Title Page | Collection Summary | Biographical/Organizational Note | Scope and Content | Arrangement
Biographical Note
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1856, Sept. 29 | Born, New York, N.Y. |
| 1879 | Married Sophia Leore Handforth (died 1912) |
| 1879-1932 | Gem expert and vice president, Tiffany and Co., New York, N.Y. |
| 1883-1909 | Special agent, Geological Survey (U.S.) |
| 1886 | Cofounder, New York Mineralogical Club, New York, N.Y. |
| 1889 | In charge of mining exhibits, Exposition universelle de 1889, Paris, France |
| 1890 | Published Gems and Precious Stones of North America: A Popular Description of Their Occurrence, Value, History, Archeology, and of the Collections in Which They Exist, also a Chapter on Pearls and on Remarkable Foreign Gems Owned in the United States. New York: Scientific Publishing Co. |
| 1891 | Trip to Russia |
| 1892 | In charge of mining exhibits, South African and International Exhibition, Kimberley, South Africa Published Natal Stones: Sentiments and Superstition Connected with Precious Stones. New York: Tiffany and Co. |
| 1893 | In charge of mining exhibits, World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago, Ill. |
| 1895 | In charge of mining exhibits, Cotton States Exposition, Atlanta, Ga. |
| 1898 | Received honorary A.M., Columbia University, New York, N.Y. |
| 1902 | Gemstone discovered and eventually named Kunzite in honor of Kunz |
| 1903 | Received honorary Ph.D., Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany |
| 1904 | Commissioner on radium, Louisiana Purchase Exposition, St. Louis, Mo. |
| 1907 | Received honorary Sc.D., Knox College, Galesburg, Ill. |
| 1908 | Published with Charles Hugh Stevenson Book of the Pearl: The History, Art, Science, and Industry of the Queen of Gems. New York: The Century Co. |
| 1911-1922 | Member, Board of Trustees, and chair, Plan and Scope Committee, American Museum of Safety (renamed Safety Institute of America in 1918), New York, N.Y. |
| 1913 | Founder and president, Museum of Peaceful Arts (later New York Museum of Science and Industry), New York, N.Y. Published Curious Lore of Precious Stones: Being a Description of Their Sentiments and Folk Lore, Superstitions, Symbolism, Mysticism, Use in Medicine, Protection, Prevention, Religion, and Divination. Crystal Gazing, Birthstones, Lucky Stones and Talismans, Astral, Zodiacal, and Planetary. Philadelphia & London: J. B. Lippincott Co. |
| 1915 | Published Magic of Jewels and Charms. Philadelphia & London: J. B. Lippincott Co. |
| 1916 | Published Ivory and the Elephant in Art, in Archaeology, and in Science. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, Page & Co. |
| 1917 | Published Rings for the Finger: From the Earliest Known Times to the Present, with Full Descriptions of the Origin, Early Making, Materials, the Archaeology, History, for Affection, for Love, for Engagement, for Wedding, Commemorative, Mourning, etc. Philadelphia & London: J. B. Lippincott Co. |
| 1923 | Married Opal Logan Giberson (annulled 1929) |
| 1932, June 29 | Died, New York, N.Y. |