Famous American Geographers

William Morris Davis was an American geologist, geographer, meteorologist, and geomorphologist. Often referred to as the father of American geography, Davis is credited with founding the Association of American Geographers. He is also remembered for his association with the Geological Society of America, where he served as the president. In 1919, he was awarded the Royal Geographical Society's Gold Medal.

Carl O. Sauer was an American geographer best remembered for his association with the University of California, Berkeley, where he was a professor of geography from 1923 to 1957. Over the course of his career, Carl O. Sauer was honored with several prestigious awards, such as the Charles P. Daly Medal, Alexander von Humboldt Medal, and Victoria Medal.

Ellen Churchill Semple was an American geographer best remembered for her association with the Association of American Geographers, where she served as the first female president. Semple made immense contributions to the development of geography as discipline in the US, especially studies of human geography. In 1914, Semple was honored by the American Geographical Society with the Cullum Geographic Medal.

Yi-Fu Tuan was a Chinese-born American geographer best remembered for his association with the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he served as an emeritus professor. One of the most prominent originators of humanistic geography, Yi-Fu Tuan received several prestigious awards, such as the Vautrin Lud Prize and the Cullum Geographical Medal.

Edward Soja was an American self-described urbanist and political geographer. Widely regarded as the world's leading spatial theorist, Soja was honored with the prestigious Vautrin Lud Prize in 2015. Edward Soja also served as the academic advisor to numerous leading scholars, such as Professor Mustafa Dikec, Dr. Walter J. Nicholls, and Dr. Mark Purcell.

Henry Schoolcraft was an American geologist, geographer, and ethnologist. He is best remembered for his studies of Native American cultures. Henry Schoolcraft is also credited with founding The Journal of Education, America's first journal on public education.

Jedidiah Morse was a geographer best remembered for his textbooks, which became primary study materials for students in the US. His textbooks earned him the nickname father of American geography. Jedidiah Morse also served as a teacher and pastor during his illustrious career.

Ellsworth Huntington was an American educator who worked at Yale University as a professor of geography during the early 20th century. He is best remembered for his studies on economic geography, environmental determinism, economic growth, and scientific racism. Ellsworth Huntington also served as the president of the Association of American Geographers as well as the Ecological Society of America.

Barry Bishop was an American scientist, mountaineer, scholar, and photographer. In 1963, Bishop became one of the first Americans to summit Mount Everest along with Tom Hornbein, Willi Unsoeld, Lute Jerstad, and Jim Whittaker. Bishop is best remembered for his association with the National Geographic Society, where he spent most of his career working as a photographer, scientist, and writer.

Richard Hartshorne was an American geographer best remembered for his association with the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he worked as a professor. Hartshorne specialized in the philosophy of geography as well as political and economic geography. Richard Hartshorne is also remembered for his 1939 methodological work, The Nature of Geography.

Waldo R. Tobler was an American-Swiss cartographer and geographer. He is best remembered for proposing the first and the second law of geography. Waldo R. Tobler is also remembered for his association with the National Center for Geographic Information and Analysis, where he was a senior scientist and one of the main investigators.

Isaiah Bowman was an American geographer best remembered for his service as the president of the Johns Hopkins University from 1935 to 1948. He is also remembered for his association with the American Geographical Society, where he served as its founding director. Isaiah Bowman also earned notoriety for his anti-Semitism during the Second World War.

Cindi Katz is an American geographer best known for her association with the CUNY Graduate Center, where she works as a professor in environmental psychology, American studies, earth and environmental sciences, and women's studies. Cindi Katz has also been serving as a co-director of Dartmouth College's Futures of American Studies Institute since 2016. 

Henry Gannett was an American geographer best remembered for his association with the United States Geological Survey, where he served as the chief geographer from its founding until 1902. Nicknamed the father of mapmaking in America, Henry Gannett is also known as a founding member of the National Geographic Society, where he served as president.