Geoffrey Martin

Geoffrey J. Martin was born on March 9, 1934, in Ilford, Essex, England, and passed away on October 7, 2024, in Woodbridge, Connecticut.

Martin dedicated his life to the study and teaching of geography, specializing in the history of geographic thought. He taught as Professor Emeritus at Southern Connecticut State University for over 30 years beginning in 1966, and served as the official archivist for the American Association of Geographers (AAG) for over three decades.

His meticulous research and passion for the history of geography were evident in his numerous publications. As a young academic, Martin was drawn to three figures in American geography, who had shaped the discipline in the first half of the twentieth century: Mark Jefferson, Ellsworth Huntington and Isaiah Bowman. All studied at Harvard under William Morris Davis, the man who played a founding role in the establishment of the academic discipline in America. Mark Jefferson: Geographer (1968), Ellsworth Huntington: His Life and Thought (1973), and The Life and Thought of Isaiah Bowman (1980) are considered some of his most influential work that provide deep insights into the evolution of geographical thought in the United States.

Following the publication of this trilogy, Martin then set out on a grander project: to tell the larger story of American geography and geographers: American Geography and Geographers: Toward Geographical Science. Covering the period from 1870 to 1970, Martin took 17 years to research and write this publication. It is a testament to Martin’s meticulous attention to detail — pursuing every lead, uncovering every possible manuscript, and tracking down every living person to interview. This publication was unanimously selected as the inaugural recipient of the Humboldt Book Award for Enduring Scholarship in Geography from the AAG Review of Books. Those who knew him professionally knew that this book fulfilled his ultimate professional goal—to offer as complete a history of American geography as had been attempted to that point.

Beyond his scholarly achievements, Martin was known for his generosity and mentorship. He inspired countless students and colleagues with his enthusiasm and commitment to the discipline. In the course of more than five decades of research, he visited 17 countries, consulted 300 archival holdings, accumulated 115,000 manuscripts, and personally corresponded with more than 100 people.

His interests surpassed being a professor. He earned money as a road gang laborer, itinerant chess player in chess cafes in London and New York, substitute grade-school teacher, professional wrestling announcer, and assistant to a poisonous snake catcher in the Everglades. As a chess player, he was in the Guinness Book of World Records for decades for a simultaneous display he did while still in the UK against 142 opponents.

The loss of Dr. Geoffrey Martin is deeply felt by all who had the privilege of knowing him. His contributions have not only enriched our understanding of the discipline’s history, but his legacy will continue to influence the field of geography for generations to come.