I had a fabulous time recently during my Washington DC book tour giving a talk about Louise Arner Boyd at the Society of Woman Geographers Headquarters. I’ve been a member of this esteemed organization for several years and fully support their goal of promoting geographical research and study by women throughout the world. The fact that my biographical subject, polar explorer Louise Arner Boyd was an early member, is an added bonus for me. She gave presentations at SWG meetings throughout the United States and represented them at various scientific meetings abroad.
At the time Miss Boyd was engaged in her Arctic expeditions between 1926-1955, women were still not welcomed as members of The Explorers Club as were her male counterparts. But the Society of Woman Geographers was started in 1925 by pioneering explorers Marguerite Harrison, Blair Niles, Gertrude Shelby and Gertrude Emerson Sen and soon attracted the crème de la crème of fascinating women engaged in important and purposeful work. Early members included Eleanor Roosevelt, Amelia Earhart, Margaret Mead and Mary Leakey and our own Louise Arner Boyd! Current members include oceanographer Dr. Sylvia A. Earle, biophysical chemist and mountaineer Dr. Arlene Blum and research scientist and founder of the Cheetah Conservation Fund Dr. Laurie Marker. An illustrious group indeed. Why not consider joining?
Society of Women Geographers http://www.iswg.org
Joanna Kafarowski 