Old Man of the Fossil Beds

A Kansas Dreamer, His Family of Hunters, and Their Search for Prehistoric Sea Creatures

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Old Man of the Fossil Beds, a biography of Kansas paleontologist Marion Charles Bonner, blends memoir, history, and Cretaceous paleontology.

Bonner, greatly influenced by his mentor, George F. Sternberg, contributed major fossils to museums across North America. As Bonner's family of eight navigated the challenges of farming, the war years, the movie theater business, and the unpredictable forces of nature, his passion for paleontology only grew stronger. The incredible fossils he unearthed from the chalk beds of western Kansas included plesiosaurs, mosasaurs, fish of all sizes, sharks, and pterosaurs.

This book illuminates a remarkable region, an unconventional father, and a fossil-finding family whose curiosity and persistence shaped generations.

Old Man of the Fossil Beds book cover

Melanie Bonner Thomas invites readers into her loving and exotic family circle as she describes her father's career as a prehistoric bone collector in western Kansas. Memoir, history, travelogue, and paleontology blend together seamlessly in this love song to the High Plains. ...
— Denise Low, former Kansas Poet Laureate, author of House of Grace, House of Blood

Old Man of the Fossil Beds is a remarkable book by a remarkable author. ... Trust me, it's rare to find a writer who demonstrates equal facility with technical details and the flesh and blood of humanity. Thomas succeeds admirably in both areas. Her readers will find themselves both educated and moved by the Old Man of the Fossil Beds.
— Charles Forrest Jones, author of The Illusion of Simple

Bonner Thomas spent most of her career as an editor and writer in Austin, Texas, and currently lives in New Orleans. She has written biographies of famous people for young readers, as well as magazine articles on paleontology, archeology, and history for Texas Monthly and Hispanic magazines.

  • Part I – Bedrock
  • Plains Vision
  • Kansas Immigrants
  • Fish Catches Boy
  • Boy Meets Girl
  • Dust Bowl Survival

  • Part II – Family
  • Fish Tales
  • Old Man of the Army
  • Theater Operations
  • Digging the Dirt

  • Part III – Museums
  • Grand Man
  • Rare Friendship
  • History Lessons
  • California Connection
  • Storms and Sadness

  • Part IV – Legacy
  • My Muse
  • Institutional Knowledge
  • Mystery Fish
  • The Fossil Record
  • End of an Era

  • Kansas Cretaceous Marine Life
  • Museums with Bonner Fossils

Coming Soon

For Younger Readers

Fossils of the Rock Chalk

An illustrated overview of Kansas fossil genera.

Bitten by the Fossil Bug

The story of Marion Bonner discovering his first fossil.

The Fossil-Finding Family

A Bonner family excursion—hunting fossils, discovering treasures, and exploring nature.

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About

Chalk Lily Books LLC, an independent, selective publishing company, is dedicated to thoughtful storytelling, amplifying overlooked voices, and exploring evocative places. Rooted in a tradition of curiosity and creative exploration, our imprint focuses on projects that illuminate the past, celebrate discovery, and connect readers to their community and to the wonders of the natural world. Our books are created for both adults and young readers.

Chalk Lily also offers a menu of editorial services, from project planning to editing and marketing. For more information, see the For Authors section.