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Academic Geography, American Style: An Institutional Perspective

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Geography: Discipline, Profession and Subject since 1870

Part of the book series: The GeoJournal Library ((GEJL,volume 62))

Abstract

The late 19th century (in the United States, the post-Civil War period) saw the emergence of permanent institutions created to sustain interests that had earlier been undifferentiated, erratic, or personal: symphony orchestras, comprehensive arts museums, research universities, academic disciplines. These new ventures owed much to rising levels of personal and national wealth, increasing cultural and civic consciousness in burgeoning American cities, the march of academic specialization and, not least, the career strategies and seized opportunities of individuals in an era of faith in science, progress and broadened access to education and culture (Dunbar, in Blouet 1981, 71–88; Koelsch, in Blouet 1981, 89–104). These developments form the context for the rise of geography as an American university discipline after 1870 and the emergence of the geographer as a credentialed academic amidst the mix of disciplines and scholars competing for newly available resources and status in a season of new beginnings and high expectations.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Versailles, #3C, 3310 First Avenue, San Diego, California, 92103, USA

    William A. Koelsch

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  1. William A. Koelsch
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of California, Los Angeles, USA

    Gary S. Dunbar (Professor Emeritus of Geography) (Professor Emeritus of Geography)

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© 2001 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

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Koelsch, W.A. (2001). Academic Geography, American Style: An Institutional Perspective. In: Dunbar, G.S. (eds) Geography: Discipline, Profession and Subject since 1870. The GeoJournal Library, vol 62. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-1683-3_9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-1683-3_9

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-90-481-5828-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-017-1683-3

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