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The History of PRI
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 Dr. Harris and his students in the Paleontological Laboratory, McGraw Hall, Cornell University, c. 1921 (Katherine V. W. Palmer, PRI Director 1952-1978, seated far right). A complete biography of Dr. Harris has been recently been published by W. Brice, and is available from PRI. |
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The Paleontological Research Institution began as the dream of Gilbert Dennison Harris (1864-1952), a professor of geology at Cornell University from 1894 to 1934. He founded PRI in 1932 to house his collection of fossils and to publish research in paleontology - the study of the history of life on Earth. PRI began as a small building behind Dr. Harris' home in Ithaca, New York. Through various additions over the next two decades, the original building grew into a 20-room complex that housed the Institution's collections, library, laboratories and offices. PRI has continued to grow through the years, requiring a move to larger quarters in 1968. The present facility on West Hill, along Trumansburg Road (N.Y. Rte. 96), holds over 2 million fossils and shells, and a 50,000 volume research library. In 2003, PRI opened the 18,000 square foot Museum of the Earth, a natural history museum that showcases PRI's specimens and takes the visitor on a journey through time. |
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The Paleontological Research
Institution
1259 Trumansburg Road • Ithaca, NY 14850 • phone: 607-273-6623 • fax: 607-273-6620 Questions about the Website? Tell us! |
