Collection Manager, Invertebrate Paleontology
Biography
Albert D. Kollar is the Section Head and Collection Manager in the Section of Invertebrate Paleontology at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History. Kollar received his Master of Science in geology and invertebrate paleontology from the University of Pittsburgh. He has authored and co-authored more than 50 peer reviewed research papers, abstracts, geology field guides, and PAlS geology guides.
Kollar is the recipient of the Walt Skinner Award in 2020 from the Pittsburgh Geological Society, the GSIS Award for the Best Professional Guidebook from the Geological Society of America in 2019, and the George V. Cohee Public Service Award in 2017 from the Eastern Section of the American Association Petroleum Geologists. He was the president of the Pittsburgh Geological Society from 2011 – 2014 and is a member of the Association for the Study of Marble and Other Stones in Antiquity (ASMOSIA), SPIA Sauvegarde du Patrimoine Industriel d’Autrefols, Saint Quentin Sur-Isere, France, Global Heritage Stone: Towards International Recognition of Building and Ornamental Stones, Pittsburgh Geological Society, Geological Society of America, and the American Association of Petroleum Geologists.
Kollar has traveled extensively throughout the United States, Alaska, and eastern Canada to collect fossils and conduct research on invertebrate fossils, climate change, and the geology of the Carnegie’s dinosaur paleontological sites in Wyoming and Utah. His current field work takes him to Galway, Ireland, the Istria Peninsula, Croatia, the Alpes in SE France, and Tuscany, Italy, and Greece to study the geology, provenance and cultural history of the Carnegie Museum’s architectural building stones.
Kollar established and co-founder PAlS (Patrons and lauradanae Supporters) a section outreach program to enhance knowledge about the section’s fossil collections, regional geology and paleontology. The PAlS program includes 22 Geology Guides published from 2004 to 2019. He has presented well over 500 geology seminars and fossil field trips throughout western Pennsylvania for schools, regional parks, community organizations, conservancies, and professional geologic societies. He has organized several forums on energy and the history of fossil fuels of western Pennsylvania at the University of Pittsburgh’s Osher Institute. He has collaborated with the Shady Side Academy Middle School’s Earth Science programs for decades.
Facing Outward, Looking Ahead: Richard Serra’s “Carnegie” As Part Of An 125 Year Legacy Of Architecture and Outdoor Sculpture
by Albert D. Kollar and Mary Wilcop On a sunny fall weekend last November 6th and 7th, a celebration honored the 125th Anniversary …“To Cross A Bridge”: Fern Hollow Bridge in Pittsburgh, A Geology Story
by Albert D. Kollar and Wendy T. Noe In the early morning of January 28, 2022, Pittsburgh’s 52-year-old Fern Hollow Bridge collapsed …Carnegie’s Water Fountains
by Albert D. Kollar Potable Water Sources Access to drinking water from a water fountain seems to be passé today with the …Meet the Mysterious Mr. Ernest Bayet
by Joann Wilson and Albert Kollar Imagine accumulating 130,000 fossils? That is exactly what Ernest Bayet of Belgium accomplished over a century ago. In …Meet the Fossil Detectives in the Basement
by Suzanne Mills and Albert Kollar Gray metal storage cabinets march in rows across the concrete floor. The collection space has no …Bayet and Krantz: 16 Words (Part 1)
by Joann Wilson and Albert Kollar In June of 1903, William Holland, Director of the Carnegie Museum, seized a rare chance to …
ARCHITECTURE, GEOLOGY, AND CULTURAL HISTORY OF CARNEGIE MUSEUM’S BUILDING STONES:
Dumont, T., and SPIA (includes Albert D. Kollar). 2020. Échaillon stone from France: a Global Heritage Stone Resource proposal. Geological Society, London, Special Publications online.
Kollar, A.D., M. Feely, A. J. Jr., R. Fedosick, K. Hughes, and A. Costanzo. Accepted. Annals of Carnegie Museum. The Carnegie’s Connemara Marble: Cross-Atlantic Connections between Western Ireland and the Gilded Age Architecture of Carnegie Museum, Pittsburgh.
Kollar, A.D. In review. The Breche Sanguine Marble from Algeria in the Carnegie Museum Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.A. ASMOSIA XII Association for the Study of Marble & Other Stones In Antiquity INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS, Izmir, Turkey.
SPIA. 2019. La pierre de l’Echaillon. A. D. Kollar citation. Carnegie Museum’s Grand Staircase Architecture and Cretaceous fossils in 22 Echaillon columns and 16 pillars. 209.
Feely, M., Derek H. Wilton, Alessandra Costanzo, Albert D. Kollar, Dylan J. Goudie and Ambrose Joyce. 2019. Mineral Liberation Analysis and Scanning Electron Microscopy of Connemara Marble: New Mineral Distribution Maps of an Iconic Irish Gem Material. The Journal of Gemmology, 36, 456-466.
Kollar, A.D. 2018. The Pentelic Marble of the Carnegie Museum of Art, Hall of Sculpture, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in ASMOSIA XI Interdisciplinary Studies of Ancient Stone, Proceedings of Eleventh International Conference of ASMOSIA, Split, 18-22 May 2015, 491-500.
Kollar, A. D. 2018. The Breche Sanguine Marble from Algeria in the Carnegie Museum Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.A. Abstract with Programs. ASMOSIA XII Association for the Study of Marble & Other Stones In Antiquity INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS. 8 – 14 October,2018, Izmir, Turkey. 77.
Kollar, A. D., R. Fedosick, and K. Hughes. 2018. The Signature Dimension Stones Used by Longfellow, Alden and Harlow, Architects – In Classical Pittsburgh Architecture from 1887 – 1910 (Invited Presentation). Geological Society of America, Abstracts with Programs, v. 50, 201.
Kollar A.D., K. Hughes, and R. Fedosick. 2018. A Review of Pittsburgh Stones and Architecture Styles from 1764 – 1938. Geological Society of America, Abstracts with Programs, v. 50, 201.
Kollar, A.D., M. Feely, A.M. Joyce Jr., R. Fedosick, K. Hughes. 2017. The Industrial Archaeology of the Connemara Marble: Cross-Atlantic Connections between Western Ireland and the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, Pittsburgh, v. 49, 44.
Kollar, A.D. 2015. The Pentellic Marble of the Carnegie Museum of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania U.S.A. Abstracts ASMOSIA XI, Association for the Study of Marble & Other Stones In Antiquity, International Conference, Split, Croatia, 18-22 May.
FOSSIL INVERTEBRATE PUBLICATIONS:
Harper, J.A., A.D. Kollar and Kay Hughes. 2020. Reflections on Palmichnium kosinskiorum-The Footprints of Pennsylvania’s Elusive Elk County Monster. Pennsylvania Geology. 49, 3 – 13.
Brezinski, D. K. and Kollar, A.D. 2016. Reevaluation of the Age and Provenance of the Giant Palmichnium Kosinskiorum Eurypterid Trackway, from Elk County, Pennsylvania. ACM 84, 1-7.
Harper, J. L., and A.D. Kollar. 2015. Reflections on “Spirifer disjunctus”, a group of Late Devonian brachiopods useful for correlations in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania Geology, Vol. 45, 11-21.
Carter, J.L. Brezinski, D.K. A.D. Kollar, Dutro, T. 2014. Brachiopoda Taxonomy and Biostratigraphy of the Redwall Limestone (Lower Mississippian) of Arizona. Annals of Carnegie Museum (ACM), 82: 257 – 290.
Brezinski, D.K. and A.D. Kollar. 2012. Paleoclimatically Induced size in the Early Carboniferous Brachiopod Clade Gigantoproductus. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, 44, 83.
Brezinski, D. K., and A.D. Kollar. 2011. Reevaluation of the Age and Environment of Deposition of Deposition of a Giant Eurypterid Trackway from Northwestern Pennsylvania. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, Pittsburgh, v. 43, 51.
Brezinski, D.K. and A.D. Kollar, 2011. Early Tournaisian Mud Mounds from Missouri-Precursors of Late Tournaisian Waulsortian Reefs. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Poster 47, Paper 5-0.
Carter, J.L., A.D. Kollar, and D.K. Brezinski. 2008. Earliest report of the genus Phyricodothyris (Brachiopoda: Reticulariodea) in North America. Annals of Carnegie Museum, 77, 253 – 257.
Brezinski, D.K., and A.D. Kollar. 2006. Paleoenvironmental Significance of Invertebrate Faunas from the Late Mississippian Loyalhanna Formation of the North-Central Appalachians Basin. Geological Society of America, Abstracts with Programs, Poster 47.
Brezinski, D.K., and A.D. Kollar. 2002. Recovery from Crisis during Crisis: Earliest Carboniferous Buildups of Missouri and Arkansas. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, Poster 24.
GEOLOGY AND FOSSIL VERTEBRATE PUBLICATIONS:
Brezinski, D.K., and A. D. Kollar. 2018. Origin of the Carnegie Quarry Sandstone (Morrison Formation), Jurassic) at Dinosaur National Monument, Jensen, Utah. PALAIOS Emphasizing the Impact of Life on Earth’s History. 33, 94 – 105.
Lucas, S.G., Kollar, A. D., Berman, D.S., Henrici, A.C. 2016. Pelycosaurian-Grade (Amniota: Synapsida) Footprints from the Lower Permian Dunkard Group of Pennsylvania and West Virginia. ACM, 83, 287 – 294.
Brezinski, D. K., and A. D. Kollar. 2015. Origin of the Carnegie Quarry Sandstone, Morrison Formation (Jurassic), at Dinosaur National Monument, Utah: Geological Society of America, Abstracts with Programs, v. 47, 588.
Berman, D.S., A. C. Henrici, D. K. Brezinski, A.D. Kollar. 2010. A new Trematopid Amphibian (Temnospondyl: Dissorophoidea) from the upper Pennsylvanian of western Pennsylvania: Earliest record of terrestrial vertebrates responding to a warmer, drier climate. Annals of Carnegie Museum, 78, 289 – 318.
Brezinski, D.K. and A.D. Kollar. 2008. Geology of the Carnegie Museum Dinosaur Quarry Site of Diplodocus Carnegii, Sheep Creek, Wyoming. Annals of Carnegie Museum, 77, 243 – 252.
ANTHROPOCENE AND LANDSCAPE PAINTINGS:
Wendel, J. 2018. A Window into the Emerging Anthropocene…Through Art. Documented from Kollar and Hughes presentation Geological Society of America Anthropocene Symposium. EOS.org Earth and Space News, April 99, 15 – 17.
Kollar, A.D., and Kay Hughes. 2017. Geology of the Landscape Paintings at the Carnegie Museum of Art, A Reflection of the Anthropocene, 1860 to 2017. Geological Society of America, Abstracts with Programs, v. 49, 243.
Kollar, A.D., and D.K. Brezinski. 2010. Geology, Landscapes and John Kane’s Landscape Paintings. PAlS Publication 10, 5.
GEOLOGY FIELD GUIDES:
Kollar, A.D. 2019. New Geology Along the Montour Trail Guide issued on-line.
Gross, M. A., Harper, J. A., and Kollar, A.D. 2019. Geology and Archaeology of Meadowcroft Rockshelter and the Multiple Ice Ages of Southwestern Pennsylvania. Guidebook Pittsburgh Geological Society Fall Field Trip.
Kollar, A.D., and D. A. Billman. 2019. The Last Ice Age in Western Pennsylvania: A Changing Climate as Seen in the Glacial Landscapes. Guidebook Pennsylvania Council of Professional Geologists.
Harper, J.A., and A.D. Kollar. 2018. Geology of the Early Iron Industry in Fayette County, Pennsylvania. Pittsburgh Geological Society Field Trip. Awarded Best Professional Guidebook 2019 by Geological Society of America.
Kollar, A.D., Harper, J.A., David Cale. 2015. Karst, caves, and Chestnut Ridge. Geology of the Laurel Caverns Area, Fayette CO., Pennsylvania. PAlS Field Trip, PAlS Publication 20.
Kollar, A.D., Harper, J.A., Norman L. Samways. 2014. Geology and History of Ironmaking in Western Pennsylvania. PAlS Publication 19.
Brezinski, D.K. and Kollar, A.D. 2011.Pennsylvania climatic events and their congruent biotic responses in the central Appalachian Basin. The Geological Society of America Field Guide 20.
Brezinski, D. K., and A.D. Kollar. 2009. Geology of North Park. In cooperation with Allegheny County Park Department and RAD. 5.
Kollar, A.D. 2008. Tales of the French and Indian War during 1758: Forbes Road from Fort Bedford to Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh Geological Society, 30p.
Brezinski, D.K., and A.D. Kollar. 2004. Lewis and Clark Expedition 1803 – 1806. Geology, Invertebrate Paleontology, and the Lewis and Clark Trail. Poster.
PALS PUBLICATION GUIDES OF REGIONAL GEOLOGY, CULTURAL HISTORY AND CLIMATE CHANGE:
Samways, N. L., J. A. Harper, A.D., Kollar, and D. J. Vater. 2014. Geology and History of Ironmaking in Western Pennsylvania. PAlS Publication 16, 5.
Brezinski, D.K., D. A. Billman, J. H., Harper, and A.D. Kollar. 2011. Geology of the Marcellus Shale. PAlS Publication 11, 5.
Brezinski, D.K., A.D. Kollar, and E. Edwards. 2010. Geology of the Montour Trail Milemarker 0.0 to 29.0. PAlS Publication 9, 5.
Kollar, A.D., and D.K. Brezinski. 2007. History of the Section of Invertebrate Paleontology Carnegie Museum of Natural History. PAlS Publication Number 6, 5.
Brezinski, D.K., and A.D. Kollar. 2006. The Geology of Riverview Park. PAlS Publication Number 5, 5.
Brezinski, D.K., and A.D. Kollar. 2005. Geology and the French and Indian War in Western Pennsylvania. PAlS Publication Number 4, 5.
Brezinski, D.K. and A. D. Kollar. 2005. The Geology of Frick Park A 300 Million Years Record of Climate and Sea Level Change. PAlS Publication Number 3, 5.
Brezinski, D.K., and A. D. Kollar. 2004. Field Guide to “Ice Age” Geology of the Laurel Highlands. Presented for Gailey Geology Excursion – 2004 Powdermill Natural Reserve. PAlS Publication Number 2, 5.
Brezinski, D. K., and A. D. Kollar. 2004. The Geology of Schenley Park A Record of Climate and Sea Level Change 300 Million Years in the Making. PAlS Publication Number 1, 5.
GEOLOGY AWARDS PRESENTED TO ALBERT D. KOLLAR:
Walt Skinner Award Pittsburgh Geological Society 2020. For Outstanding Service to the Geologic Community.
GSIS Award for Best Guidebook (professional) 2019. Geological Society of America Annual Meeting Phoenix, AZ. Geology of the Early Iron Industry in Fayette County, Pennsylvania.
George V. Cohee Public Service Award 2017. Eastern Section American Association Petroleum Geologists meeting Morgantown, WV.
