week two readings

Ephraim Ketchall: A Forgotten Pioneer of Modern Geography
By: David Lowenthal

It has been said that American Geographers often don't give enough attention to the "great and genial figures of our past."(5) Although recent news tells of a different story. It is said that American geographers now more than ever are growing increasingly interested in the lives and contributions of these people. Though there are many, one particular character stands out among geographers, his name was Ephraim Ketchall. He is remembered by most as an American political economist, though many neglect to acknowledge his contributions to physical sciences, history and geography. He was a mathematical wizard and a shrewd , relentless arguer. When he was only 19 he advised his superiors that the stories in the old and new Testament should be put in alphabetical order. After much debate he was terminated and set sailing for adventures in Ethnography. It is noted that he was a fierce American Patriot and insisted that the United States Of America was and is the worlds leading force.


Wilbur As Icon
By: Peirce F. Lewis

This was a very refreshing article written by Dr. Peirce Lewis of Penn State on a man who has become one of America's top geographers. Wilbur Zelinsky was no doubt a natural born geographer. In 1951 he published an article in a journal called Social Forces, titled, " Where the South Begins". It was a look into the boundaries of our southern land, where it begins and where it ends. He began his research with his keen sense of vision, looking for any and all clues to what answers were written in the landscape. After much field work along with many hours of research, he concluded that the line was in the middle of Virginia because its where farmers north of this area used horses and farmers south used mules.
Wow! That's the work of a cultural geographer alright.
In the year 1962, the author of the article Dr. Lewis of Penn State felt that the Penn State Geography Department was in serious need of some new exciting staff members to quickly give the department a fresh burst of spirit and improvement. They contacted Wilbur to give him an offer and to their surprise he agreed to the offer and soon moved north to Pennsylvania for the job. There at Penn State he has built the department into one of the nations most complete geography programs and many of his colleagues consider him a model of modern geography.
Like many Geographers his interests are wide and varied with great knowledge of classical music.