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Histories of American geography have tended to concentrate on geographic thought and on the men who have been seen as major figures in research. In contrast, I examine the careers of women geographers and of professional practices in American geography in the 20th century. My approach reflects thinking in feminist studies and the social studies of science, which acknowledge the existence of multiple histories and the importance of paying attention to contexts. Before 1950, values linking prestige and masculinity resulted in the exclusion of women geographers from university professorships though they found opportunities in teacher education and outside academia. In the post-World War II era, even as higher education expanded rapidly, women's representation in the profession declined substantially, influenced by the social climate that promoted women's domesticity and priorities for recruiting men. Academic practices and the consciousness of the few women graduate students reflected this gendered culture. Whether women geographers have valued particular aspects of their work and created distinctive knowledge pose questions for further exploration. A brief look at the practices and meanings of field education over the century suggests that such experience has been important to women, even when attempts have been made to exclude their participation. There are also indications that women geographers disproportionately bring social concerns to the discipline. The paper calls for reflection on the implications of our histories for the profession's future, especially for graduate education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is argued in this paper that regionalization is a similar process to classification. The terminology and procedures of the two are compared and it is concluded that there is a close similarity except that there is no direct analogy in regionalization with the individual of classification, it is suggested that operationally defined individuals partially overcome this problem. The histories of ideas about the nature and purpose of regional systems and classification systems are briefly compared and again found to be similar. Ten principles of classification derived from the work of logicians and taxonomists are then stated and the methods of constructing regional systems are examined in the light of these principles. It is shown that most of the points revealed by such an examination have been previously discussed by geographers, although they are arguing from different premises. Some of the principles, however, do raise problems which have hitherto received little attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents an excerpt of the paper on geographical and historical concepts in American history read at Plenary Session 56th Annual Meeting of the Association of American Geographers in Dallas, Texas.

Explores the history of the concept of geography from its earliest origins to its exposition by Alfred Hettner in 1895 and 1905. J.M. Franz's comparison of geography and history in 1747; Immanuel Kant's ideas about geography; Status of geography among the sciences in the second half of the nineteenth century; Rediscovery of the concepts of Kant and Alexander von Humboldt in 1905-1939.

When the scheme of morphological subdivision propounded is applied to Western Europe, the Central Massif of France appears as a physiographic province with a unity of major relief type and structural evolution. The geographical regions within this province have two other important features in common: they have a similar history and the majority are characterized by a "mountainous centrality" with regard to the rest of France. It is the purpose of this paper to examine the emergence of the general patterns of road and rail communications in these regions.

Delves into the Association of American Geographers in the U.S. Discussion of the organization of the association; Identification of the association's presidents; Analysis of the National Council of Geography Teachers.

A postscript to the December 2010 issue of the journal is presented. The authors reflect on the contributions that the journal has made to the field of American geography since its debut in 1911 and on the work of the Association of American Geographers since its foundation in 1904. They discuss a project that is designed to digitize the entire collection of the journal and examine the work of the geographers who contributed to the journal in its early days. It explores the impact that interdisciplinary research had on geography and discusses other changes that have occurred in the field.

Copyright of Annals of the Association of American Geographers is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Annals of the Association of American Geographers is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Annals of the Association of American Geographers is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Annals of the Association of American Geographers is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Annals of the Association of American Geographers is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Annals of the Association of American Geographers is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Annals of the Association of American Geographers is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Annals of the Association of American Geographers is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Annals of the Association of American Geographers is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Annals of the Association of American Geographers is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Annals of the Association of American Geographers is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Annals of the Association of American Geographers is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Annals of the Association of American Geographers is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Annals of the Association of American Geographers is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Annals of the Association of American Geographers is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Annals of the Association of American Geographers is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Annals of the Association of American Geographers is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

With broad lines and dark shading, the cartographic depictions of ancient states and empires convey the impression of comprehensive political entities having firm boundaries and uniform territorial control. These depictions oversimplify the complexities of early state growth, as well as overstating the capacity of central governments to control large territories. Archaeological and textual evidence suggests that ancient states are better understood through network models rather than bounded-territory models. Network approaches enable us to depict competition within and among polities as they grow, the efficient use of nodal points as a focus for political leaders, and the realities of nonoverlapping ritual, social, and economic activities that have an impact on political cohesion. Network maps and bounded-territory representations are compared for the Inka, Mauryan, and Sassanian polities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Though today it is mostly forgotten, scholars have long written of the impact of Helen Hunt Jackson's 1884 novel Ramona, about how it saturated southern California's landscape with new, Ramona-related tourist attractions and ultimately inspired a romanticized false past for the region. In this article, I reevaluate the landscape, the novel, and those scholarly interpretations, discovering what I consider, not simply a false past, but rather a new social memory for the region, one that was felt and practiced by the tourists (and locals) who visited the many Ramonarelated landmarks. In particular, I explore the creation of two Ramona sites, the "Home of Ramona" and "Ramona's Marriage Place," and detail how tourism and boosterism here intertwined to create attractions that were both profitable as well as meaningful. Using tiny traces scavenged in archives and private collections—souvenirs, postcards, photographs, and scrapbooks—I demonstrate how fact and fiction blurred to become mutually constitutive as a new, Ramona-inspired social memory became inscribed on the landscape and in tourists' lives. Key Words: landscape; Ramona; social memory; southern California; tourist practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geographers have led the effort to better understand Prehispanic, intensive wetland agriculture ("raised fields") in Mesoamerica. An overview of that literature provides the database for a subsequent spatial-temporal analysis and a resource for primary research. The analysis employs maps to identify changing relationships among distribution, hectareage, and morphometry in order to address wetland agriculture's role in the emergence of sedentism, urbanism, statism, and corollary environmental change; its interrelationships with other agroecosystems and ecological parameters; and its productivity and sustainability. The result is a modest benchmark in the research process which identifies significant variables, putative patterns, and several testable hypotheses, namely 1) that wherever social processes elicited dense population nucleations and hydrology was appropriate, farmers built wetland fields; 2) that the emergence of intensive wetland agriculture was ecologically interrelated with terracing, canal irrigation, and extensive agroecosystems; 3) that morphometric variation among wetland fields reflected contextual variables of hydrology, population density, taxation, and centralization of decision making; and 4) that intensive wetland agriculture in Mesoamerica was a productive and sustainable agroecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Italian policymakers conceived of vast, empty, ‘cultivable.’ steppe lands in northern Tripolitania which were available for colonization, although Libyans were using them for cereal cultivation and pastoralism. The Italians adapted the principle of state land grants from Islamic law to their colonial land codes, and proceeded to build a colonial domain reserved for Italians. Dispossession of the Libyans was considered in the public interest. They were excluded from even larger areas as Italian settlement expanded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The historical development of Wilmington, North Carolina, is examined as an example of how sensitive one American city has been to a changing geographical situation. Beginning early in the Colonial Period, three distinct functional period are identified for the city. The first and longest, when Wilmington functioned as a regional port, lasted through the nineteenth century. The second, ending about 1950, saw the city function chiefly as a regional trade and service center while use of the port declined. The period since 1950 has been characterized by manufacturing development, revival of the port and related activity, and relative decline in regional trade. The three periods have been separated by times of critical transition as reorganization lagged behind changes in the pattern and significance of transportation forms and the character and requirements of the city-region.

Examines the development of the walls of several cities in the U.S. Consideration of the lack of influence of the wall as a characteristic feature of cities; Assessment of the effect of historic walls on the growth and structure of the present cities; Comparison of the American city walls to their European counterparts.

Provides information on the physical features of the delta of the Atrato River in northwestern Colombia. Factors causing the change of various landforms; Details on the history of the delta; Awareness on the climate of the area.

Delves into the historical geography of cheese manufactures in the U.S. Early settlers of the American East Coast that introduced dairy cattle of European origin to the colonies; History of the introduction of the cheese factory; Additional changes in cheese production with the passing of time.

Examines the role of grasslands and farmlands as factors in the cyclical development of Eurasian history. Origin in the permanent fertility of the irrigated valleys of Egypt, Mesopotamia and the Indus; Sign of fortification about the villages until culture elements from the Near East; Removal of international tensions before making explosions; Treatment of any war.

Points out that geographical materials recording during the closing years of the 18th century and the opening years of the next provide a foundation for a regional reconstruction of the Atlantic seaboard. Viewpoints in historical geography; Inadequacy of geographical materials before the 1790s; Classification of geographical materials into works of organization and sporadic observations.

Focuses on the commercial importance of fog control. Human factor in geography; Effects of fog on history.

Discusses the significance of the geographic sectionalism in the political history of the United States. Resemblance of the country's domestic political processes with those of Europe; Examples of how political maps and geographic regions became conflicted; Evidence of sectionalism in the colonial period.

Comments on the article entitled "Geographical-Historical Concepts in American History," by Walter Prescott Webb. View on the perspective of Webb of a geographic historian; Consistency in Webb's evaluation of the region in Great Plains; Remarks on Webb's view of the Plains environment.