Geography and 'The Great Society'

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Richard M. Highsmtth, Jh.* Oregon State University Geography and 'The Great Society' Although many values accrue to those of us who are honored by¦I** election to the presidency of a learned society, I now judge the greatest to be those which are associated with the final official actstanding before one's assembled colleagues to deliver a presidential address. To prepare for this final function, one must examine deeply and carefully his professional background, accomplishments, and attitudes. Such reflection is both revealing and beneficial. I presume that my procedures were typical. In the early stages of the topic-selection process—nearly a year ago when the commitment seemed far off—I allowed my mind to sort briefly through many ideas; most were nebulous; some were conflicting. During the Christmas recess, however, the pressures of time required a topic if I were to be prepared for this occasion. The first formal step taken was an examination of the addresses of former presidents. Skimming through those recorded in the twenty-four volumes of the Yearbook, I found that, although the details of the topics varied, three general kinds of addresses reoccurred with regularity. These included: ( 1 ) considerations of philosophical aspects of our field, (2) reports of individual research, and (3) essays directed at calling attention to shortages and/or needs. This background was of value to me largely because * Presidential address at the annual banquet of the Association of Pacific Coast Geographers, College Center, Portland State College, June 18, 1965. ß ASSOCIATION OF PACIFIC COAST GEOGRAPHERS it seems to indicate that there is little limitation on the subject of presidential addresses. In my opinion this is as it should be. After consideration of the several themes of others, I concluded: ( 1) that I am neither mature enough in geography nor presumptuous enough by nature to attempt a contribution along philosophical or theoretical lines, (2) that my current research is not yet ready for reporting, and (3) that I am, in general, pleased with the progress of geography. Nonetheless, it was this process of reflection and elimination which focused my thinking upon the steadily improving role of geography in the United States and especially upon what appears to me to be even greater opportunities, challenges, and responsibilities immediately ahead. By the beginning of January, I had decided to focus this address upon some of the prospects for our field and its practitioners. Quite naturally these are perceived from the bias of my personal background and interests. Geography in the Last Quarter Century At the outset, I render the judgment that geography has made noteworthy and gratifying gains both as a discipline and as a working field for professionals during the last three decades. I restrict my opinions to that time span because it encompasses my own career— from the time I became a freshman geography major in 1938 to the present. Before making comments which might be misinterpreted, I pause to express recognition, appreciation, and respect of and for the pioneers who formulated and established the field in America during the earlier years of the century. Some were still active during my student days. That small number of scholars, who labored as a minority in the halls of higher learning, who labored in the face of tremendous growth in the systematic sciences, planted fertile seeds. If they could be apprized of the fruits of their labors, in the light of today, I am sure that they would be well satisfied with their efforts. The improvements in geography of recent years have stemmed from the constant increases in numbers of geographers working from a base which was well formulated by the pioneers. In my judgment the developments of particular significance include: (1) the higher degree of specialization, especially in the topical dimensions of our field; (2) the advancements in methodology, especially the addition of theoretical-deductive methods to our time-honored empirical -inductive methods; and (3) the rise in the applications of geog- VOLUME 27 i YEARBOOK ? 19657 raphy to regional and economic development, space management and adjusting techniques, and other practical problems. These advancements, in general, are showing up in the product we produce in our college and university departments. The young geographer entering...