The Washington herald., 1913-01-17
The National Geographic Society.

The National Geographic Society,
in point of numbers, is the largest
scientific organization i'll the United
States, and perhaps in the whole world.
Next year will witness the twenty
fifth anniversary of its foundation, and
the society can look back with pride
upon a splendid record OF collecting
data and popularizing geography in
the broadcast meaning of that word.
1t was in 1887 that little group of
scientific geographerS, of which Alex
ander Graham Bell was the leading
spirit. determined to found here a So
ciety to increase the diffusion OF geo.
graphic knowledge" and, on January
p, 1888, the National Geographic So
ciety was founded. Ten years later it
still had a membership OF less, than a
thousand. practically all scientific ge-
Ographers. In that year Mr.. Gilbert
ii. Grosvenor took charge OF its mag
azine and set to work to fulfill the real
object of the society, namely. the
diffusion OF geographic knowledge"
He realized that this could not be
achieved by a dreary succession of
dry-as-dust articles, and. while main
tanning d high scientific standard, has
introduced those features which have
made the Geographic Magazine one of
the most interesting published in this
country.
The success OF the magazine may
he said 10 have been also the success
of the society. To-day, with a men,
bcrship of 10000. it is in a position
through its research committee. of
which Dr. Henry Gannett is chairman,
to finance and send into the field expe-
ditions, whose important research work
graphic knowledge In 1912 alone il
had three such expeditions in the field,
one in Alaska. studying the volcanoes
another on the eastern shore OF Hud-
son Bay. engaged upon biological sur
vey, and third in Peru, making geo.
logical, geographical. and antiquarian
investigations in the land of the Incas
Now the society will send a fourth
expedition, headed by Vilhjamur Stef-
ansson, who discovered the blond
Eskimos," to the far North.
The society shortly will publish an
exhaustive study of the glaciers OF
Alaska, prepared from material brought
back by an expedition which it main
tanned there for three years In addi-
ton to all this, the lectures delivered
before the society form a very val |
liable branch of its work There Peary
first told of his discovery of the North |
Pole; AmundSen of the South Pole !; |
Roosevelt OF his expedition in Africa, |
and Shacklcton of his farthest reach |
south.
In addition to its regular work, the !
society encourages geographical re-
search by the presentation. from time
to time. OF special medals to those |
who. by their labor and achievements, |
have added to the wealth OF knowl- |
edge possessed by mankind. Among
those thus honored by the society,"
and through it by the people of the
United States-were Robert E. Peary,
who received the Hubbard gold medal
for his discovery of the North Pole;
Road Amundsen, who was given this
award for the achievement OF the
Northwest Passage and the location of
the magnetic North Pole in 1907, and
a further special gold medal on jan
uary II, of this year, for his discovery
of the South Pole; G. K Gilbert, one
of the foremost biologists in the his
tory Of science; Sir Ernest Shackleton
for his antarctic discoveries, and Capt.
Robert Bartlett for attaining the
farthest known north in the Roose-
welt
But it is through the magazine that
the really telling worth of the society
is being accomplished To its many
important maps and special features
business men all over the country are
wont to look for those concise and ac-
curate statements about foreign lands
which are so valuable an aid to them
in their enterprises, fostering in thou
sands of homes that spirit of patriotic
and intelligent discrimination that has
ever been the proud characteristic of
our land.
To the scholarship and ceaseless in
dustry of Mr.. Grosvenor is owed that
success. both literary and financial, ,
which has raised the Geographic Mag
azine into first rank as a scientific, and
yet popular, publication. which enjoys
the proud distinction of being num-