Geography at Western Washington University

Abstract

Geography at Western Washington University JAMES W. SCOTT, Professor HOWARD J. CRITCHFIELD, Emeritus Professor Department of Geography and Regional Planning WesternWashington University Bellingham, WA 98225 F o r NEARLY n in e t y y e a r s geography has been taught at Western Washington University, which after its opening in 1899 as New Whatcom Normal School underwent a number of name changes. In 1904 it became Bellingham State Normal School, changing to West­ ern Washington College of Education in 1937 and to Western Wash­ ington State College in 1961. In 1977 it assumed its present title. It was not until 1952 that a B.A. program in geography was authorized, and twelve years later in 1964 a master’s program was begun. The First Half Century During the first half of the twentieth century a state-mandated emphasis on teachereducation dominated administrative policies and the academic curriculum. From the beginning geography was among the requirements for teacher trainees. Those who taught geography during the early years included Nellie Gray (who was also dean of women), Francis Epley, and Edna Samson. In 1919 Thomas F. Hunt 165 166 APCG YEARBOOK • VOLUME 52 • 1990 assumed responsibility for geography instruction and during the 1926-27 academic year he completed the requirements for the M.A. degree at Clark University, thereby becoming the first professionally trained geographer in the institution. Hunt’s attempts to strike a balance between cultural and physical geography met with limited success, but by the time he retired in 1952 he had staked out for geography a valuable place in the college prospectus, and it was largely due to his efforts and those of a colleague—Edward J. Amtzen, chairman of the social studies department—that a B.A. program in geography was approved for the 1952-53 academic year. As a member of the college curriculum committee, Amtzen worked ceaselessly to divide his “empire” and create separate “chairs” for recognized social science fields. From 1952 onward he accorded geography virtual autonomy. The Third Quarter: 1950-1974 At mid-century Western, like many other colleges, began a delayed response to post-World War II surges in student enrollment, adding new faculty and new buildings. In 1951 Howard J. Critchfield joined the faculty, and introduced a blend of geographical philoso­ phies adapted from experience in New Zealand and the University of Washington. The following year Donald D. MacPhail was hired to replace Hunt. MacPhail set up the department’s first cartography laboratory, and with Critchfield helped triple the number of courses offered. Three years later Robert L. Monahan joined the faculty, adding competence in resource geography. Other faculty serving the department during the 1950s were Barbara Hawn, who was a tempo­ rary replacement for MacPhail in 1956-57, and Elbert E. Miller, who arrived in 1957 and added strength to the department in physical geography and Latin America. A general redirection of the college under a new administration came in the 1959-60 academic year. Increasing specialization among the geography faculty and a growing proportion of arts and sciences students led to a separate Department of Geography with Critchfield SCOTT and CRITCHFIELD: Geography at Western Washington 167 as chairman. Additional faculty in the next decade considerably broadened the department’s outlook and appeal. Major contributors to this were Debnath Mookheijee, urban geography and South Asia; Franklin C. Raney, biogeography and soils; James W. Scott, historical and cultural geography; and Robert W. Teshera, political geography and geographic education. A budgeted position for a visiting lecturer was used to hire geographers from North American universities and overseas during 1964-73. In 1973 Thomas A. Terich, a specialist in urban planning and coastal geography, joined the department. A resurgence of teacher training following the post-World War II “baby boom” had limited effect on the department, there being relatively small demand for geography instruction in the public schools of Washington State. Nevertheless, a state requirement for a fifth year of college study for teachers helped sustain geography for several years, and as this could be accomplished in three summer sessions the resulting “summer explosion” made it necessary to recruit geographers from other institutions as early as 1956. In some years the summer...