Alabama author Aileen Henderson will speak about her new book titled “Eugene Allen Smith’s Alabama: How a Geologist Shaped a State” at the Chilton-Clanton Public Library Nov. 15. at 2 p.m.

The book recounts Smith’s life and work as Alabama’s first geologist and his dedication to finding and cultivating the state’s natural resources.

“I try to make clear how much we owe Eugene Allen Smith, how much he sacrificed after the Civil War when times were so hard,” Henderson said. “Every Alabamian ought to be aware of this period in our history when we made that transition from an agricultural economy to an industrial economy with natural resources.”

Henderson’s father worked for the Works Progress Administration (WPA) during the Great Depression of the 1930s, and he was assigned to a typing department where Smith’s journals and notes were sent.

“My father found him so interesting,” Henderson said. “He brought the discarded pages home for us to read. I remembered that all through the years.”

In the ‘90s, Henderson was able to read Smith’s entire journal collection and decided to write a book.

“I realized here was a man Alabamians needed to know about,” Henderson said. “He had such a profound influence on the lives we live today.”

Henderson said she spent about 10 years researching and writing her book, with “a great deal of help along the way, especially from Lewis Dean of the Geological Survey.”

She began writing children’s literature before traversing the terrain of adult non-fiction. Her first children’s book, “The Summer of the Bonepile Monster,” won the Milkweed Prize for Children’s Literature and the Alabama Library Association Award.

“That gave me a big push to do more,” she said.

Her other books include “The Monkey Thief,” “Stateside Soldier” and “The Treasure of Panther Peak.”

Henderson is 90 years old and lives with her family in Brookwood. She has spoken to many different groups all over the state.

“It’s like one big party,” she said. “I’m going to places in Alabama I’ve never been and meeting wonderful people.”