QUEEN’S
UNIVERSITY
Department of Geography
Principal Mileposts
|
| 1882-1883 |
Physical Geography was first taught in Geology. |
| 1910-1911 |
Economic Geography lectures were offered in the
Department of Political Economy. |
| 1920-1921 |
History Department required a "knowledge of
historical geography." |
| 1927 |
Dr. Isaiah Bowman presented three lectures on
Geography. |
| 1931 |
Dr. J. Mackintosh Bell offered a series of
lectures and recommended the establishment of a Chair of Geography at Queen’s. |
| 1937 |
Dr. Isaiah Bowman received an Honorary degree
from Queen’s. |
| 1939 |
Recognition of offering of courses at
Queen’s to prepare students for "teaching Geography in the school." |
| 1951-1952 |
Principal W.A. Mackintosh recommended
"establishing work in Geography" and is widely regarded as being the
"father of geography at Queen’s." |
| 1952-1953 |
Mr. Donald Q. Innis (B.A., Toronto) appointed as
first faculty member in Geography (Lecturer) and offered three courses in Geography.
During these years, Geography was administered as a sub-section of the department of
Political and Economic Science. |
| 1959 |
Dr. J. Wreford Watson offered courses in
Historical and Political Geography of North America and Urban Ecology in the department of
Political and Economic Science. |
| 1 July 1960 |
This marks the official commencement of an
independent department of Geography at Queen’s and Dr. Richard I. Ruggles was
appointed Head (1960-69). His faculty consisted of Mr. Donald Q. Innis and Dr. Alastair
Taylor. The Board of Trustees report for this year commented, "Queen’s will now
be in a position to make important contributions, not only to the problem of providing
school teachers qualified in geography, but also to the various governmental and other
agencies which require the services of trained geographers." The report acknowledged
the major contribution of Dr. J. Wreford Watson in planning the establishment of the new
department. |
| 1962 |
First B.A. (Hons.) graduate in Geography, Mr.
L.G. Martin. |
| 1965 |
Beginning of the Master’s programme in
Geography. |
| 1967 |
First Masters student graduated (Mr. R. Latham).
By this date, the department consisted of 7.8 faculty. |
| 1969 |
Dr. Brian S. Osborne appointed Acting Head
(1969-70). |
| 1970 |
Dr. Robert H.T. Smith appointed Head (1970-72). |
| 1971 |
OCGS Approval of the doctoral programme in
Urban-Economic Geography (locational analysis) and Geomorphic and Pedological processes. |
| 1972 |
Dr. Richard I. Ruggles appointed Acting Head
(1972-73). |
| 1973 |
Dr. Maurice H. Yeates appointed Head (1973-78). |
| 1974 |
Doctoral studies commenced. The department moved
from Ontario Hall to Mackintosh-Corry Hall. |
| 1975 |
Doctoral studies in Historical-Cultural
Geography commenced. |
| 1978 |
Dr. Richard I. Ruggles appointed Acting Head
(1978-79). |
| 1979 |
Dr. Brian S. Osborne appointed Head (1979-84). |
| 1979 |
Appraisal of the Graduate programme and
recommendation of continuance. |
| 1984 |
Dr. J. Harry McCaughey appointed Acting Head
(1984-85). |
| 1985 |
Dr. Brian S. Osborne re-appointed Head
(1985-89). |
| 1986 |
OCGS appraisal identified several fields of
research: Urban-Economic; Historical-Cultural; Geomorphology; Pedology; Climatology;
Cartography. At this time the department establishment consisted of 17 full-time faculty,
one sessional, one post-doctoral fellow, 3 technical positions, and 4 administrative and
secretarial staff. In this year, there were 52 students in the Fourth Year Honours class,
7 doctoral candidates, and 29 Master’s candidates. By this date, 13 students had been
awarded Doctorates, 101 M.A.s, and 44 M.Sc.s. |
| 1989 |
Dr. Eric G. Moore appointed Head (1989-92). |
| 1991 |
The department hosted the 40th Anniversary of
the CAG/ACG. |
| 1993 |
Dr. John Holmes appointed Head (1993-98). |
| 1993 |
By the early 1990s, the Honour’s Class had
grown to 97 B.A. (Hons.) and 18 B.Sc. (Hons.) in 1993-94. In 1993, the Graduate programme
consisted of 29 doctoral candidates and 25 Master’s candidates. By that date, the
department had graduated 29 Ph.D., 138 M.A. and 62 M.Sc. students. While the overall
research focus of the department continued to be in the fields of Historical-Cultural
Geography and Urban and Economic Geography, a significant re-definition occurred in the
area of Physical Geography. The former specializations in geomorphology, pedology, and
climatology were replaced by a focus on "Earth System Science" which emphasised
interaction between climatological, hydrological, biological, geomorphological, and
pedological processes. |
| 1998 |
Dr. Anne Godlewska appointed Acting Head
(1998-99). |
| 1999 |
Dr. John Holmes re-appointed Head
(1999-present). |
| 2001 |
In 2001, the department graduated 55 B.A.
(Hons.) and 15 B.Sc. (Hons) students with a graduate programme of 32 doctoral and 21 M.A.
students. To date, the department has graduated 57 doctoral, 177 M.A.s, and 79 M.Sc.
students. |
