American Geographical Society Presentation of the David Livingstone Centenary Medal to Paul A. Siple Source: Geographical Review, Vol. 48, No. 2 (Apr., 1958), pp. 246-247 Published by: American Geographical Society Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/212133 . Accessed: 08/05/2014 22:36 Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at . http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp . JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact [email protected]. . American Geographical Society is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to Geographical Review. http://www.jstor.org This content downloaded from 169.229.32.137 on Thu, 8 May 2014 22:36:19 PM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
Transcript
American Geographical Society
Presentation of the David Livingstone Centenary Medal to Paul A. SipleSource: Geographical Review, Vol. 48, No. 2 (Apr., 1958), pp. 246-247Published by: American Geographical SocietyStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/212133 .
Accessed: 08/05/2014 22:36
Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at .http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp
.JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range ofcontent in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new formsof scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact [email protected].
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PRESENTATION OF THE DAVID LIVINGSTONE CENTENARY MEDAL TO PAUL A. SIPLE
O N January 30 the American Geographical Society gave a dinner for Fellows and their guests at the Ambassador Hotel in New York City. Dr. Walter A. Wood, President of the Society, presided at the dinner,
which was attended by nearly 400 persons, among them a number of eminent polar specialists. Dr. Laurence M. Gould, President of Carleton College and Chairman of the Antarctic Committee of the United States National Com- mittee for the International Geophysical Year, delivered a stimulating and timely address on "The Polar Regions in Their Relation to Human Affairs." I
The occasion was further marked by the presentation of the Society's David Livingstone Centenary Medal to Dr. Paul Allman Siple. In making the presentation, Dr. Wood spoke warmly of Dr. Siple's accomplishments in the Antarctic and then read the following citation:
Paul Allman Siple: explorer and geographer. During your earliest years you demon- strated such qualities of leadership and companionship among a vast company of your contemporaries-the Boy Scouts of America-that you were selected to accompany Ad- miral Byrd's first expedition to the wastes of then little-known Antarctica.
Since 1930 you have returned to the Seventh Continent no fewer than five times, on each occasion with heavier responsibilities and with enhanced stature as a result of their accomplishment.
Thus, when the objectives of the International Geophysical Year, 1957-1958, required an intensive appraisal of Antarctica and its environment, it was natural that the United States National Committee for the International Geophysical Year should turn to you for the scientific direction of the South Pole Station. The wisdom of its choice has been richly confirmed, and the distinction of your contribution to this scientific effort has brought great credit to you and to polar geography. Your example has aroused the admiration of your colleagues and inspired the intelligent interest of mankind in the field you so ably represent.
In his response Dr. Siple expressed his appreciation at being enrolled in the distinguished company of Livingstone medalists but went on to say that no longer can one individual be thought of as "the explorer," for today team- work is essential. The men at the South Pole Station, he pointed out, had been selected from a number of different scientific groups, and the work car- ried out by them in the Antarctic was in effect done on behalf of the thousands
I This address constitutes Series Four of the Bowman Memnorial Lectures and will later be published in booklet form.
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Dr. Walter A. Wood, President of the Society, presents the Livingstone Centenary Medal to Dr. Paul A. Siple (left), as Dr. Laurence M. Gould looks on.
of scientists who had placed them there. The establishment and operation of all the American IGY stations in the Antarctic he described as a truly national effort.
Dr. Siple spoke also of the changes in the conditions of polar exploration since his first trip to the Antarctic 30 years ago, most notably in transpor- tation and in tools and equipment.
He ended by calling upon geographers to face the challenge offered by the present intense preoccupation of the goverment and the public with science as a whole, and to make the most of their unique role as members of an integrating science.
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