Ralph Early Grim

Ralph Early Grim (February 25, 1902 – August 19, 1989) was an American geologist and scientist, often referred to as the "Father of Mineralogy" because he made many discoveries during his investigations of clay materials. He was one of the most outstanding mineralogists of his time and was well-known throughout the world in the field of clay science and technology. Grim's career spanned over 60 years and he received many honors and awards in the field of mineralogy. Some of the textbooks he wrote have been standard university textbooks in mineralogy for many years.

Biography Grim was born February 25, 1902, in Reading, Pennsylvania, to parents of Scottish and German descent. His parents were Harry W. Grim, a cigar maker, and Henrietta C. Early, daughter of noted Pennsylvanian Lutheran Minister Rev. John William Early.

Before he went to college, Grim had never even been outside of Reading, Pennsylvania where he grew up. He was the first person in his family to attend college and came from humble beginnings. At first, he was planning to attend Leigh University after high school graduation but a friend’s father took an interest in him and encouraged him to apply to Yale. He studied hard for his entrance exam and passed. Later he recalled, “To my surprise, I passed the college boards. Never will I forget the thrill when I was notified that I had been accepted at Yale”.

In 1920, Grim began to attend Yale. He paid his own way through school, waiting on tables and doing odd jobs during the summer. Some of his jobs were selling Fuller Brush products and various magazine subscriptions and working for the Pennsylvania Railroad, replacing telephone or telegraph poles along the rail line. In 1924, Grim graduated from Yale and received a B.A. in geology.

After graduating from Yale, Grim got a job as field assistant with the Illinois Geological Survey, which was his first field experience. While working there, he was assigned to help map the Aledo Quadrangle in western Illinois. In 1962, he published Applied Clay Mineralogy. They were very successful and have been standard mineralogy textbooks in many universities. Additionally, he wrote and co-authored more than 125 bulletins and technical reports. They did not have any children. In 1964 he married Hazel May Tucker, probably in Illinois.

Grim was married to Frances E. Grim. They loved playing golf together and travelling around the world. Grim traveled the world five different times to places that tourists did not usually go. He also loved music, gardening, travel and photography. One of his hobbies was photographing wild animals in Africa.

He died unexpectedly in Urbana, Illinois, on August 19, 1989, at the age of 87.

Contributions to science For over 60 years, Grim researched clay minerals and materials, covering almost the whole field of clay materials research. Because of this, he has been called "Father of clay mineralogy". Some of his investigations and contributions to the field of mineralogy included: differential thermal analysis; dehydration and rehydration of clay minerals; effects of heat on clay minerals; clay minerals in underclays, shales, limestones, sandstones, and lakes; clay minerals in soils and their significance; the role of clay minerals in the origin of petroleum and its recovery; and the use of clay in the practice of medicine and in medicines. His detailed study of clay micas resulted in the definition The Mineralogical Society naming one group.