Nevin M. Fenneman

Nevin Melancthon Fenneman (26 December 1865 – 4 July 1945) was an American professor of geology, with a long career at the University of Cincinnati.

His contributions were primarily in the large scale geographical understanding of American geology and based on his wide ranging studies, he produced a classification of US physiographic regions using a three-tiered system of 8 major divisions, 25 provinces and 78 sections that remains in use today.

Fenneman was also trained, following the family tradition, at Heidelberg College, receiving an AB in 1883 after which he taught at schools.

Here he married colleague Sarah Alice Glisan and began to take a keen interest in geography and landforms of the United States.

[3] Fenneman went to study at the University of Chicago in 1898 and received a MA on the Laramie Cretaceous Series working under T.C.