Updated August 2023Following the departure of Douglas Freshfield, the following President had a particular responsibility to oversee the next stage in the Association's development.
At this time, a decision was made to bring in distinguished outsiders with geographic interests to strengthen the standing of the Association.
George Robert Parkin was just such a person.
He was the organising Secretary of the Rhodes Scholarship Trust when he was elected, having been a GA member for some time, and also contributing to 'The Geographical Teacher' using his knowledge of the Empire.
Rhodes is of course problematic by association.
The book referred to seems to have been written in 1892 for use in schools, and was called 'Round the Empire'.Cecil Rhodes himself was particularly problematic and there has been a campaign to have his name removed from buildings at a number of universities and statues removed. This Empire connection needs unpicking.
To see Mr. Parkin's Presidential Address, see the following link:
PARKIN, G. R. “THE PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS.” The Geographical Teacher, vol. 6, no. 4, 1912, pp. 189–198. JSTOR, JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/40554149.
One might want to avoid reading p.192-3 of that address though, as it seems to express views that wouldn't be ideal to express today on the impact of the cold temperatures of Canada on immigration patterns.
To see Mr. Parkin's Presidential Address, see the following link:
PARKIN, G. R. “THE PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS.” The Geographical Teacher, vol. 6, no. 4, 1912, pp. 189–198. JSTOR, JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/40554149.
One might want to avoid reading p.192-3 of that address though, as it seems to express views that wouldn't be ideal to express today on the impact of the cold temperatures of Canada on immigration patterns.
One of the things that has started to emerge in the years since the turn of the 21st Century has been the connections between organisations and universities and some attitudes and activities which are no longer 'politically correct' and need to be addressed directly.
(See update at the end of the post)
Other quotes are more interesting and relevant perhaps:
"There is one thing more that I should like to say. If you take an interest in the political thought of this country, it is absolutely impossible to make that adequate unless you teach the people geography. Anyone who does not know the essential needs of this country, that it draws its raw materials from the ends of the Earth and sends back its manufactures to the ends of the Earth, who does not know the sources of that supply, the conditions which exist on both sides, and the necessity of communication between the two in order to secure our national life, is not fit to be a voting citizen of this Empire."
The association with Cecil Rhodes is also one that has been revisited by a number of universities, including the University of Oxford with the Rhodes Must Fall campaign active at the moment.
George Robert Parkin was born in New Brunswick in Canada in 1846, the son of a Yorkshire farmer. His biography is an interesting one, and can be read in more detail on the Wikipedia page linked to below.
(See update at the end of the post)
Other quotes are more interesting and relevant perhaps:
"There is one thing more that I should like to say. If you take an interest in the political thought of this country, it is absolutely impossible to make that adequate unless you teach the people geography. Anyone who does not know the essential needs of this country, that it draws its raw materials from the ends of the Earth and sends back its manufactures to the ends of the Earth, who does not know the sources of that supply, the conditions which exist on both sides, and the necessity of communication between the two in order to secure our national life, is not fit to be a voting citizen of this Empire."
The association with Cecil Rhodes is also one that has been revisited by a number of universities, including the University of Oxford with the Rhodes Must Fall campaign active at the moment.George Robert Parkin was born in New Brunswick in Canada in 1846, the son of a Yorkshire farmer. His biography is an interesting one, and can be read in more detail on the Wikipedia page linked to below.
He travelled widely in his role with the Rhodes Scholarship, and became knowledgeable about the Empire and its geography. He seems to have been a Headmaster - hence the education connection.
He was awarded the KCMG in 1920, along with other honours in his lifetime.
I wonder whether this practice of awarding honours to GA Presidents might be resurrected.
Parkin contributed a number of articles to 'The Geographical Journal' in its early volumes, often co-authored with Halford MacKinder.
Parkin contributed a number of articles to 'The Geographical Journal' in its early volumes, often co-authored with Halford MacKinder.
He also worked as a correspondent for 'The Times' newspaper in the late 1890s.
Interestingly, he was also involved in the production of a map of the Empire, published by Bartholomew.
Read the review of this resource and you can see that even back in 1903, the Mercator projection was not being favoured by the Geographers who used these maps, and wanted "a large, clear physical wall map of the World on an equal area projection", which "would be a boon to every progressive teacher of geography."
Also in 1912, according to 'The Geographical Teacher':
"The number of members is now 1,000, an increase of 38 during the year. While 137 old members have been lost by death, resignation, or lapse of payment of subscription, 175 new members have joined."
A reminder of the rapid turnover in membership that can often occur in any organisation, and which the GA is always mindful of.
Source: The Geographical Teacher, vol. 2, no. 2, 1903, pp. 93–93. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/40554264.
Updated November 2019
Parkin wrote a book about the history of the Rhodes Scholarships, now the Rhodes Trust
https://archive.org/details/rhodesscholarsh01parkgoog/page/n11
More details here:
https://www.rhodeshouse.ox.ac.uk/about/history-of-the-rhodes-trust/
Interestingly, he was also involved in the production of a map of the Empire, published by Bartholomew.
Read the review of this resource and you can see that even back in 1903, the Mercator projection was not being favoured by the Geographers who used these maps, and wanted "a large, clear physical wall map of the World on an equal area projection", which "would be a boon to every progressive teacher of geography."
Also in 1912, according to 'The Geographical Teacher':
"The number of members is now 1,000, an increase of 38 during the year. While 137 old members have been lost by death, resignation, or lapse of payment of subscription, 175 new members have joined."
A reminder of the rapid turnover in membership that can often occur in any organisation, and which the GA is always mindful of.
Source: The Geographical Teacher, vol. 2, no. 2, 1903, pp. 93–93. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/40554264.
References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Robert_Parkin - describes Parkin as an educator, imperialist and author.
I edited the Wikipedia entry to add the fact that he was the President of the Geographical Association. I shall do that for each President, as hardly any of their entries mentioned that before I started the blog.
PARKIN, G. R. “THE PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS.” The Geographical Teacher, vol. 6, no. 4, 1912, pp. 189–198. JSTOR, JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/40554149.
Amazon page for 'Round the Empire' book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Round-Empire-George-R-Parkin/dp/B001AV3JBU
Further research opportunity:
https://lib.unb.ca/archives/finding/parkin/parkin.html - University of Brunswick archive, which has some documents relating to Parkin
If anyone can supply further information relating to George Robert Parkin, please get in touch.
Update April 2019
Thanks to the GA's Chief Executive Alan Kinder for this perspective on the importance of reading outdated views involving 'environmental determinism' as they have not necessarily been consigned to History and are part of the ongoing EDI work the GA is engaged in:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Robert_Parkin - describes Parkin as an educator, imperialist and author.
I edited the Wikipedia entry to add the fact that he was the President of the Geographical Association. I shall do that for each President, as hardly any of their entries mentioned that before I started the blog.
PARKIN, G. R. “THE PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS.” The Geographical Teacher, vol. 6, no. 4, 1912, pp. 189–198. JSTOR, JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/40554149.
Amazon page for 'Round the Empire' book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Round-Empire-George-R-Parkin/dp/B001AV3JBU
Further research opportunity:
https://lib.unb.ca/archives/finding/parkin/parkin.html - University of Brunswick archive, which has some documents relating to Parkin
If anyone can supply further information relating to George Robert Parkin, please get in touch.
Update April 2019
Thanks to the GA's Chief Executive Alan Kinder for this perspective on the importance of reading outdated views involving 'environmental determinism' as they have not necessarily been consigned to History and are part of the ongoing EDI work the GA is engaged in:
Great work. Certainly added to my knowledge of @The_GA history. One thing though: surely current geographers SHOULD read and be aware of the views of our predecessors? Environmental determinism still lives in some quarters you know!— Alan Kinder (@GAChiefExec) April 27, 2019
Updated November 2019
Parkin wrote a book about the history of the Rhodes Scholarships, now the Rhodes Trust
https://archive.org/details/rhodesscholarsh01parkgoog/page/n11
More details here:
https://www.rhodeshouse.ox.ac.uk/about/history-of-the-rhodes-trust/
Updated November 2020
This is one of several tweets that I came across. Parkin's association with the Rhodes Scholarship and Oxford University is noted.
Issued this day in 1898. Sc #85i. “Imperial Penny Postage” Design: Warren L. Green. Based on a map by George Robert Parkin. Engraving by Charles Skinner. This was the first postage stamp in the world to mark “Xmas” or Christmas. #MyStamps pic.twitter.com/s0WfObfslH
— David Akin 🇨🇦 (@davidakin) December 7, 2019
Updated July 2022
William Mulock decided to issue a Christmas commemorative design. He personally designed and issued a new stamp with a map of the world based on a map of George Robert Parkin, which shows the extent of the British Empire(2/11) pic.twitter.com/pl0b0k97e2
— AB🇺🇸-Philately (@SLSSP1822US) June 29, 2021
Updated August 2023
Article in the New York Times archive from 1919 on post-war education.
A link to a book that he owned describes him as:
"a biographer of Sir John A. Macdonald and Headmaster of Upper Canada College"1895: George R. Parkin appointed eighth principal of UCC
1923: Parkin Building opens
Named after Parkin?
John Macdonald was the first Prime-minister of Canada.
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