Great short news story on snowflake bentley book, movie, experiment and microscopes w crystals wilson bentley the snowflake man very cool video for snowflake bentley in volume 4 snow flakes are amazing unit study. Bentley, photographer of snow crystals created by the jericho historical society. The first snowflake photographer, wilson bentley old. Visit your local library or order from an online company a copy of wilson bentley s book, snow crystals. In 1920, bentley was elected as one of the first members of the american meteorological society, which later awarded him its first research grant in 1924. Bentley was born on february 7, 1865, in jericho, vermont. He lived to see snow crystals, a book of his snow crystals images. Mar 12, 2017 in 1920, bentley was elected as one of the first members of the american meteorological society, which later awarded him its first research grant in 1924. Wilson bentleys pioneering 19thcentury photomicroscopy of snow crystals the quest to capture natures vanishing masterpieces, endowed with the delicacy of flowers and the mathematical precision of honeycombs. Nearly 2,500 photomicrographs are shown, most of snow crystals but some of dew, frost, and hail.
He made thousands of the jewellike prints, no two alike. Photographer of snow crystals history of photography monograph series. Listen to the online radiolab podcast, crystal bliss, to. He tried to draw what he saw through an old microscope given to him by his mother when he was fifteen. Bentley s proudest moment came in 1931 upon publication of his book snow crystals, which contained 2,453 of his photographs. This is a great book to introduce a unit on diversity. Sources for the factual material are credited, and a final page features photographs of bentley at work and three of his actual snowflake slides. 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. Making snowflakes science activity goes along with the book snowflake bentley making crystals science activity. Sadly it was the last book he wrote before he died. This book tells the story of wilson bentley, a vermont man who devoted his life to studying and photographing snow. Wilson bentley project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. Wilson alwyn bentley february 9, 1865 december 23, 1931 was the first known photographer of snowflakes. Wilson alwyn bentley 18651931, americas first cloud physicist, grew up on a small farm in vermont and spent most of his life there.
Please send me any info on snow flake wilson bentley. In 1931 his book snow crystals, containing more than 2400 snow crystal images, was published by. Every crystal was a masterpiece of design and no one design was ever repeated. Bentley 18651931 is credited with capturing the first images of single snowflakes on camera. During his lifetime, bentley photographed more than 5,000 snow crystals and his innovative images of thempublished in magazines including national geographic, popular science, and scientific americanbecame so iconic that he was nicknamed snowflake bentley. Wilson alwyn snowflake bentley was the first known american photographer of snowflakes. Bentley, popularly known as the snowflake man, was born on the family farm at jericho, vermont, and remained there all his life. The snowflake man of vermont web hosting, web design. Published in 1998, the book the snowflake man, by duncan blanchard, is the quintessential biography of bentley.
Bentley was a bachelor farmer whose hobby was photographing snow flakes wilson bentley first to postulate no two snowflakes are like through his study of snow crystals, capturing over 5000 unique images during his life. The short text is accompanied by over 100 photomicrographa of ice crystals, frost patterns, and dew. As a young boy he loved snow and began to keep a record of the weather. The snowflake man a short film about snowflake bentley. Wilson alwyn bentley february 9, 1865 december 23, 1931 was the first known. The university of wisconsins department of atmospheric and oceanic sciences donated their collection to the schwerdtfeger library in 2000. 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.
Bentleys original glass slide photographs of snow crystals, and includes dynamic resources to further an appreciation and understanding of bentley and his work. Bbc news historic bentley snowflake photos for sale in us. It was just a dusting, the flakes so tiny and sparse i could barely distinguish them against the. Its an excellent book for all ages, and i want you to have our book club guide so you can read along with us. He also wanted to promote his work for its beauty, and thus submitted articles and delivered lectures that focused on his snow photography over the years. A self educated farmer, bentley attracted world attention with his pioneering work in the area of photomicrography, most notably his extensive work with snow crystals commonly known as snowflakes. Usa todays, the basic shapes of snow crystals a discussion about how as snow crystals form they take on a sixsided, or hexagonal shape with what seems like an infinite number of varieties.
Bentley s impressive library of snowflake images, and his research, are credited with establishing the theory that no two snowflakes are alike. The book focuses on his techniques and specific interests in snow. Dec 22, 2008 people didnt know how unique and beautiful snow flakes could be until wilson b. William barnes to discover the shape of the water molecule. The strange tale of the snowflake man using chilled velvet, tiny wood chips and turkey feathers, wilson bentley caused a flurry with his pioneering pictures of these miniature wonders. Ten of the pioneering photos of snowflake crystals us farmer wilson a bentley began taking more than a century ago are to be sold in new york. It is possible that a lecture by wilson bentley on snow crystals was a motivation for dr. 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. Wilson alwyn bentley 18651931, famous for his photomicrographs of snowflakes, prepared sets of glass lantern slides of dew, frost and ice crystals.
Wilson willie bentley 18651931 was born on a farm in jericho, vermont. To experience bentley s childlike wonder for yourself, visit massanutten regional library to check out duncan c. For over forty years, wilson snowflake bentley 18651931 photographed thousands of individual snowflakes and perfected the innovative photomicrographic techniques. I am related to snowflake wilson bentley thru my fathers side of the family. Did you know that wilson bentley was a farmer, a scientist, and a photographer. Bentley s original glass slide photographs of snow crystals, and includes dynamic resources to further an appreciation and understanding of bentley and his work. What was the biggest problem bentley faced when he was trying to sketch a snow crystal. Snowflake bentley is an awardwinning picture book that tells the true story of wilson bentley from the time he was a small boy in vermont through his groundbreaking photographs of snowflakes. By age sixtysix with the help of other scientists, bentley had his pictures made into a book called snow crystals. Jan 11, 2017 the first snow of the season fell on the day i visited wilson bentley s photography collection. Wilson alwyn bentley lived all his life in jericho, vermont, and from his farm, this largely selfeducated farmer gave us the first views of the world of snowflakes. Bentley described snowflakes as tiny miracles of beauty and snow crystals as ice flowers. Wilson bentley refined his photography, capturing the images of thousands of snowflakes, no two alike.
Studying snow crystals under a microscope, he discovered that each one was unique, with its own shape and design. Jan 05, 2019 having grown up on a farm where the annual snowfall was 120 inches, bentleys obsession with precipitation began early, and sustained him throughout his life. He first became interested in snow crystals as a teenager on his family farm. Bentley, popularly known as the snowflake man, was born on the family farm at. It is done in only black and white as this book was published in the 1900s. In january 1925 bentley gave several lectures in montreal. Welcome to the official snowflake bentley web site. The man who uncovered the secret lives of snowflakes the. Wilson also released his book snow crystals in 1931, with 2000 of his photographs. The jericho historical society, jericho vermont, home of wilson snowflake bentley.