A. R. Crook

Ala Robinson Crook (June 17, 1864 - May 31, 1930) was an American scientist and scientist from Ohio. Crook studied at Wesley Ohio University and earned a Ph.D. in Europe in 1892. He was a professor of mineralogy and economic geology at Northwestern University from 1893 to 1906, when he was named Illinois State Geologist. As a state geologist, he significantly expanded the state museum. Ala Robinson Crook was born in Circleville, Ohio on June 17, 1864. His father Isaac was a Methodist minister. Crook studied at Wesleyan University of Ohio, who graduated in 1887. In the following years, he studied abroad with a Ph.D. in Munich, Germany, in 1892. He returned to Illinois and taught at Wheaton College for a year. Then Crook received a position at Northwestern University as a professor of mineralogy and economic geology. Crook taught in the Northwest until September 15, 1906, when Charles S. Denin named him the Illinois State Geologist. This made him the curator of the Illinois State Museum, which at that time was nothing more than a room in the state arsenal building. Crook significantly expanded the museum by moving it to the Central Building at the Illinois State Fair. Crook wrote The Mineral Collection Guide, which was a popular text in college museums. From 1914 to 1915, he was president of the Illinois Academy of Sciences. He remained in this position until his death. Crook married Florence Wayne Purdum; they had five children. An active methodologist, he was vice president of the Illinois Sunday School Association and president of the Methodist Episcopal Church conference. He was also a member of the American Association for the Development of Science and a member of Sigma Xi. A.R. Crook died on May 31, 1930 in Springfield, Illinois. He was buried there at Roselon's Memorial Park, although a marker for him was instead found at Oak Ridge Cemetery.