American Geography and Geographers Toward Geographical Science

by Martin, Geoffrey J.

• ISBN13: 9780195336023
• ISBN10: 019533602X
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2015-02-20
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

The rise of American geography as a distinctive science in the United States straddles the 19th and 20th centuries, extending from the post-Civil war period to 1970. American Geography and Geographers: Toward Geographic Science is the first book to thoroughly and richly explicate this history. Its author, Geoffrey J. Martin, the foremost historian on the subject and official archivist of the Association of American Geographers, amassed a wealth of primary sources from archives worldwide, which enable him to chart the evolution of American geography with unprecedented detail and context. From the initial influence of the German school to the emergence of Geography as a unique discipline in American universities and thereafter, Martin clarifies the what, how and when of each advancement. Expansive discussion of the arguments made, controversies ignited and research voyages move hand in hand with the principals who originated and animated them: Davis, Jefferson, Huntington, Bowman, Johnson, Sauer, Hartshorne, and many more. From their grasp of local, regional, global and cultural phenomena, geographers also played pivotal roles in world historical events, including the two world wars and their treaties, as the US became the dominant global power.

American Geography and Geographers: Toward Geographical Science is a conclusive study of the birth and maturation of the science. It will be of interest to geographers, teachers and students of geography, and all those compelled by the story of American Geography and those who founded and developed it.

Author Biography

Geoffrey J. Martin is the foremost historian of American Geography and official archivist of the Association of American Geographers, a position he has held for nearly 30 years. He holds these academic distinctions: Connecticut State University Professor, Distinguished Professor, and Professor Emeritus, Southern Connecticut State University. Professional awards include "Honors" and recipient of the J.K. Wright Award, both given by the Association of American Geographers. He has been a Yale Visiting Scholar, and Association of American Geographers Regional Councilor, Visiting Scientist GDR, and has given seminars and addresses at more than 30 major universities in the US, UK, Denmark, the former East Germany, India, Japan, Serbia, and Sweden. His previous book with OUP, All Possible Worlds: A History of Geographical Ideas, has been translated into Russian, Chinese, Malaysian and Hindi throughout its four editions.