Page 26 - visitorGuide

Penrose Room and Library

Richard A.F. Penrose, Jr., GSA’s iconic benefactor who donated to the Society more than $4 million
on his death in 1931, was a swashbuckling geologist and shrewd investor in mining stocks. He was
born into a wealthy family and attended Harvard, graduating at age 23 with a Ph.D. He served on the
faculty at the University of Chicago, where he gained much practical experience in field and mining
geology. In 1903, he co-founded the Utah Copper Company (now part of Kennecott) to develop the
rich Bingham Canyon copper deposits. This was the primary basis of his fortune. After his father’s
death in 1908, Penrose devoted himself almost entirely to investments and charities. He was well
respected among geologists and was president of GSA in 1930.

Penrose joined the Society in 1889, less than a year after its founding, and served as its president
in 1930, the year before his death.

This room holds many pieces of furniture from Penrose’s original office.The desk is made of Uru-
guayan mahogany. The bookcases and drawers for maps are also mahogany and built to Penrose’s

16 VISITOR GUIDE