 Though she was extremely tough on her students, they were grateful for the quality of education that she gave to them.Bascom retired from teaching in 1928 but continued to work at the United States Geological Survey until 1936.Her father, John Bascom, played a pivotal role in Florence Bascom becoming a geologist, beginning when Florence was 12 and her father moved her and her family from their hometown to accept the position as President of the University of Wisconsin, the university where Bascom would begin her education.