The surprised expression that invariably appears on the face of one's listener when he hears one's field is Human Geography, suggests to a concentrator that few have the slightest conception of the material with which the subject actually concerns itself. Brhunes, a famous French Geographer, gives the best brief summary--"The ensemble of all geographic facts in which human activity has a part."

The field, then is wide and deals primarily with the activities of man considered in relation to the natural environment. Because of this scope, the subject can be approached from diverse angles. All the activities of man may be considered region by region, or the different aspects of man's economic social, or political life in a given locality may furnish the basis of approach.

Methods of Approach

The names of some of the courses offered illustrate these ways of attacking the subject. Regional studies such as the geography of the Manufacturing and Transportation, the geography of Agriculture and Mining, the geography of Architecture, and political geography all attack the subject on a world scale, from these aspects of man's activities. Any field dealing, as this one does, with such a wide range of human pursuits is bound to be culturally advantageous, while allied fields permit courses in Geology, Meteorology, Anthropology, Economics, or History. The tutorial reading covers the fundamental and philosophic conceptions of geography; most of the list would be considered fascinating reading even to those whose ides of geographical studies are based solely on boring grade school memories.

Emphasis on Thinking

The men with whom one comes in contact are broad and stimulating thinkers, whose interests are not limited to their fields alone. The teaching methods are modern and apparently highly successful. Emphasis is laid on thinking rather than on memorizing, it being deemed better education practice to encourage a man to work out and think through new problems for himself rather than merely to hand him a set of facts throughout the course, expecting those same facts to be returned on the final examination. Even in the laboratory of the beginning courses these methods are used, and work that could be dull and totally uninspiring is made lively and interesting. These men, as tutors, again are interested in more than a tutee's particular assignment: they become personal friends with a sympathetic and helpful interests are broad and varied, and contact with them must, of necessity, add much to one's education.

Contacts with Instructors

There are other advantages for the Geography concentrator, no less real than those of interesting subject matter in courses and tutorial and the opportunity to maintain contacts with stimulating thinkers in the department. There is an air of easy, friendly informality about the museum where most of the work is done. One is never conscious of drudgery or tediousness when working there. At almost any time, a group of concentrators and graduate students can be found in the midst of an animated discussion on timely aspects of Geography (one realizes again in these discussions how comprehensive the subject is!). Moreover, most of the reading can be done in the Geography laboratory and mineralogy library. The advantages of such working places over Widener are obvious: quiet and non-congestion congestion are two important ones. Besides, here the ventilation is such than one can breathe freely without feeling the need of an immediate disinfectant.

Human Geography, as it is taught at Harvard, is a new science, and its cultural value, since it deals so broadly with the activities of man, is being realized more and more. One's education should consist of more than the more process of absorbing good courses. Personal contacts with professors and inters, informal, easy, friendly discussion, and pleasant physical working conditions are all to be desired. They are found in the field of Human Geography.