Evening star., 1921-05-29

Gilbert Grosvenor, president of the
National Geographic Society of this city.
will be- among the group of distinguished
men to be given honorary degrees at
the commencement exercises of George
town University, June IA. Mr.. Gros-
venor VIII receive the honorary degree
of doctor of laws.
This honor will be conferred in rec
ognition of the unique service rendered
by Mr.. Grosvenor to a science now gen
orally recognized as vital to the pros
,perity. peace and progress Of mankind.
When Mr. Grosvcnor assumed the
dictatorship Of the National Geographic
Society and became editor of its Ma
tional Geographic Magazine twenty-five
years ago. geography was a highly tech
rical science, largely related to physical
phenomena for their own sakes. Mr..
Grosvenor had a different conception
OF geography. bold for that day. but
row generally accepted as result of
his efforts. He conceived a geography
which should treat mans relation to
his environment from the standpoint of
human interests and welfare.
He also believed that such a science
should be essentially democratic. both
intelligihle to and supported by citizens
of broad cultural. rather than only those
OF technical. education.
Increased to 7OO,O0O Members.
Under his direction the National Geo
graphic Society has increased in MEM
bership from 900 to 700, 900: he has been
instrumental ip bringing world peoples
and places within the mental focus of
hundreds of thousands of Americans.
and ne is generally recognized as a
pioneer in the science of human geog-
raphy. In recognition of these serv-
ices he was elected president of the
National Geographic Society, in Janu-
airy. 1920.
The development of Mr.. Grosvenors
conception has made Washington the
headquarters of "a world famous So
ciety, the largest educational associa-
ton in the world. whose administra-
ton buildings on 18th street form one
of the noteworthy landmarks of the
city.
Mr.. Grosvenor also is associated
with a number of local enterprises
He is A member of the board of trus-
tees of George Washington JTniyer-
slty. OF the American University, of
the American Association to Promote
the Teaching of Speech to the Deaf
and chairman of the associations ex-
ecutive committee in Washington, D.
c.; of the board of corporators of the
Clarke School for the Deaf in North
ampton. Mass; of the board Of man.
ayers of the Archaeological Institute
and Cosmos Club: Of the board of di-
rectors OF the American Security and
Trust Company and Equitable Coop
erative Building Association. member
of the Association of American Geog-
rapherS and the American Forestry
Association, and fellow of the American
Association for the Advancement OF
Science.
Writings Extensive.
Among Mr.. Grosvenor's writings are
The Exploration of the Nineteenth
Century. the annual report of the
secretary of the Smithsonian Institu-
ton; historical summary of polar ex-
plcrations for Peary's The North
Pole: Young Russia" The Land OF
the Best" 'F'lags of the World" and
ne was associate editor of the pro-
ceedings of the Eighth International al
Geogra phic Congress of 1905 and of
the Scientific report of the Zieeler
polar expedition of 1905 and 1906.
Mr. Grosvenors country residence,
Wild Acres. is known nationally as a
bird sanctuary, having the densest
and most varied bird population of