Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-01-09

DR.. La Gorce retired after l
service with the society. DR.
Grosvenor, also member of a dis
tinguished National Geographic
family, takes command after 80
years of service.
But DR.. La Gorce will continue
his affiliation with the society
and its publication. He was
elected unanimously by the So
cietys trustees as vice chairman
of the board.
Nominate Successor
The outgoing president and
editor personally nominated DR.
Grosvenor as his successor The
trustees. at the same time. re-
elected DR.. Thomas w. McKnew,
vice president and secretary of
the society. and Robert V. Flem-
ing, treasurer. Mr.. Fleming is
chairman of the board of the
Riggs National Bank.
DR.. La Gorce's retirement and
Or. Grosvenor's election mark
another milestone in the history
of the Geographic.
DR.. Gilbert Grosvenor, now
chairman of the board. retired
as president and editor in 1854
after more than SIS years of serv-
ice. Working as a team from
youth, he and DR.. La GORGE in
creased the society's member
ship from a few thousand in
1905 to 100000 today. Their
combined careers contributed
more than a century of effort TO
its purpose: the increase and
diffusion of geographic knowl-
edge throughout the world.
However. DR.. Melville Gros-
venor's promotion from vice
president and associate editor
continues his family's long as
ISOLATION with the society and
magazine.
Grandson of Bell
He is the son of DR.. Gilbert
Grosvenor: a grandson Of DR.
Alexander Graham Rell, inVen-
tor of the telephone and the
society's second president, and
a great-grandson of Gardiner
Greene Hubbard. a founder and
first president of the society.
The new president and editor
was born in Washington, in 1901
AS a boy. he was the constant
companion of his grandfather.
DR.. Bell, and he took to sailing
and travel in the family tradi-
tion.
He attended the United States
Naval Academy at Annapolis
and following his graduation in
1923, he did years tour of duty
as ensign aboard the USS Della
ware and USS West Virginia.
Then DR.. Grosvenor Joined the
staff Of the National Geographic
Magazine. He has devoted MS
career to its work-as a photog-
rapher. writer and editor.
Color Photo Pioneer
He made the first natural color
photographs ever taken from the
air. The aerial shots Of Wash
ington and New York. made
aboard the Goodyear-Zeppelln
dirigible Mayflower and the
Nays all-metal ZMC-2, are
among the hundreds Of his pho
tographs which have been
printed in the magazine.
DR.. Grosvenor has served the
magazine in virtually every
editorial capacity He was pro-
NOTED to assistant editor in 1885
. and to vice president and as
sociate editor three years ago
He is identified with the
society's participation in such
oceanic research programs as
the National Geographic Calypso
expeditions and the plankton
studies OF the University OF
Miami's Marine Laboratory. In
1854. the university bestowed q
doctorate of science degree upon
him.
Has Wide Interests
In addition to his new duties
as president and editor. DR.
Grosvenor is a member of the
society's board of trustees. and
its executive. research. rules ano
finance committees. He is a
director of the Chesapeake &
Potomac Telephone Co. a men,
Der of the Advisory Board OF
Riggs National Bank; chairman
of the Board of Directors Of
Champion International Paper
Co. of Lawrence, Mass.
DR.. GroSvenor and his wife