perspective. The new quantitative methodology of the 1950s and 1960s was
embraced by those who sought to address this issue by establishing a scientific
basis for the subject. In addition, the revolution coincided with the appearance of
new technology that complemented and enhanced the mathematical methodolo-
gies of the quantifiers. Early computers were already in use in some geography
departments by the late 1950s, and the innovative technological advancements
often meant additional resources for those departments and scholars who
employed them in their research. Young scholars who led this charge included
Brian Berry, Waldo Tobler (who is credited with formulating Tobler’s “first law
of geography”), and Arthur Getis, all of whom received doctorates in geography
from the University of Washington between 1958 and 1961. For approximately
two decades Berry was the most cited scholar in American geography, and his in-
fluence in propelling the methods of the quantitative revolution toward the main-
stream in geography in the United States was unmatched.
Many geographers initially welcomed the shift in methodologies and philoso-
phy brought by the quantitative movement, even if they did not incorporate the
new techniques into their own scholarship. However, as the 1960s progressed,
those who continued to produce descriptive, qualitative work found that many of274 Quantitative Revolution
Professional organizations
The National Geographic Society dates from 1888 when it was formed as an elite club for
explorers and others with geographical interests. The society has since broadened to include
all with geographic interests, most of whom are not professional geographers. The Society
publishesNational Geographic Magazine, which is a popular journal of 50 million copies per
month. The Society is not the most important professional organization for American geogra-
phers. As in other disciplines, geographers are actively involved in lifelong learning under the
aegis of professional organizations. These organizations provide venues for meeting with
other geographers and published outlets for scholarly research. The Association of American
Geographers (AAG) was formed in 1904 and membership was, at first, gained only with the
recommendation of a member of the organization. Today, with an open membership, the
AAG is the predominant scholarly geographic organization in the United States with over
10,000 members. It hosts large yearly meetings and is proactive for the growth of geography.
Its most respected journal is theAnnuals of the Association of American Geographers.The
National Council for Geographic Education, founded in 1915, is focused on geographic teach-
ing and learning, particularly in pre-college geography. Its main journal is theJournal of Geogra-
phy. There are many geographical organizations in other countries. In the United Kingdom,
the Royal Geographical Society was founded in 1830 and supports research, fieldwork, educa-
tion, and public interest in the discipline. Its flagship scholarly journal isTransactions of the Insti-
tute of British Geographers.