The Pioneers of Geography: A New and Currently Relevant Perspective

Abstract

Many histories of Geography have documented the successful promotion of the subject by the pioneers, but they provide only one perspective. Confidential internal memoranda of the Board of Education at the Public Record Office give a totally different picture of the struggle. Herbertson, secretary of the Geographical Association, aided by other geographical societies, finally gained recognition for geography in secondary schools in 1905. In 1917 the newly appointed Professor Roxby sought recognition for geography as an advanced subject, but internal memoranda show why his proposal was rejected. Fleure took up the challenge and his successful campaign in 1925 heralded an unparalleled growth of geography in the universities. In the present struggle to retain geography in the curriculum some lessons may be learned from the pioneers' early successes. The Board of Education's memoranda help to remind us of the debt we owe to pioneers such as Herbertson, Roxby and Fleure.

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