GEOGRAPHIC WORK IN LATIN AMERICA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00926A004900010008-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 185
• Document Creation Date: December 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 24, 2001
• Sequence Number: 8
• Publication Date: April 4, 1952
• Content Type: REPORT

COUNTRY
SUBJECT
PLACE
ACQUIRED
Appr t l ' p4eCO2001/11/21 LJUUSRQ 'ICIIAIS6ONLY SEOURI' 1
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY REPORT NO.
INFORMATION REPORT CD NO.
ph.'r. Work :t Lath. America
SOU RCEPOCiNT.ARY
L
DATE DISTR. L4 APR 52
NO. OF PAGES _
NO. OF ENCLS.
(LISTED BELOW)
SUPPLEMENT-TO
REPORT NO.
Ava ,i able or.-:.ioa y from, the CIA Library is the first draft of a document
(Geo r ix Work in L:atiu. America by Latin American Geographers, Gover.mn r I A :
and Geog.aph c >o,.:ieties. Preliminary Edition issued. at Northwestern Univers -' `I
by t -e Comm,it;te~"e of Latin American Geography, Division of Geology and =. og:(?spb,
3 e t1oaal Resegcch Co??ncil, Clarence F. Jones, Chairman of the Committee, July V?51.
.i,3 fk n=+ r?ra;f", will be revised and published only if the National 'Res, arc?
G uK ,ci l , cuffinient fu . ;rls to do so, which has not as yet been deterlmir~eL ..
3. The of this report were to make a survey.under the
a,c?ac~,is.s tb . gecgrap?".if: work being done in Latin. America.
~.-r,s in Latin America and their research programs.
Pt r D g':o&ruap xic work by Latin American government agencies,
in,1:-?, ,:og geogrsph? mapping programs.
History and. Philosophy of Geography in Mexico
Mea:i sazn Geo;rapher,
Geography in Goverment Agencies
Crsograpb,i,.: Soeiet.Les
Geogr?aphi . Edluoation
R~sou ces for Geographic Research and Instruction
The Caribbean Commission
British Vest Indies
Cuba
3) engr so=pieties in Lath. America and. their chief fields of
i t; r t aid publications.
The Table of C,.> ^,ten't;s is as follows:
In.t,: ^nd.uw,tiox
Iexino
The Wet Ind , ies
STATE NAW FRI NSRB DISTRIBUTION
CLASSIFICATION CON6"I SIAL US OFFICIAL bNLI SECT_TRIM'.' 1u' FORMA z'TOII,
ARMY AIR FBI CRR-'L~ _i.__.__.___...
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col F L/U$ pF'F'ICTALS ONLY
E43 ~" r 'O kTION ,
fie West Indies (Continued)
iominican. Republic
Dutch West Indies
.Freak. West Indies
Haiti
Puerto Rico
em,, El Salved
0uatala
Ei Salvador
Hondura.
r. Honduras, and British Honduras
British Honduras
Costa Pica,, and l1Icaragua
Colombia
Geographers in Colombia
Geographic Work in Government Agencies
Geography in Education
Geographi Societies
Foreign Geographers
Geographic. anal Cartographic Work in Venezuela
Geography
adividuals with Geographical Interests in Venezuela
Governent Agencies Carrying on Geographical Studies or
Sponsoring Publications of Geographical Interest
Cox erendes Cnd.. Commissions
Venezuelan? Institutions with Geographical interest
l As?-hires and National Library
ti
ona
Na
The Development of Geographical Instruction in Venezuela
Present Day"Geography in the Schools
Re.ent Investigations by Foreigners
Cartography
Early Maps
Travels of 'Von Humboldt and. Schomburgk
CodazziIs Atlas
The Piano Militar
Development ofCartografia Nacional
.. Cartographers in Government Institutions
Cartographers in Private Agencies
part-time Cartographers
Mapping Activities of Government Agencies
Activities of Petroleum Companies
COfl tDE! TIAL/US OFFICIALS ONLT
;3E U$ITY INFOE TION
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CONFIDE.'~T' uS O 'ILIA S ONLY
S1CUBITY INFORMATION
Brazilian Geographers and their Specialties
Agencies of the Brazilian Government which Carry on Geographic
Research Studies
The Conselho Nacional de Geografia
List of Other Government Agencies which carry on Geographic Work
The North
The Noscheast
The East
The South
The West Central
The Federal District
Geographical Societies
The Teaching of Geography
Material for Geographic Research in Brazil
Foreign Geographers in Brazil
Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay
Argentina
Geographers and Their Research Programs
Government Agencies - Research Programs (Generalized)
Geographic Societies and Other Private Organizations-
Geography as an Academic Subject in Schools
Uruguay
Government Agencies - Research Programs
Geographic Societies and Other Private Organizations
Geography as an Academic Subject
Geographic Publications and Materials for Geographic Research
Paraguay
Ecuador and Peru
Ecuador
Geographers and their Research Programs
Geographical Societies
Peru
Geographers in Peru
Government Agencies
Geographical Societies
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COIE'IDDENNTIAI/US OFFICIALS ONLY
r _SECURII' .INFORMATION _
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G OGi APHIC 'VUAK IN LATIN AT aICA BY
i,ATZtd A1vZiIC ,N G601tiPH, ia3, GUVtcdq%I T AGLNCILS
AND GEOGRAPHIC dOCIETT J
Preliminary Edition
Issued at
Northwestern University
By
THE; CUNIi.,ITTraE Ulu LATIiv A1u1!'ttlCAiti G.6UG:eAPHY
DIVISION OF G:,ULUGY Aitlii GL'OGiAPHY
NATIONAL #E CH COUNCIL
Clarence F. Jones, Chairman of the Committee
NATIONAL Ah6 CH COUNCIL
2101 Constitution Avenue
Washington 25, D. C.
July 1951
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The Otatus of Geographic ~~ork in Latin America by Latin imerican Geog-
raphers, Government agencies, and Geographic oocieties" is an outgrowth of the
continuing interest of about a dozen North american geographers, who consider
Latin America among their special fields of interest, and of the support of the
Division of Geology and Geography, national research Council to tiie work of its
Committee on Latin American Geography. The Committee has been in existence
since 1946.
None of the sections of the present report is to be considered as more
than preliminary in nature, because each is incomplete. The report has been
mimeographed at this stage and is being distributed to all persons who have
contributed to it, and to the national members of the Commission on Geography
of the Pan American Institute of Geography and History in the hope that these
persons will send the Chairman constructive criticisms and additions. It is
planned to issue a more complete version for the next annual meeting of the
Division of Geology and Geography, National Research Council in April, 1952,
and perhaps to distribute copies to members of the Pan American Consultation
on Geography in Guashington in 1952.
This preliminary edition is issued by the Department of Geography, north-
western University with the financial assistance of the Division of Geology and
Geography, National ,tesearch Council. The Chairman of the Cormiiittee expresses
his sincere appreciation for the willingness with which each suboommittee chair-
man took on a difficult assignment and for the quality of the reports presented.
Northwestern University
rvanston, Illinois
July, 1951
Clarence F. Jones
i
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TABLE Gf COIiTEivTS
Page
Insroduction^ ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? s
Mexico.
?
History and Philosophy of Geography in Mexico.
Mexican Geographers. . ? : a . , . ? . . . . .
Geography in Government Agencies .., ? 19
Geographic Societies ? . ? ? 30
Geographic Education . ? . .. ._ . . ? ,. ,_ ? a r ? 35
Resources for Geographic Research and Instruction. ? ? . a ? 43
The West Indies . ? ? . 49
The Caribbean Commission . . . . . . . , 49
British West Indies-,",-, , 51
Cuba ?? +? . ? ? ? ? a , ? ? ? ? ? ? a ? ? ? ? . ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 52
Dominican Republic . . . . . . . r ? ? ? ? r ? . . . . . . . . ? . 54
Dutch West Indies. . . ? . ? ? ? ? ? ? , ? . ? . ? ? ? r ? - . ? 55
French West Indies ? 56
Haiti. ? ? . . . . 57
Puerto Rico. ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? r ? r ? . ? . ? r ? . ? ? ? 57
Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, and British Honduras, ? ? . a a a a , 63
Guatemala', . ? ? ? ? ? ? r . . ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? . ? ? ? ? ? ? 63
El Salvador. . . . . . . ? . . . . . . . . . . . . . ? . . . . . . 63
Honduras . 64
British Honduras ? . ? ? . ? ? . ? r 64
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Page
Panama, Costa Rica, and Nicaragua . . . . ? . . . . . . ? . . . . . 65
Costa Rica . . ? . . r ? . . . ? 65
Colombia . ? . ? ? ? . ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? . ? ? r ? ? ? ? ? r ? . ? ? 73
Geographers in Colombia. ? 73
Geographic Work in Government Agencies . 78
Geography in Education . . . . . . 79
Geographic. Societies . . . . . . . . , ? . . . . . . . . . 79
Foreign Geographers. . . ? 79
,Geographic and Cartographic Work in Venezuela 81
Geography, . . . . . . . .- . ? ? . ? a, a . 81
Individuals with Geographical Interests in Venezuela. . . 81
Government Agencies Carrying on Geographical Studies or
Sponsoring Publications of Geographical Interest, . . . . 84
Conferences and Commissions . . 85
Venezuelan Institutions %with Geographical Interest. . . . 86
National Archives and National Library. . . , . . . . ? ? 87
The Development of Geographical Instruction in Venezuela. 87
Present-Day Geography in the Schools . . . a . . ? ? , a ? . . 94
Recent Investigations by Foreigners . 98
Cartography, . . ? . . 100
Early Maps. . . . . 100
Travels of Von Humboldt and Schomburgk. . . . . . . . . . 100
C odazzi l s Atlas ? ? ? ? . ? . ? ? ? . ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 100
The Plano Nli1 i.tar . . . . . . . . 101
Development of Cartografia National ? 101
Other Cartographic Projects . 102
Cartographers in Government Institutions . . . . . . . . 103
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Cartographers in Private Agencies . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
Part-time Cartographers . 105
Mapping Activities of Government Agencies,... . . . . . . . ? 106
Mapping Activities of Petroleum Companies. . . 111
Brazil. . . 115
Brazilian Geographers and their Specialties. 115
Agencies of the Brazilian Government which Carry on Geographic
Research-Studies . , . . . a . , ? . . . a . . . a a , . , ? . 125
The Conseiho Nacional de Geografia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
List of Other Government Agencies which carry on Geographic Work . 127
The North . a . ? . . . a . . . . . . ? . ? ? a . . . ? . 127
The Northeast . . 127
The East, . . . . . a 128
The ? South . ? ? 129
The West Central. ? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
The Federal District. ? , . 130
Geographical Societies . . . ? . . . . ? . ? . ? . . . . . . ? . . 131
The Teaching of Geography. ? . . . . ? 132
Material for Geographic Research in Brazil ? . 134
Foreign Geographers in Brazil ? 135
Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay ? . , 137
Argentina, . . . ? . . . 137
Geographers and Their Research Programs. ? 137
Government Agencies - Research Programs (Generalized). . . . . . . 150
Geographic Societies and Other Private Organizations . . . . . . . 153
Geography as an Academic Subject in Schools. . . . . . . . . . . ? 156
Uruguay. . . ? . . . ? . a . . . . ? . . . ? . . . . . . . . . . . 160
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Government Agencies - research Programs. , 164
'Geographic societies and Other Private Organizations . . . . . 168
Geography as an Academic subject ? . . . . . , . . . . . . . 170
Geographic Publications and Materials for Geographic tesearch. 171
Paraguay
172
Ecuador and Peru. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ? . . .
.
173
Ecuador . , . . . . . . . . . - . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
..
173
Geographers and their Research Programs,
173
Geographical Societies
174
Peru .
174
Geographers in Peru , .
174
Government Agencies,
176
Geographical Societies
.
176
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m ru tIC" BY
LAT11Y til'LL11~ C u'. GLu + ~~Si t1~11 J, G chi'.W1Y1 AG ~I CI1 JJ
Ai~J GEOGuiPhIC oUCIbTIEa
Late in 1947 and early in 1948, the Committee on Latin American Geography
of the Division of Geology and Geography of the ihational .,esearch Council set
up several working Bubconmiittees to invest:.gate the status of geographic work
in Latin America. The Committee on Latin American Geography consists of the
following:
Clarence F. Jones, Chairman of the Caiiittee, Chairman, Department of
Geography, ivorthwestern University, Evanston, Illinois.
Donald D. Brand, Chairman of the dubccmmi.ttee on ihiexico, Head, i,epartnient
of Geography, University of Texas, Austin, Texas.
Rafael Pico, Chairman of the bubcom-i6ttee on the Vest Indies, Chairman,
Puerto ~tican Planning Board, uarturce, Puerto Aico.
Daniel atanislawski, Chairman of the Bubcommittee on Guatemala, British
Honduras, it oalvador, and Honduras, Associate Professor of Geography,
University of Texas, Austin, Texas.
Paul C. ii~orrison, Chairman of the subcommittee on Nicaragua, Costa pica,
and Panama, Professor of Geography, Lichigan state College, Last
Lansing, Michigan.
Pobert G. Long, Chairman of the subcommittee on Colombia, Associate iro-
fessor of Geography, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee.
Charles B. Hitchcock, Chairman of the ubconunittee on Venezuela, j.xecutive
.secretary, American Geographical society, Broadway at 156 dt., ivew
York, 32, New York.
Preston E. James, Chariman of the oubcarnmittee on brazil, Professor of
Geography, ayracuse University, 6y-'acuse, P;ew York.
.iirthur P. Biggs, Chairman of the Jubcommittee on Argentina, Uruguay
and Paraguay, Attache (Geographer) American ..,nibessy, Buenos Aires,
Argentina.
F. ~debster 1icdryde, Chairman of the subcommittee on Ecuador and Peru,
Consultant, Office of the Coordinator, International statistics,
ioureau of the Census, c/o American nbassy, -luito, Ecuador.
ii'rank L. Keller, Chairman of the jubconilittee on Bolivia and Chile, Pro-
fessor of Geography, Tulane University, New Orleans, La.l
Chairmen of the aubconmiittees wire assisted by other ieorth American and
Latin American geographers. Credit is given them in the respective sections.
The aubcoirunittees had as their chief objectives a survey under the follow-
ing headings of the geographic work being done in Latin America:
(1) Geographers in Latin .unerica and their research programs.
1. The iections on Bolivia and Chile have not been completed.
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(2) 1-rograius of geographic work by Latin Lieracan government
a=;ericies, including geographic raap,,ing programs.
(3) Geographic societies in #atiri America and their chief fields
of interest and publications.
Come of the subcommittees adhered closely to these objectives; others
expanded on them, adding geography in Univrsities and other schools, and Lor-
cign geographers who have worked in Latin iitierica; still others omitted o e
or more of the objectives. The sections vary greatly in scope and detail.
'ome include geographers and other persons in related fields doing geographic
work in a given country; others include only those persons known as geographers.
The status of geographic work in Latin American countries varies greatly.
In some countries there are ew geographers or other persons engaged in geog-
rapizic work, vith trained personi_el, active societies and strong government
agencies, Brazil, 1exico and Argentina lead all other Latin . nerican countries
ir_ geographical activities. However, significant geographic work is being done
in several other countries by mapping agencies, such as Instituto Geografico
i..ilitar, various government agencies, and by professors in university faculties.
2. or some countries additional inforr,atiori is contained in (1) Jorge
tarur, Geography and Carto;zraphy for Census rurposes, Committee on the 1950
Census of the Americas'. Office of the Coordinator, International Statistics,
Bureau of the Census, 'Lraehington 1947, 57 pages. himeographed, (2) George
3. Cressey, "Geographiy in Latin America", Bulletin of the International Geog-
raphic4.1 Union, Vol. I, June 1950, pp. 6 - 12, 3)'11.iepertorio de Geografos
de La hrgentina", .)ocicdad tirgentina de Lstudios Geograficos, GAEA, Boletin
No. 27, 1950, 1950, pp. 27 - 42, and (4) "Informe ivacional de Lctividades",
Comisiones de Cartografia, Geografia, e Historia, aeccion r,acional del Instit-
uto Panamericano de Geografoa e Historia, Buenos Aires, 1950, 105 pages.
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The discussion of geographic work in P'iexico deals with the history and phil-
osophy of geography in Mexico, liexican geographers, geography in governnent agencies,
geographic socie ies, geographic education, and resources for geographic research
and instruction.
HISTORY AND PHILOSOPHY OF GEOGRAPHY IN MEXICO
Golonia Period. The Spanish crown was greatly interested in information con-
cerning its newly acquired possessions in the New World -- both to aid in administra-
tion and for the intrinsic value of the information. Positions were established
(in several grades) of cosmographer, chronicler, protom 'dico, geographer, etc.,
whose duties included the acquiring and summarizing of large bodies of information
much of which was geographic. The men who held these posts were commonly lawyers,
physicians, priests, astronomers and engineers. Although some of these men traveled
widely in New Spain (a larger entity than modern Nexico), most of them resided in
?lexic? City or in Spain and they acquired most of their data by questionnaires which
had to be answered by all of the religious and political administrators among whom
they were circulated. Although official requests for information were circulated in
New apain as early as 1525, it was not until the 135-point interrogatory of 1569/71,
the 50--point questionnaire of 1579/82, and the chorographic study of 1570/81 by the
rotom 'dio Hernandez and the royal geographer Dominguez, that detailed information
frequently accompanied by sketch maps) was available on the physical and human
geography of Mexico. The relaciones geogrgfjcas which resulted from the survey of
1579/82 constituted the basis for most geographic descriptions of Mexico until the
eighteenth century. The information so acquired was supplemented by charts of the
coasts (made for military and naval purposes), periodic censuses (such as the many
lists of tributary Indians, the census-estimate of families made by the cosmographer
Villaserior y Sanchez in 1742, and the 1792/94 censuses made during the viceroyalty
of Reviila Gigedo and utilized by Humboldt in his classic work on Mexico), regional-
economic studies made preliminary to the congregation of Indians at various times
but especially 1593 - 1605, a series of studies 1765/86 in connection with reforms of
the administration of New Spain, various special scientific expeditions in the 1780's
and 1790's (such as that of 1`ialaspina, and the royal botanical expedition), geologic
and mining studies carried out by the Real Cuerpo de Aineria under r'austo de Elhuyar
1. This report was written by Donald D. Brand, Chairman of the Subcommittee on
Mexico. The following persons in the United States assisted in the preparation of
the report on Mexico: Prof. Carl 0. Sauer, Chairman, Dept. of Geography, University
of California, Berkeley, California; Prof. Daniel Stanislawski, Dept. of Geography,
University of Texas, Austin, Texas; and Prof. Henry S. Sterling, Dept. of Geography,
University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin. Also, considerable assistance was re-
ceived from Prof. vita Lopez de Llergo y Seoane, Director of the Institute of Geog-
raphy of the Universidad Nacional de Mexico. In the early phases of the study, Dr.
Jorge A. Vivo, Professor of Geography in the Universidad Nacional de Liexico, was help-
ful.through providing various pertinent catalogs. More recently, some corrections
were received from Sr. Ing. Ricardo Lancaster-Jones, Secretario General of the Junta
Auxiliar de la Sociedad iMiexicana de Geografia y Estadistica en el Estado de Jalisco.
2. The report is to be considered a preliminary one as information is incom-
plete on all the above topics.
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1788 -1821, reports on trade and resources by such groups as the Consulado de Vera
Cruz and the City of Mexico, and by astronomic determination of positions and by
sketch maps and compiled maps made by private individuals and by officials (espec-
ially military men and engineers). Although enormous quantities of "geographic"
statistics were accumulated during the Spanish colonial period, there was little at-
tempt at synthesis or compilation and practically none at analysis or interpretation.
However, the first good (in terms of available information) map of Mexico was com-
piled in the seventeenth century by the great Mexican polymath Carlos Siguenza y
G6ngora (1645 - 1700), and this map was copied in the eighteenth century by the
greatest Mexican scientist of that century Josh Antonio Alzate y Ramirez (1737 - 1799).
The only real attempt at a geographic compendium was that made by Alexander von Hum-
boldt on the basis of his trip to Mexico 1803/04 and the maps and statistical mater-
ials made available to him. In summary, geography in Mexico during the colonial per-
iod was limited essentially to (1) the accumulation of political and economic statis-
tics, and to (2) the improvement of cartographic materials, So far as we know no
geography as such was taught. in the schools of Mexico, although there was some in-
struction in cosmography. Neither were there any geographers in the modern sense,
and the individuals with such titles as geographer and cosmographer were primarily
mathematicians, astronomers, and engineers.
Early National Period. During the first part of independent national life
(from the War for Independence 1810/21 to the end of the French Intervention 1862/67)
the almost continuous disturbance of civil and foreign wars nearly nullified the in-
vigorating effect of independence and the stimulus of contact with the rapidly ex-
panding sciences of the early nineteenth century. The polished Mexican diplomat and
scholar Jose Maria Justo Gomez, Conde de la Cortina (1799 - 1860), had been exposed
to the embryonic modern science of geography while he had served as a Spanish diplo-
mat in some of the European countries,,and upon his return to Mexico in 1832 he es-
tablished a free course in geography which was probably the first course in geography
ever offered in Mexico. However, this course was of brief duration and we hear little
more of academic geography for the next 30 years although Joaquin de Mier y Terri
(1829 - 1868) was professor of geography in the Colegio de Ingenieros in 1853, and
Corozco y Berra (mentioned later) was professor of geography in the Colegio Militar
1861 - 1862. In 1833 Gomez de la Cortina helped found and was the first president
of the Instituto National de Geografia y Estadistica which was the precursor of the
present Sociedad Mexicana de Geografia y Estadistica (1850/51 - ), of which he was
also a founder and the first vice president. An examination of the publications of
this organization (Bole in, first epoch 1839/66) shows that the colonial emphases on
statistics and mapping continued to be paramount. Such a trend was only natural in
a young nation which wished to evaluate its resources, plan their utilization and
administration, and provide for the.defense of the nation. The emphasis on statistics
is brought out further by the fact that the first congress of the independent nation
called for statistical studies to be made of each of the constituent entities. Un-
fortunately, at the time only one such study was made, that by Martinez Lejarza on
the province of Michoacan which was published in 1824. This monograph remained the
best regional study in Mexico for nearly half a century. The stress on mapping is
indicated by the fact that the newly formed (1822) Cuerpo de Ingenieros.Militares was
immediately assigned the task of preparing the national and military map of Mexico.
During this period individuals with the title of geographer (Ingeniero Reografo)
began to come out of the Colegio Militar and the Colegio de Mineria (the successor of
the colonial Escuela y Tribunal de Minas, later to become the Escuela National de
Ingenieros). While the colonial geographers were self-styled or so termed by cour-
tesy and commonly were astronomers and mathematicians, the ingenieros ge6grafos of
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the 18501s and thereafter had earned titles and were a combination of mathematician,
astronomer, geodesist and topographer (surveyor and draftsman), Most of the so-
called geographic work of the nineteenth century in 11iexico was performed by men with
training in the indicated fields The earliest and among the greatest of the
geog-
raphic engineers were Jose Salazar Ilarre
gui (1823-1892). Francisco Jimenez (1824
-
1881), and Francisco Diaz Covarrubias (1833 - 1889) who are best known for their
work in surveying international boundaries, planning drainage enterprises, determining
positiona astronomically, and the like. Two other men, more truly geographers in the
modern sense, appeared in this period although they produced important work after
1867, These were the topographic en ireer Manuel Crozco y Berra (1.816 -, 1881) and
the geographic engineer Antonio Gar 1a Cubas (18332 - 1912), Crnn;,cco y Be:, ra is so
wide? k:.noin as an historian, philologist, editor, bibliographer, encyclopedist, and
lawy>er, that his work as a bureaucrats surveyor and geographer is often overlooked.
It is of interest that most of his geographic work had to do with mapping distribu-
tions (such as Indian languages) and with the history of mapping in Mexico. Also, it
is indicative of the attitude of his time that his x untes Para la histtoria de lay
goo ca.f. a en Mexico is little more than a history of exploration in Mexico and devel-
opments in the mapping of Mexico. Garcia Cubas began as a topographic artist for the
newly formed (1854).Ministerio de Fomento, and concentrated on preparing first a map
of all Mexico and then an atlas composed of maps of the individual entities. Later
Garcia Cubas turned to writing regional geographic texts and compiling a great his-
torical-geographical dictionary or gAzeteer of Mexico. The discussion of this period
might well be terminated by mentioning the French Commission Scientifique du Plexique
1864/67 which included plans for geographic work in its original organization but
which accomplished nothing in geography, but little in geology, somewhat more in
botany and archaeology, and most of all in zoology.
Scientific Renaissance. The next period, approximately 1868 - 1910, might well
be termed the period of the Mexican Scientific Renaissance, In 1867 the Escuela
Nacional Preparatoria was formed on the basis of earlier existing schools and shortly
thereafter a course in geography was introdu,,ed. Elsewhere in Mexico chairs or courses
in geography were established in various golf 'os (approximately of senior high school
or junior college grade) such as the chair of F;sica y GeografIa founded in 1869 in
the Colegio de San Nicolas de Hidalgo (now the preparatory school of the University
of Michoac6n), Although these courses in geography were a far cry fm m modern geog-
raphy, at least they were an improvement over the, purely physical coy o graphic
courses; and apparently geography courses were tow available for the first time to
students other than those in military and engineering schools. Little real progress,
however, was made in the teaching of geography until mat?tXo Miguel E. Schulz (1851 -
1922) began to teach in the Escuela Nacional reparatoria in 1882. Durizg the period
1882 - 1922 Schulz, as professor of geography and history and as directc,r of the
school for a time, converted geography from a dull combination of coomog,-a by and
place geography into a subject which was made real and attractive through :he blend-
ing of physical and cultural geography,, In a very literal sense &:bulz was
the founder of modern geography in 1e1exico; and he also was the teacher of most of
the Mexican geographers who developed and directed the discipline in J exico 1zatil
some ten years ago.
The turmoil in Mexico between the death of Jugrez and the coming to power of
Porfiri_o Diaz in 1876 precluded much governmental activity ire geography until fiat
date, Through the sympathetic interest of the scholar-general Vicente Riva Palar;a,
while he was secretary of development (Fomento), there were initiated:
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1876 The Comision de Cartograffa, under Ing. Agustin Diaz, which was to care for
and edit the official maps of the nation.
1877/78 The Comision Geogrsfico-Exploradora de la Republica rlexicana, also under
Ing. Agustin Diaz and jointly sponsored by the ministries of Fomento and Guerra.
This commission was supposed to investigate the geography and natural history
of Mexico and to prepare the national map. By the time it became defunct
(about 1911/14) it had surveyed and issued maps (198 sheets on a scale of
1:100,000) which covered about one-fifth of Mexico.
1877 The Observatorio Meteorol6giGo y.Magnetico Central, under the Jaliscan scholar
and statesman Ing. Mariano B4rcena who remained as director until his death in
1899. By 1898/99 a fairly extensive network of thermo-pluviometric stations
attended by federal telegraphers made possible the issuance of weather charts,
and thus the Servicio Meteorol6gico Nacional'came into being about 1900. This
event was celebrated by holding in 1900 the first Mexican meteorological con-
gress.
1877/80 The Observatorio Astron6mico Central, which was under the direction of Ing.
Angel Anguiano 1880 - 1899. A later director was the geographic engineer
Valentin Gama (1868 - 1943).
1882 The Direction General de Estadistica, which during most of its formative years
was under the scholar-statistician Antonio Periafiel.
Schools, societies, institutes, congresses, laboratories and other organisms in
many branches of knowledge wore established during the remaining years of the 'ax
Porfiriana. Among the more important of these with some geographic bearing wore:
The Sociedad Cientifica "Antonio slzate" 1884/85 - which began its Memorias y Revista
in 1887, and which was to become the national scientific academy in 1930; The Com-
ision Geol6gica de la Republica 1886/88 - which began its Boletin in 1895, and which
later became the Instituto de Geolog{a attached to the national university in 1929;
the XI meeting of the International Congress of Americanists which met in Mexico City
in 1895; the Comision Geodesica MIexicana formed in 1899 under Ing. Angel Anguiano,
which in 1916 (when under the direction of. Pedro C. Sanchez) was fused into the
Direction de Estudios Geograficos; the X International Geological Congress which met
in Nexico in 1906; the Sociedad Michoacana de Geografia y Estadistica which functioned
actively from 1905 to 1912 in Morelia and issued eight volumes of its Boletln: and
the welding together of various higher schools in Mexico City in 1910 to form the
Universidad National de Mexico.
Throughout the Pax Porfiriana the earlier stresses on map making and on collect-
ing and publishing statistics continued, but the influence of maestro Schulz set the
foundations for modern geography.
The Modern Period. Towards the end of the devolution (1910 - 1917) most of the
governmental agencies which carried on geographic work were fused 1915/16 into the
Comision (soon termed Direction) de Estudios Geograficos.y ClimatoJ gicos under Ing.
Pedro C. Sanchez and within the Secretarla de Fomento whose head at the time was the
eminent engineer and geographer Pastor Rouaix'. In 1934 this geographic office be-
came known as the Direction de Geograffa, 1eteorologIa.e Hidrologia, which title it
bore until the cabinet changes of 1946/47 when hydrology was lost to the newly
founded Secretarla de Recursos hidraulicos. The mapping, geodetic and other work of
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this geographic bureau is outlined elsewhere. In 1921 the first Congreso National
de Geograffa was held in Tacubaya; and from 1921 can be dated the revision in the
Escuela National Preparatoria of the system of teaching geography. This revision
was initiated chiefly by Elpidio L6pez; was inspired by contemporary French geog-
raphers such as Brunhes, Vidal de la Blache and de Martonne; consisted principally
of an organization into Physical Geography, Bio-geography, and Human Geography; and
within a few years this organization prevailed in most of the secondary and prepara-
tory schools of Mexico.
Beginning with the establishment of the Comisi6n National de Irrigation in 1926,
there developed a very strong movement towards the forming of various governmental
agencies primarily to study, plan and exploit various natural resources. These
agencies have required base maps and various types of economic-geographic reports,
and consequently the bulk of geographic work in Mexico is now being done by engineers,
lawyers and economists in government service. In order to meet the challenge the
national university has made several attempts in the 1930's and 1940's to train pro-
fessional geographers for other than teaching positions, but so far only a few
trained geographers have been developed.
Geography as a science or discipline in Mexico so far holds no generally ac-
cepted form, position, content or definition. A certain amount of physical and cul-
tural geography (both general and regional) is taught in the primary, secondary,
vocational, preparatory and normal schools but the preparation of the teachers in
these various schools is not commonly that of a professional geographer. There is no
group, association, society or other organization of geographers -- either of geog-
raphy teachers or of researchers in geography.
There is no satisfactory list of Mexican geographers. There is no society or
association of professional geographers or of teachers of geography. Although there
is a geographical society the membership includes many professions from lawyer and
physician to soldier and politician, and probably not one member in twenty would call
himself a geographer. The various biographies or directories of living Mexicans stress
literary figures and individuals in the higher levels of state and federal government.
Consequently few scientists and educators are listed. Apparently there are not a
dozen living Mexicans who are listed as geographers. It is indicated that biograph-
ical and bibliographical organizations in Mexico might well devote attention to pro-
ducing volumes on "Mexican Scientists", "Mexican Scholars", "Mexican Educators", and
the like.
Persons who teach geography often are geographers, but there are many difficul-
ties in following this approach. There is no national organization of geography
teachers on any level or grade. Teachers in primary and secondary schools (the first
nine years of schooling) commonly do not specialize, and a teacher of geography is
equally a teacher of history or government or some other subject. In the vocational,
normal and preparatory schools a person may teach only geography and be known as a
professor of geography. Probably this group of teachers (roughly equivalent to high
school teachers in the United States) contains the greatest number of people who are
known as geographers, who call themselves geographers, and who write geography
(usually textbooks). However, most of such teachers of geography have a very elemen-
tary command of geography and have not earned a higher degree in geography. This is
not surprising since there are only two institutions in all Mexico which have depart--
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ments of geography in which geography is taught on a university level and in which
master's and doctor's degrees can be earned. Higher degrees in geography (other
than the engineering degree, which is essentially that of a civil engineer) were not
earned until the 1930's, and the total number to date is so small that the posses-
sors of such degrees cannot be considered as constituting the core of Mexican geog-
raphy.
Even in the Escuela llacional ~'reparatoria, and the various federal, state and
private universities and schools of university rank there are few adequately pre-
pared teachers of geography, and there are no full-time professional geographers.
Not only are there no full-time positions as professors of geography, there are
practically no full time professors (urofesores je planta Q c era) in any in-
stitution of higher education. Salaries are usually so low that a person must teach
in two or three different institutions and in addition practice medicine or law, or
write for several newspapers, or hold some, government or other position, in order to
make a living. It is not uncommon fora person to teach geography at one institution,
history at another, perhaps French or English at yet a third school, hold some edito-
rial position with a newspaper or magazine, and carry on a legal or medical practice
in addition. I-i the case of such individuals it is difficult to determine either
their profession or their business address. Furthermore, even when finances are not
an important consideration, a geographer may teach in a number of institutions be-
cause there are not enough trained geographers to go around.
Since there are no full-time professional geographers in Mexico we must use a
number of criteria in the determination of who should be included in a list of r4exi.-
can geographers. These criteria can be summarized as follows:
(1) Mere membership in the Sociedad Mexicana de Geografla y Lstadistica is not suf-
ficient; one must be assigned to the secci6n de aeografla. The same is true
for the few other "geographic" societies in the republic.
(2) A person listed as "profesor de geograffa" is considered to be a geographer un-
less it is evident that teaching geography is a minor avocation.
(3) All masters and doctors of geography are considered to be geographers, wherever
such information is available. However, the majority of Mexican geographers do
not possess such degrees.
(4) Persons in allied fields (such as geology, economics, bio-geography) are listed
as geographers if they frequently participate in congresses of geography, geog-
raphic sections of congresses of the social sciences, and the like.
(5) Writers of textbooks in geography (both general and special).
The following list of Mexican Geographers has been compiled from various sources
(chiefly printed) which differ greatly as to reliability, and completeness. It should
be thought of as a preliminary list to which many names will be added and from which
a number of names perhaps should be removed. The people who are listed fulfil one
or more parts of the following definition: A geographer is a. person who has a higher
degree in geography, or who teaches geography, or writes geography, or carries out
geographic research. An attempt was made to obtain information on the following
points: Title of address, full name, where and when born, higher education and de-
grees, principal past occupations, present employments, principal topical and regional
fields of research and writing, best professional address, home address. Some
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comments on these items of information are:
TITLE OF ADDRESS -- Senor or sef_ Arita presumably means that there is no earned title
or de Fee such as engineer (Ing.). lawyer or attorney (Lie. or
Abog.), eta. Infrequently encountered titles are given in full.
FULL NAt,LE .... to eliminate confusion an attempt has been made to obtain both
matronymic and patronymic, and the full surname has been capi-
talized.
WHERE AND WHEN BORN -- information not commonly found, and when found it is often
erroneous. The birthplace often is given as the nearest large
city to the community of actual birth.
HIGM- A EDUCATION r&ND .DEGREES - the information usually is incomplete, confused, and
unreliable. Many schools have changed name and status during the
past years, and the same is true for titles, degrees, licenses,
diplomas and the like.
PRINCIPAL PAST OCCUPATIONS from the point of view of geography.
PRESENT EMPLOYI' ;NTS __ this information becomes out of date very rapidly especially
for those in government service. At least every six years with
the change in the national presidency there is much change in
governmental organization and also in personnel. Since some of
our published sources appeared prior to December 1946 - January
1947 (when most of the recent changes took place) there may be
numerous errors of this type.
PRINCIPAL TOPICAL AND REGIONAL FIELDS OF R:ESEtirtCH Ai'4D r4RITING - most teachers of
geography have no time for research since handling four or five
jobs does not leave much leisure time, most of the geographic
research in Mexico is being done in the fringes or peripheries
of geography by civil engineers, geologists, rural economists,
geodesists, etc, About all that the teacher or professor of
geography can manage is library or laboratory "research" of the
11scissors and paste" type which results in a "new" regional or
topical textbook.
BEST PROFESSIONAL ADDRESS -_ that business address where the person is most likely
to receive his mail.
HOME ADDRESS -- where known this is the only sure way of reaching a person by
mail within a reasonable period of time. -ihere no address is
given, the person lives in the Valley of Mexico, unless he is the
author of a regional text.
NOTE:
ABBREVIATIONS,
ENA
Escuela Nacional de Agricultura
ENI
--
Escuela tacional de Ingenieros or Fac. de Ing.
UNM.
ENP
--
,
Escuela Nacional Preparatoria
ENS
--
Escuela Normal Superior
UNM
Universidad 1eacional de Mexico
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DG-UNM -- Departamento de Geografia, Univeraidad Nacional de
Mexico.
DGMH..SAF- Direcci6n de Geografia, Meteorologia e Hidrologia do
la Secretaria de Agricultura y Fomento.
DGM-SAG - Direcci6n de Geografia y Meteorologia de la Secretaria
de Agricultura y Ganaderia.
Profsa. Maria Consuelo AGUILAR, Viuda de Galvin. Tialnepantla, hex., 1892 -. High
School geography.
*Ing. nilio ALANIS PATINA. Ciudad Hidalgo, Mich., 1905-. Ingeniero agr6nomo ENA
1930; doctor en estadistica, Univ. Roma, 1932. Studied agricultural-econom-
ic-geographic divisions of Mexico 1933 - 1937. Professor of statistics and
of economic geography in the E.N.A., since 1933. Economic agricultural stat-
istics, economic regions of exico. Escuela Nacional de Agricultura,
Chapingo, Mexico.
Ing. Adolfo ALAR.GON M NDI BAL. Economics of highway location.
-~Profesor Aam6n ALCORTA GUE1t?ER0. Guerrero, S. L. P., 1912 - . At present professor
of geography in the DG-UNM, the ENS, and the ENP, where he teaches human
geography, historical.and political geography, and physical geography. He
has edited various geographic publications and at present is secretary of
the Comision de Geografla within the Sociedad 1Liexicana de Geografia within
the Sociedad Mexicana de Geografia y Estadistica. Probably Hlcorta should be
listed as primarily a cultural geographer, and as one of the few professional
geographers in Mexico.
Gctaviano ANDdADE GONZALEZ. Maestro en Ciencias Geograficas, UNM 1941. Thesis on:
Elementos de Cosmografia y de Geografia Fisica.
Ing. Agustin ARAGON Y LFCN. Jonacatepec, Mor., 1870 -. Ingeniero gebgrafo, r.NI.
Ing. Ignacio Leon de la BAAtA. Ingeniero geografo, Colegio Militar.
*Prof. Carlos BENITEZ DEL01ME. Former professor of geography in the ENP. Wrote
Geo r afia Humana, Social y Eeonomle_a, 5th ed., Mexico, 1943.
Ing. Jose R. BENITEZ. Director of the Instituto de geografia, Universidad de
Guadalajara; Author of various works in historical geography. decently en-
gaged on historical maps of Nueva Galicia. Instituto do Geografia. Univer-
sidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. Home address: Parro-
quia 578, Guadalajara.
Ing. Carlos R. BEB,ZUNZA DE LA VICTORIA. Teniente eoronal. Professor of military
geography in the Escuela Superior de Guerra, Villa Obregon.
Ing. Luis BLAZQULL LUP&. 1900 -. Physical geography; economic geology.
*Prof. Dr. Pedro CARRASCO. Badajoz, Spain, 1883 D. Sc., Univ. Madrid, 1905.
Former professor and dean of school of sciences, Univ. Madrid. Astrophys-
ics, geo-physics, astronomy, meteorology. Professor of mathematics, cosmo-
graphy, physical geography, geophysics, and meteorology and climatology in
the DG-UNM and in the ENS.
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Luis CASTELLANo. Geografia General, 'exico, 1939 (3rd grade text).
*Ing. Alfonso CONTii,,AAS ARIAS, ideteorologist and climatologist in the DCZi-SAG.
Probably the outstanding climatologist in Mexico, Research on relationships
of wild and cultivated plants to climate; application of the Thornthwaite
system of climatic classification to riexico.
Prof. Aureliano COR3AL DELGADO. Professor of geography in the preparatory school
and normal school of the Universidad de Sonora in Hermosillo, Sonora.
Ing. Jorge A. CUEVAS. Town planning.
Prof. Roberto DAVILA LEON. Saltillo, 1897 Teacher in mexico City. Author of
an atlas of Mexico,.
Ing. Alfonso DE A 0 CAR EEO. Ingeniero topografo, Chief geologist (Ingeniero en
jefe de geologla), Secretaria de Recursos Hidraulicos. Professor of geo-
physical methods of exploration, ENI. Research in Mexican geophysics.
Prof. Daniel DELGADILLO. Cuauntitlan 1872 -. Former professor in the ENP. Numer-
ous texts such as La Tierra 1940. El Distrito Federal 14th ed. 1944, Atlas
Geografico 1910, La Republica Mew; Geo a Elemental in 30th ed. 1947,
Presbitero Severo DIAZ. Sayula, Jal., 1876 -. Religious orders and training in
physics and mathematics in Seminario de Ciudad Guzman. Past professor of as-
tronomy, physics, mathematics, and cognate subjects in schools and universi-
ties of Guadalajara. At present chief of the Jaliscan meteorologic service.
Numerous paperp on tectonics of south western i'iexico, recent vulcanism, clim-
atology, Address: Garibaldi 440, Guadalajara, Jalisco.
Coronel de In5s. Francisco DIAZ BABIO, Former director of the Servicio Geografico
del Ejercito 14exicano. Cartography.
Profa. Margarita DILLLNER. Instructor of regional and physical geography in the
DG-UNM,
Sara ENiUQLJEL CASTANEDA. Maestra en ciencias geograficas.
*Ing. Alberto Escalona Ramos. Mexico City, 1908 -. Ingeniero Civil, ENI 1933.
Professor of geography in the ENP and other schools of the UNM since 1927.
Research in astronomical or mathematical geography, and in Mayan chronology.
Felipe FHANCO. Geografia de Puebla. ,A4exico, 1941.
Dr. Ing. Joaquin GALLO MONTj RUBI0. Mexico City, 1882 -.- Ingeniero, ENI, 1908;
D. Sc., UNM, 1932. Director of the Observatorio Astronomico de 14exico since
1916. Former professor of mathematics, astronomy, and cosmography in ENP,
ENI, DG-UNM, etc. Some research in meteorology,
Prof. Ramon GARCIA RUIZ. Guadalajara, Jal., 1908-. G.aduate of ENS in Mexico City.
Federal education administration. The teaching of geography in primary schools.
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Margarita GARDUIO NAVARRO. Maestra en Ciencias, F'isicas, UNM, 1939. The thesis
subject was: La Ge raf a F a qa eI 1iLo ED nza Secundaria.
Prof. Jose C, GOMEZ. Chief -,of the Servicio Meteorologico Mexi.cano, of the DGri-
SAG, and professor of meteorology and climatology in the DG-UNM. Meteor-
ologic tabulations and maps.
Prof. Amado GON! ALEZ DAVILA. Geoarafia de Nayarit, Mexico, 1942.
Prof. Luis GONZALEZ TREVINO. Professor in the ENP.
Prof. Joaquin GUTIERREZ HERMOSILLO. Professor of physical geography in the ENP.
*Profa. Maria Teresa GUTIER-ILZ VEZCCUEZ. Instructor in meteorology and climatology
in the DG-UNM.
Timoteo L. HErtNANDEZ. Geograf a del : ado de Nuevo Leon. 3rd Ed. Monterrey, 1943.
Prof. Gilberto HEFUNANDEZ CORZO. Instructor in statistics and demography in the DG-
UNM.
*Ing. Horatio HERA. Ingeniero Civil. Chief of cartography in the DGEt-SAG. nap-
ping of Mexico. Regional geography of the Rio Hondo basin.
Prof. Cayetano HIDALGO.
Ing. Ricardo LANCASTER--JONES. Secretary of the JAJ-SMGE, and great-great-great
grandson of the English educator Joseph Lancaster. Working on a bibliography
of Jaliscan geography. Office, Aptdo 675, Guadalajara, Jalisco.
*Dr. Luis LANZ MARGALLI. Hda. San Joaquin, Tam., 1907 -. Maestro en Ciencias
Geograficas 1939 in the UNM with thesis: Ensaya geofisico del Estado de,
Tabasco. Licenciado en Eeonomia 1941, UNM with thesis: Ge raf a ecoomica
del do de Tabasco. Doctor en ciencas geograficas, UNM 1942. Formerly
professor of Economic Geography and Geography of Mexico in the DGbUNM, and
economist in various governmental departments,
Presbitero Jose Trinidad LARIS. Guadalajara, Jal., 1884 -. Priestly orders in
Guadalajara. Articles on historical-geography of Jalisco. Address: Reforma
573, Guadalajara, Jalisco.
Arquitecto Carlos LAZO JR. Mexico City, 1914 -. Arquitecto, UNM, 1939. Town
planning; rural settlements.
Ing. Aurelio LEAL TALVINO. Villa de Mendez, Tam., 1890 -. Ingeniero geografo,
Colegio Miilitar. Former professor, ENP.
Albino LOPE J. Geograffa All Es ado Al Yuca a , Mexico, 1931. Text for the third
grade.
Prof. Elpidio LOPEZ LOPEZ. Astronomer, meteorologist and climatologist in Puebla
and the Federal District. Later, professor of geography in the ENP and the
ENS. In 1920's revised system of geographic instruction in ENP which soon
spread over all Mexico.
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#Profa. Rita LpPEZ DE LLF.RGO Y SLOANE. Wrote a thesis in 1928 on, an aspect of the
geography of the state of Tlaxcala. Professor of physical geography and car-
tography in the Escuela Nacional de Antropologia a Historia and the ENS.
Director of the Instituto de Geografia. of the ` UNIvi since 1944. One of the
chief cartographic draftsmen in government service in Mexico. Instituto de
Geografla de la UNM., Palma No. 9, sexto piso, Mexico, D. F. Home address:
Calle 3, Numero 49, San Pedro de los Pinos, 1116xico, D. F.
Prof. Diego G. LOPEZ ROSADO. Merida, Yuc., 1918 -. Atlas hist6rico Reografico de
Mexico. 1940.
Manuel LOP3Z Y LOPEL. Maestro, 1938. Thesis on: Los elementos del clima.
Prof. Jose A. LOZANO.' Professor of geography in the preparatory school of the Inst.
Tee. y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey, Nuevo Leon.
Prof. Manuel #1ALDONAD0 KOJ+:RDELL. Mazatlan, Sin., 1908 -. UNM; Univ. Washington,
California, Kansas. One of the leading bio-geographers in Mexico. Colegio
de iiiexico and E. S. de Ciencias Biologicas, Inst. Pol. Nac., Et?hnobiology;
history of biological sciences in Mexico. Home address; Culiacan 74,
LL:exico, D. F.
Prof. V. M. MARTINEZ H. Hunan geography of Yucatan.
*Ing. Manuel it DINA PERALTA. Ingeniero topografo. Chief of the Oficina de Geografla
of the DGM-SAG. One of the leading cartographers and geodesists in Mexico.
Home address: 3a. Miery Pesado 236, Colonia del Valle, Mexico, D. F.
Prof.-Angel MIRANDA BASURTO. Professor of educational geography in the ENS.
Prof. Mariano MIRANDA FONSECA. Mono raaffiaa de la Republica Mexicana. Secondary
text. 3rd ed. Mexico 1946.
Profa. Maria de los Angeles i'IOCTEZUi'A. Professor of physical geography in the ENP;
Gabriel MOLIN V. Maestro en Ciencias Geograficas in 1939 in the UNM with thesis on:
El Mediterraneo interamericano.
?Capitan de corbeta Pedro MONTEJO SIERRA. Geopolitics.
Dr. Friedrich Karl Gustav MUL RIED. L891 -. Professor of palaeobiology (Facul-
tad de Ciencias) and of pre-history (Facultad de Filosofia y Letras) in the
UNM. Palaeogeography and physical geography; regional studies in Chiapas,
Guerrero, Coahuila, San Luis Potosi, etc. Home address: Avenida Mazatlan
208, Mexico, D. F.
"Ing. Manuel MUNOZ LUr1BIER. Chihuahua, Chi., 1896 -. Ingeniero ge6logo. Formerly
seismologist, vulcanologist, petroleum inspector, inspector of mines, economic
geographer. New chief of the Departamento de Estudios Econ6micos in the
Secretarla de Economia Aacional (changed in 1947 to D$recci6n General-de Es-
tudios Econ6micos of the Secretaria de Eeonomia). Vocabulary of the earth
sciences; regional economic geography.
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Prof. Jose Vicente NEGRETE. Geogra.f a del Estado de Jalisco. Mexico, 1926; new
edition, 1947. Home address; Lieeo 496, Guadalajara, Jalisco.
Ing. Ezequiel ORDONEZ. Lerma, Mex. 1871 -. Ingeniero de Minas, ENI, 1892. One of
the last of Mexico's field geologists of the nineteenth century. Home ad-
dress: Abraham Gonzalez 79, M6xico, D. F,
Ing, Isidro G. OROZCO. Employed in the DGK-SAG.
Ing. Pascual ORTIZ RUBIO. Morelia, i'iich., 1877 -. Educated ingeniero top6grafo,
ENT. Past president of Mexico and governor of Nii_choaca.n, Constructed the
best map of Michoacan up to 1910, and has written numerous articles on the
geography and history of liichoacan. Home address: Ontario 505, Lomas de
Chapultepec, i?6exico, D. F.
Ing. Gabriel ORTIZ SANTOS. Former director Insituto de Geograffa, Universidad de
Guadalajara. Topographer and geodesist. Mapping of the Lerma-Santiago strip.
'KDr. Bibiano F. QEORIO T.bFALL. Doctor en Ciencias Biol6gicas, UNM. Teaches a course
on Conservation of Natural Resources in DG-UNM. Marine biology, oceanography,
fishing industry. Escuela National de Ciencias Biol6gicas, I.P.N. (Labora-
torio de Hidrobiologia). another address; Venustiano Carranza 25, 60 Pisco,
Mexico, D, F.
Ing, Felipe N. de PARR ES. ChiefSeecion de Gravimetria, DGM-SAG. Geodesy, mapping.
Ing. Lorenzo R. PATINO. Director of the bureau for Conservaci6n del Suelo y ,~gua
in thq Com s-:.("'n Nacional de Irrigaci6n 1942-19it(, and since 1946 in the same
r
post within the Seca ,aria de Agricultura y Gar,ath ria,
Ing. Federico PE. AGUirRE. Director DGM-SAG since 1946f
Ing, Estariis1.ao P ,11.11A RUDUGU Z. Director of the DG IH..SAF until 1946. Topographic
gJ.reec,
er,
Agronomo. A, Ii)EO? Diroctor, Instituto Tecnico .gricola Henequenero de Yucatan.
Climate of Yucatan:.
Profesora Tulia WUL OZ LMAD(h.
sic. Jose Maria de los `-'EYES. Professor of human geography in the ENP. Geografia
hum?na, i4exico, 1946 (M. Porrua),
Profa. Dolores RIQITEL VERTIZ. Pasante en ciencias geograficas in 1945; teacher
of cartography and Map Making and of Geography of Mexico in DG-UNM.
Prof. Jorge RIVERA ACEVES. Maestro en ciencias geograficas. Professor of Geology
and Soils in DG-UNM.
*Ing.. Ramiro ROtiLES- iWM0S. Ingeniero petrolero. Professor of Geology, Physiography
and Soils in D.G.-UNitii and professor of General and Mexican Geology in the ENS.
Professor of Geology in the Facultad de Ingenieria, UNM, and in the Instituto
Politecnico Nacional. Also geologist for the Secretarla de Recursos Hidraul-
icos (Jefe del Departamento de Coordination y Cooperaci6n, Jefatura de
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Geologia). Address: Gelati 4, Tacubaya, D. F,
Jose RODrtIGUEZ G0NZ Lr;Z. Geooar~ fia del Es tado ce, Coahuila. Mexico, 1926.
Prof. Jesus R0MER0 FLOR?S. La Piedad, Mich., 1885 -. Univ. llichoacana 1905. 'Edu-
cator, librarian, bibliographer, politician, historian. Wrote Geo raffia
de Michoacan,, 1931.
Ing. Pastor ROUAIX. Tehuacan, Pbla., 1870 -. Ingeniero topografo ENI 1898.
Governor of Durango; Secretary te; ry of Development (Fomento) 1914-20, during
which time the DGMH was organized under Pedro Sanchez, Contracting engineer.
Geografia del Estado de Durango, Mexico, 1926.
Gen. Leobardo C. RUIZ. Pinos, Zac., 1892 -. Colegio Militar. assistant director
Colegio Militar; chief of aeronautics; minister to Japan and Spain; brig-
adier general. Military geography.
Ing. Manuel SALAZAR Y ARCE. Instructor in economic geography and in topography and
cartography in the DG-UNM,'
*Ing. Pedro Celestino SANCHEZ, r
Hda. San Nicolas Obispo, Poanas, Our., 1871 -,
Ingeniero de minas y metalurgista, ENI 1897. Formerly director Ccmi.sion
Geodesica, Direccibn de Estudios Geograficos y Climatologicos 1915/18 - 1934,
DGMH-SAF, Director of the Instituto Panamericano de Geografla e Historia
1928/30 to date. Physical geography, geodesy, vulcanology and seismology of
southern Mexico and Central America.
Gral. Manuel SANCHEZ LAMEGO, Servicio Geografico del Ejercito.
Prof. Antonio SANCHEZ MOLINA.
Senior Guillermo SANCHEZ PATINO.
Lie. Francisco J. SANTAMAR?A. Cacaos, Tam., 1889 -. Geography of Tabasco,
Prof. Mario SANTOS DEL PRADO. Maestro en ciencias geograficas,
Profa. Sara SANTOS DE 3AVI16N. Maestra en Geogz+afia.
*Ing. Enrique E. SCHULZ Y RICOY. Mexico City, 1875 -. Son of Maestro Miguel Schulz.
Taught geography in most of the institutions of higher learning in the Valley
of Mexico, e. g., ENP 1905-1916, 1921 -; Escuela Normal para Maestros 1905-
1916; Escuela Militar 1911-1914, 1921-27; Escuela Superior de Comercio 1919-;
Facultad de Comercio 1931 -; etc. The date at which he became inactive is
not known to us. He colaborated in the writing and edited many editions of
his father's famous text Curso General de Geo of a.
*Ing. Jorge L. TAkAYO. 1912 -. Ingeniero Civil. Has worked as an irrigation engin-
eer for the government. Tamayo. has written the best hydrography of Mexico to
date, and also a good physical geography of Mexico. Heriberto Frias 613,
Mexico, D. F.
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Profa. Maria Elodia TERiE.S VILL ENOR. Born Mexico City. Maestra en Ciencias
Geograficas 1938 with thesis on: Origen Y Desarrollo de la Ciudad de M6xice.
Recently issued Geografia Fisica, Mexico, 1947..
Ing. Arturo de la TORRE. Professor of physical geography in the ENP and of the Geog-
raphy of Mexico in the summer school of the UNM since 1945, succeeding Osorio
Mondragon.
*Ing. Ricardo TOSCANO. Guadalajara, Jal., 1876 -. Ingeniero topografo. Professor
of topography in such schools as the Facultad de Ingenieria of the UNM, the
Instituto Polit6cnico Nacional, and the DG-UNM. Topographer in the DGM-SAG.
History of cartography in Mexico.
Ing. Alfonso VACA ALAT0tRE. Engineer in the Servicio Geografico del Ejereito, Dir-
eccion de Ingenieros, Secretaria de la Defensa Nacional.
Lie. Francisco VLLENCIA R. Professor of'Mexican Geography in the ENP.
Prof. Fulgencio VM.GJ,S. Jaral del Progreso, Guato., 1875 -. Various articles on
regional geography and history of Guanajuato.
Luis VARGAS PINERA. Chihuahua. Geografia Escolar. Mexico, 1930.
*Dr. Jorge Abilio VIVO. Habana, Cuba, 1906 -. Doctor in derecho civil y publico,
Univ. Habana, 1924; Maestro de Etnologia, Escuela Nacional de yntropologia
e Historia, 1942; Naturalized Mexican, 1943? Professor of geography in such
schools as ENS 1937 -, Escuela Aacional de Antropologia 1939 -, DG-UNM 1940-,
Mexico City College 1947 -, etc. Vivo is chief of the department of Ethnology
in the Escuela Nacional de Antropologia, and is the executive officer in a
number of the geography departments in which he teaches. He is the author
of numerous texts, and has edited several geographic publications, Probably
Vivo is the leading anthropo-geographer in Mexico.
Ing. Isidro VIZCAYA. Professor of geography in the Instituto Tec.,y de Estudios
Superiores de Monterrey, Nuevo Le6n.
Ing. Paul WALTZ. 1876 -. Consulting geologist, Secretaria de Recursos Hidraulicos.
Profa. Esperanza YARZA CARE 0N. Maestra en geografia. Instructor in geography and
meteorology DG-UNM.
Gral. Fernando ZARATE MENESES. Ingeniero Civil. Chief of the O'ervicio Geografico
Militar in 1947.
*Prof. Tomas ZEFEDA RINCON. Doctor en ciencias-histbricas; maestro en ciencias de
la educaci6n. La Republica Mexicana. Geo raffia Atlas. Mexico, 1934, Second
edition, 1941.
Prof. Juan ZILLI. Geograf a del Estado de Veracruz. Mvfexico, 1943.
The foregoing list is subject to much correction and analysis.. Only a few of
the teachers of geography in secondary and preparatory schools have been listed, and
only a few of the authors of texts used in elementary and secondary schools have
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been named. Either there should be a much larger representation from these two
groups, or they should be eliminated completely. Military and civil engineers
including surveyors, geologists, geodesists, astronomers, meteorologists, et al.)
are much more apt to consider themselves geographers -- or at least to attend meet-
ings of geographers -- than are individuals from the social sciences such as econo-
mists, historians, anthropologists, et al. This is because of the great stress that
has been placed on mapping. Actually, there are a number of other engineers who
probably merit mention as much.as some of those included on the above list. In addi-
tion, there are many social scientists (especially statisticians and economists)
who could be listed as properly as the various geologists and surveyors.
Since it is difficult to locate information as to the leading figures in the
geographical sciences in Mexico it seems advisable to present here three special
lists: Inactive, Active, Specialties. The first list includes men who have contri-
buted importantly to geography in Mexico during the past forty years but who are now
dead, retired, or only nominally active.
Retired'. Semi-Active, Deceased
Rafael AGUILAR Y SANTILLAN
1863-1940
Jose Guadaloupe AGUIL -A SERRANO
1852-1941
Angel ANGUTANO
1840-1921
Agustin ARAGON Y LEON
1870-
Ignacio L. de la BARRA
Manuel URIOSA Y CANDIANI
1859-
Octavio BUSTA ANTE
1872-1939
Ezequiel A. CHAVEZ
1868-1946
Daniel DELGADILLO
1872-
Severn DIAZ
1876-
Rosa FILATTI
1891-1943
Jesus GALINDO Y VILLA
1867-1937
Valentin GAMA
1868-1943
Antonio GARCIA CUBAS
1832-1912
Pedro GONZALEZ GASCA
1853-1912
Elpidio LOPEZ LOPEZ
Joaquin de MENDIZABAL TAMBORHELL
? '.:1926
Miguel Otho'n de NENDIZABAL Y ROMANI
1890.>1946
Josh Vicente NEGRETE
Eduardo NORIEGA GA,LINDO
1853-1914
Ezequiel ORDOIEZ
1871-1949
Pascual ORTIZ RUBIO
1877-
Luis R. RUIZ
? ..1948
Jose Luis OSORIO MONDRAGON
18-85-1944
Antonio PEVAFIEL Y BARRANCO
1839-1922
Rafael RkAOS PEDRUEZA
1897-1943
Gonzalo de REPARA.Z
1860-1939
Pastor ROUAIX
1870-
Pedro SANCHEZ
1871-
Enrique E.. SCHULZ Y RICOY
1875- ?
Miguel E. SCHULZ
1851-1922
Juan Manuel TORREA
1874-
Ricardo TOSCANO
1876-
Fulgencio VARGAS
1875-
Paul WAITZ
1876-
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In the second list are included those individuals who are most often men-
tioned w nou r geographers or geography in Mexico is being discussed. Several
of the individuals are not active at present, and at least half of the number
are not primarily gt:~ographers. However, this is the nearest thing that we
have to a list of the active professional or semi-professional geographers of
university or equivalent rank.
Ac ive Geographers and elated Scientists
Emilio JJ NIS PATINO, agricultural economist
Ramon ALCORTA GULitt;RO, human geographer
Carlos B ENITEZ DELO&i?, human geographer
Pedro CAE SCO, astronomer and meteorologist
Alfonso CONTRERAS ARIAS, climatologist and ecologist
Alberto LSCnLONA iUMOS, mathematical geographer
Ma. Teresa GUTIERR:r;G VKZw.UEZ, physical geographer
Horacio HERkL, cartographer
Luis LA'NJZ MARGALLI, economic geographer
vita LOPEZ DE LLERGO, cartographer
Manuel iviEDINA, cartographer and geodesist
Manuel MUNOZ LUivIBIEct, seismologist, economic geologist and geographer
Bibiano F. OSORIO TkFALL, bio-geographer, conservationist
Ramiro ROt3 RAMOS, geologist
Pedro C. SANCHEZ, geodesist
Jorge L. T AYO, hydrographer, physical
geographer
Arturo de la TORRE, physical geographer
Aicardo TUSGtiNU, topographer, historical geographer
Jorge A.-VIVO, anthropo-geographer
Tomas ZEPEDA iW CQN, human geographer
since most of the geographic research is sponsored by the governmont and
since there are frequent shifts in employment and assignments, there arc: not
many individuals who have been able to pursue one line of research consistently.
The following list is very incomplete but it does give some indication of indi-
viduals from whom further information may be obtained.
Rasear Specialties
GEODESY, CHRTOGR.';PHY, CUSMUGi HY P. Carrasco, A. de la 0 Carron"o, A. Es-
c:alona Aamos, J. Gallo, H. Herrera, R. Lopez de Llergo, N. iviedina, G. Ortiz
Santos, F. N. de Parres, R. Robles Ramos, P. 36nchez, R. Toscane, h. Vaca
Alatorre.
G Oi'iORPHOLOGY __ VULCaNQLOGY, SEISHOLOGY -_ L. 13lazquez Lopez, A. de la 0
Carreio, F. K, G. Miillerried, M. Munoz Lumbier, J. Rivera f+ceves, R. Robles
ii.amos, P. Sanchez, J. L. Tamayo, P. Waitz.
HYDROGH.APHY, QCi NOG&. HY - L. Blazquez L., In, F. Osorio Tafall, J. L, Tamayo,
P. Waltz.
BIOGLOG&,"PHY, CONSERVATION of NATUR", fL; 6uUAGLS -- ,:, Contreras Arias, M, Mal-
donado K., B. F. Osorio Tafall, L. R. Pati&.
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METEOROLOGY, CLIMATOLOGY - P. Carrasco, A. Contreras Arias S. Diaz J. C.
Gomez, M. T. Gutierrez V., E. Lopez,J. A. Vivo.
BIBLIOGRAPHY _- R. 1,1corta Guerrero, R. Lancaster-Jones, J. nomero Flores,
R. Toscano, J. A. Vivo.
ECONOMIC GEOGRAPHY E. Alanfs Patino, G. Hernandez Corzo, R. Davila Leon,
L. Lanz Margalli, M. MuAoz Lumbier, J. L. Tamayo.
HUMAN GEOGRAPHY -- R. AlcortarGuerrero, J. H. Benitez, C. Benitez Delorme,
J. M. de los Reyes, J. A. Vivo.
PEDAGOGIC GILGAAPHY --- R. Garcia Ruiz, A. Miranda Basurto, S. Santos de E.,
T. Zepeda Rincon,
REGIONAL GEOGRAPHY -_ Nearly all geographers employed by the government are
carrying out regional studies. Infrequently the academic geographers are able
to get into the field. A few examples of regional interests are given here:
BAJA CALIFORNIA and PACIFIC ISLANDS - Alcorta Guerrero, Osorio Tafall;
DURANGO - Rouaix; QUINTANA ROO - Herrera; LERNNiA_CHAPALA - Escalona Ramos,
Gonzalez Trevino; and SIERRA X DRE URIE1vTAL - Millerreid, Robles Ramos.
GEOGRAPHY IN GUVERM,,aNT AGENCIES
In this section are discussed all pertinent government agencies excepting
governmentally supported schools and societies which are considered elsewhere.
The Mexican government has supported geographic work chiefly along four lines:
Mapping, statistics, field survey, and planning.
Mapping. Historically and consistently the greatest stress has been on
mapping Mexico -- for military and for economic reasons. Although the first
attempt to map independent Mexico was made by the army in the 1820's, the bulk
of mapping has been accomplished by non-military groups -- mainly within the
state department or ministry which has gone by such names as Fomento, Agri-
cultura y Fomento, and at present Secretaria de Agricultura y Ganaderia (SAG).
In Mexico, as in most other countries, map making and map publishing agencies
developed in many branches of the government. This naturally resulted in some
duplication of effort, waste of money, and mapping of differing quality, scale,
projection, etc. In 1925 an attempt was made to coordinate all official mapping
in Mexico through the Consejo Directivo de los.Levantamientos Topograficos de
la Republica Mexicana, but very little was accomplished. Another attempt was
made beginning in 1945 (under the auspices of the Comisi6n Irpulsora y Coor-
dinadora de la Investigacion Cientifica), at which time was established the
Comite Coordinador del Levantamiento de la Carta de la Republica. This coor-
dinating committee consisted of representatives from the following governmen-
tal units:
Direcci6n de Geografia, Meteorologia e Hidrologia of the Secretaria de
Agricultura y Fomento
Comision Geografica Militar, Secretaria de la Defensa Nacional
Direccion General de la Armada, Secretaria de la Marina
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Comision National de Irrigacivn
Departamento de :?xploraciones, Petroleos .exicanos
Oficina de Cartograffa, DibujC y l4lodelado of the Secretaria de Cowuni-
caciones y Obras Publicas
Direccion de minas y Petroleo, Secretaria de la iconomia national
Direccion de Educaeion Aural of the Aural of the oecretarfa de zducacion
Publica
Seccion de Limit9s y Aguas of the Secretaria de ~elaciones ';xteriores
Comision Impulsora y Coordinadora de la Investigacion Cientifiea
I.nstituto de Geografia of the 'jniversidad Nacional Autonoma de liexico
Instituto Panamericano de Geografia e Historia
The coordinating committee continues after a fashion, but very little real
coordination or planning has been accomplished. The Institute of Geography of
the National University of Mexico (which is strictly a research and technical
institute, and which does no teaching) is the nearest approach to a coordina-
ting center. Here a small group of cartographic draughtsmen, under the direc-
tion of the director of the institute -- kiss Aita Lopez de Llergo, have
collaborated with various governmental agencies. The main purpose of the in-
stitute is to provide maps superior to those now existing which can be used
as adequate bases for distributional studeis.
The chief mapping agencies (field survey and/or manufacture and publica-
tion) in Mexico at present are:
Mexican Government:
Secretaria de Agricultura y Ganaderia
Direccion de Geografia y Meteorologla
Departamento Agrario (semi-autonomous)
Secretaria de la Defensa National
Servicio Geografico del Ejercito
Secretaria de Aecursos Hidraulicos
Jefatura de Irragacion y Control de Aios
Jefatura de Geologia
Direccion General de Aproveehamientos Hidraulicos
Comision del Rio Papaloapan (semi-autonomous)
Comision del Tepalcatepec (semi-autonomous)
Secretaria de Comunicaciones y Obras Publicas
Ferrocarriles Nacionales de Mexico
Direccion National de Caminos
Oficina de Cartografia, Fotografia y l4odelado
Direccion General de marina, Puertos y Faros
Secretaria de Sconomfa
Direccion General de Industrias cxtractivas
Direccion de Estudios Lconomicos
Direccion General de Estadistica
Secretarla de kelaciones hxteriores
Section Mexicans de Limites y Aguas (Com. Internat. de Limites y
Aguas entre Mexico y los E. U.)
Secretarf a de la Marina National
Direcci6n General de la Armada
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Secretaria de Educaci6n?Publica
Instituto Nacional de Antrooologia e Historic
Direcci6n de Educaci6n Rural
Secretaria de Salubridad y Asistencia
Secretaria de Governaci6n
Direccion General de Poblacion
Uni.versidad Nacional Aut6noma de Mexico
Instituto de Geograffa
Instituto de Geologia
Petr6leos Mexicanos
Departamento de Exploraciones
Non-governmental:
Instituto Panamericano de Geograffa e Historia
Asociacion Mexican Automovilfstica
Com-oania Mexicana de Luz y Fuerza Motriz
Companfa i'exieana Aerofoto, S. A.
Arzobispado de Mexico
Most of the actual survey and mapping in the field is done by engineers
(civil, military, construction, hydraulic, topogranhic, geographic, geologic)
mining, petroleum, and other titles) working for branches of the ministries of
Agriculture and Animal Husbandry (SAG), National Defense'(SDN) Hydraulic
Resources (SRH), and Communications and Public Works (SCOP) -- and especially
the first two. Tonographic engineers and geodesists from one or another of
these ministries do most of the actual field mapping for the other governmen-
tal departments, e. g., the SCOP and the SRH provide the technicians for the
Seccio'n Mexicana de Lfmites y Aguas of the Secretaria de Relaciones Exteriores
in connection with surveys of boundaries and study of water resources. The
Secretaria de Agricultura y Ganaderia (SAG) is by law the governmental depart-
ment which is entrusted with making geographic explorations, and most of the
maps manufactured and published in Mexico are drafted, reproduced, printed, and
published by the SAG -- chiefly in its Direcci6n de Geografia y ~ieteorologia.
In addition, the Oficina de Cartografia y Talleres (Talleres de Fotozincografia,
Avenida Observatorio 192, Tacubaya, D. F.) of the DGM-SAG does the reproduction
and printing of most of the maps published by other federal agencies. An ex-
ample of distribution of work is the CARTA GEOLOGICA DE LA REPUBLICA MEXICANA
1:5,000,000, published in 1942 by the Instituto de Geologia of the National
University, edited (compiled, traced, corrected) by the Comisi6n Nacional de
Irrigaci6n (now the Secretaria de Recursos Hidraulicos), and printed in the
Talleres de Foto-zincograffa of the DGMG-SAF. Another government plant which
prints many maps is the Talleres Graficos de la Naci6n (the main government
printing plant).
As mentioned previously, the earliest governmental mapping of Mexico was
that carried out by army engineers for the military map of the republic. About
1854/56 there was added the compilation of civil maps of the republic and its
constituent parts by Garcia Cubas and other draftsmen in the Secretaria de
Fomento. The maps and mapping programs of the Mexican government were in a
most imperfect and Confused 'state until a Comisi6n or Secci6n de Cartografia
was established in 1876 in the Secretaria de Fomento to care for and to edit
maps.
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In the next 30 years numerous governmenta-1 bodies were established to
carry on exploration, mapping, and research in the various earth-sciences.
These organizations (Comision de Cartografia, Comisi6n Geografico-Exploradora
de Republica Mexicana, Observatorio i? leteorol6g:;,co, Comision Geode"sica Aexicana,
etc) were fused into one body (1915/16) which was known for many years as the
Direction de Estudios Geograficos y ClimatolSgicos, and later as the DGMH of
the SAF and the DGM of the SAG. The ambitious program to map all of Mexico
on a scale of 1:100,000 (carried out by engineers from the Secretarfa de
Guerra and from the Secretaria de Fomento between 1878 and 1914) resulted in
the publication of some 199 maps by the Comision Geografico-Exploradora which
covered about fifteen percent of Mexico. No attempt has been made to complete
this map of Mexico.
In 1915 a Series of state maps was begun and periodically these have been
bound into atlases which constitute the last word in official cartography of
Mexico. The most recent edition of the ATLAS GEOGRAFICO DE LA REPUBLICA MEXI-
CANA is the 25th, issued in 1946, which has several maps of each state ( in
varying scales; 1:1,000,000 predominates), and which shows a total of 16,600
places. Also, special maps have been prepared of some entities (such as Zaca-
tecas, Morelos, Jalisco, Aguascalientes, Yucatan, Tabasco, Chihuahua, Durango,
Baja California, Tamaulipas, Puebla, Coahuila, Sonora, etc.) on scales varying
from 1:50,000 (Morelos) to 1:500,000 (the most common:.. Zacatecas, etc.) and
a few 1:600,000. Because of the earlier lack of sufficient geodetic controls,
only the more recently completed maps can be considered to be good. There are
three modern map series which attempt to cover all of Mexico consistently. In
1924 there was projected a Carta Geogr'afica de la Republica Mexicana on a scale
of 1:500,000 which would cover Mexico in sheets of three degrees longitude by
two degrees latitude. Work was started on this map in 1927 and it was completed
in 52 sheets in 1942.. These sheets are available bound together in an atlas.
Unfortunately this map (which utilizes a polyconic projection as do most Mexi-
can maps) is not based on accurate surveys. Since 1943/44 the Dir.ecci6n de
Geo7raffa and the Instituto de Geografia have been working on an improved
1:500,000 map (also the same map 1:1,000,000) based on the trimetrogon photos
taken by the United States Amy Air Force, the Fuerza Aerea Mexicana, and other
organizations (1942/43 principally) which cover all of Mexico. To date about
l~% of I1exico has been maDoed from the trimetrogon photos. The Servicio Geog-
rafico del Ejcreito (the successor of the Comision Geografica Militar in 1946),
which is entrusted with making the Carta i"lilitar de la Republica Mexicana, has
utilized the trimetrogon photos somewhat but is at present stressing vertical
photographs and has now mapped some 5% of Mexico with the latest aerial photo-
grametric methods. The official wall map of Mexico is the Carta General de la
Republica Mexicana 1:2,000,000, the first edition of which was issued in 1923,
and which was in its 12th edition in 1948.
The mapping status of Mexico can be summarized as follows. Civil and
military engineers do and have done the bulk of the mapping. This mapping has
been and is oriented towards military and economic ends. The civil economic
ends are principally: base maps for charting distributions, and maps which
facilitate planning and utilization (maps of drainage basins, soil maps, com-
munications maps, etc.). Until the last few years most maps lacked adequate
geodetic control. There is no coverage of Mexico by mans having a scale larger
than 1:500,000, nor by maps having contour lines. Although the DGM-SAG is in
charge of national lands, there is no General Land Office nor Surveyor-General,
and there is no rectangular system of surveying, marking and describing lands.
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A system of metes and bounds is used throughout most of Mexico. The coasts
and coastal waters have not been adequately surveyed and charted, And United
States Hydrographic Office and British Admiralty charts are widely used and
copied. Most Mexican academic geographers have not the mathematical and mech-
anical instruction necessary for either the construction or the appreciation
of projections and maps. Consequently, maps (the most characteristic tool
and "sign manual" of a geographer) in Mexico belong more to the engineer than
to the geographer.
Statistics. The Mexican government has shown its interest in statistics
since its formative years, and there has been a central statistical organiza-
tion since the 188Ots, At the present time most of the ministries have their
own specialized units for statistical studies such as the Direccion de Estud-
ios Financieros of the Secretari;a de Hacienda y Credito Publico, Although
courses in economic geography, statistics, and demography are sometimes taught
by geographers, more commonly they are handled by economists, engineers, socio-
logists and physicians. Mexico at present has several distinguished statis-
ticians (among whom might be mentioned Lie. Gilberto Loyo, Dr, Josue Saenz,
and Dr. Emilio Alanis Patifo), but not one is primarily a geographer.
Field rve and Plate. Each presidential period of six years serves
as a, unit of time within which there are made certain field surveys preliminary
to planning for various specified objectives. Although the general objectives
ever since 1915/17 have been the improvement of the personal dignity and stan-
dard of living of the entire population through improvements in education, sani-
tation, communication and economic resources, there have been differences in
topical and regional stress from one administration to another. Since the
basic Mexican economy is agriculture, the greatest amount of attention has been
given to surveys which would indicate the most pressing or desirable areas in
which to develop irrigation projects, build roads, introduce electricity, drain
swamps, etc. Nearly every governmental ministry, in addition to the Secretaria
de Agricultura y Ganaderia and the Eecrotaria de Recursos Hidraulicos, has one
or more units which carry out field surveys, and other units which analyze the
results of the surveys and prepare plans for presentation to the legislative
and executive branches of government. In the various stages of field survey,
analysis, and planning there are employed some geographers. Apparently to date
most of these geographers have been assigned jobs of compiling and editing re-
ports on economic regions or on specific commmoditiee or industries. To the
best of our knowledge at present only the $3cretaria de Hacienda y Credito
Pizblico employs persons under the official professional category of "geograph-
er", within which category there are six grades.
In the following paragraphs is given an outline of the principal govern-
mental agencies which carry on geographic research or sponsor geographic pub-
lications. "Geographic" has been used in a broad sense since it was considered
better to include too much rather than too little. The order of consideration
of governmental agencies is not particularly significant, although there is
some attempt to list them according to the amount of geographic work accomp-
lished. Wherever possible the latest titles or names of governmental units
have been used, but there are some errors where we were unable to get a detailed
statement of the post 1946/47 reorganization.
SECRETAR1A DE AGRICULTURA Y GANADERIA. Entrusted by law with oversight
of national lands, and the making of geographic surveys and explora-
tion.
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' I
n E CrON DE GEOGRAFI . Y lIETEOROLOGIA. The principal gpv%srn-
ment agency for research and work in cartography, geodesy=
meteorology and climatology.
DE?ARTPMiENTO GEOGRAFICO. Through various subordinate of-
fices (oficina inst~tuto, seccion carries out field
surveying both topographic and geodetic) and compiles,
prints, and publishes maps. Together with branches of
the Universidad Nacional and the Secretarla de Recursos
Hidrtulicos, looks after most of the leveling and trian-
gulation, and .studies of magnetism,, gravity, earth-
quakes, and volcanoes. By 1946 some 200 positions had
been astronomically determined, for the improvement of
Mexican cartography.
SEHVICIO METEOROL6GICO MEXICANO. Administers a network of
more than 1,300 stations; compiles daily weather fore-
casts and report; issues various maps, charts, tables,
atlases, and monographs with meteorologic, climatologic,
and ecologip content. Has abandoned De Martonne and
Koeopen climatic classifications in favor of Thorn-
thwaite's scheme.
Among the outstanding workers in the DGM are the engineers
M, Medina, F. N. Parres, A. Contrer's Arias, J. C.
G&nez, and I. G. Orozco.
DIRECCION GENERAL DE ECONa IA RURAL. Issues a valuable Bo1~etin
Mensual and sporadic monographs. Among the latter of out-
stan ing geographic interest are a ponderous tome on the econ-
omic-agricultural regions of }':exico issued in 1934 and the
four volume work by Foglio `'iiramontes on the QCggrafj~ o-
mico A rf cola del Estado de M_ic ?oaca_n Published in 1936.
DIRE CI N RRE,OS NACIONALE.
DIRECCION GENERAL FOR{,GTAL Y DE -CAZA.
DIRECC16N GENERAL DE CONSERV\CION DE SUELOS Y AGUA. Began
stu of soil conservation 1942 under CNI.
DIRECCJhN GENERAL DE AGRICULTURA.
COMISION NACIONAL DE COLONIZACI6N.
DIRECCION DE DISTRITOS DE RIEGO.
ESCUELA NACIONAL DE AGRICULTURA, Chapingo, Mexico, Mexico.
BANCO NACIONAL DE CREDITO AGRICOLA Y GANADERO, S. A. (Semi-auto-
nomous). Has subsidized considerable research and nublica-
tion including a commodity. series of which the six volumes on
EL TRIGO EN MEXICO 1938-41 probably is the best.
DEPARTAM +ITO AGRARIO (Semi-autonomous). Surveys, maps, and studies pro-
posed ejidal areas. Probably the manuscript and blueprint maps of
this department constitute the largest collection of detailed maps
of Mexico since most of the maps are on scales of 1:20,000 and
1:3?,900.
SECRETARIA DE LA DEPENSA NACIONAL. Concerned with making and maintain-
ing the military (strategic and tactical) map of Mexico.
SERVICIO,GEOGRAFICO DEL EJERCITO. Reformed in 1946 from Comisian
Geografico Militar which derived its personnel chiefly from
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the Corps of Engineers; now the SGE is a separate branch oT
the army on a par with the other services or armas. works
with the DG de Ingenieros in tooograohy and with the D de
Aeronautica (through the Escuadr6n de Fotografia Aerea) in
aerial photography. The SGE ranks second only to the DGti:-
SAG in making original surveys and maps. Field surveys are
made by gad as de geografos (who determine astronomic posi-
tions and make geodetic surveys), brigadas de torso rafos (who
carry out trigonometric surveying and leveling), and member,
of the section aerofotogrametria (who work with air ohotcs),
The sec_ ci n de dibu,jo Drenares the maps (chiefly on scal=ls of
1:50,000 and 1:20,000) which are reproduced in the Taller
Heliografico. However, the seccion trabajos fotogrametrza
prepares maps (usually 1:100,000, except for some 1:500,000
of MMchoac`an, Colima and Mexico) based on the air photos:.
DIRECCION DE ARCHIVO MILITAR. Includes valuable Library of the
Army with numerous itineraries, sketch maps, and theses out-
lining geographic factors in utilization and defense of var-
ious terrains.
ESCUELA SUPERIOR DE GUERRA.
COLEGIO MILITAR.
ESCUE~A MILITAR DE METEOROLOGfA and SERVICIO METEOROLOGICO DE
EJERCITO.
SECRETARIA DE RECURSOS HIDRAULICOS. Formed in 1946/47 by /47 b,j expansion of
the Comis16n Nacional de Irrigaci&n which was organized in 1j926 as
an autonomous department headed by the secretary of agriculture In
the past the CNI has done the best work in general surveying, h.,r-
drography, geology, and mapping of soils in ivMexico.
JEF~TURA DE IRRIGACION Y CONTROL DE RIOS.
DIR. GIN. DE ESTUDIOS Y PROYECTOS DE IRRIGACION Y CONTROL
DE RIOS.
DIRECCION GENERAL DE HIDROLOGIA.
DIR. GEN. DE PEQUENA IRRIGACION.
JE^ATURA DE INGENIERIA SANITARIA.
DIR. GEN. DE ESTUDIOS Y DROYECTOS.
JEFATURA DE GEOLOGIA.
DEPTO. DE GEOLOGIA GENERAL.
DEPTO. DE GEOHIDROLOGIA.
DEPTO. DE GEOFISICA.,-
DEPTO. DE COORDINACION Y COOPER4CIGN.
DIR. GEN. DE APROVECHAMIENTOE HIDRAULICOS.
DEPTO. DE AGUAS NACIONALES.
DEPTO. DE ESTUDIOS DE SUELOS.
A large number of excellent studies of Mexican geomorphology,
geology, soils, vegetation and other aspects of the natural
lands.ape are to be found in the periodical IRRIGACION EN MEXICO,
which was replaced January of 1947 by INGENIERIR HIDRAULICA EI'
MEXICO. Many special reports have been issued on the meteorology,
climatology, hydrography, geology, soils, etc., of various pro-
posed irrigation or reclamation districts. Among geographically
minded persons associated with the SRH are P. Waltz, A. De La
0 Carrefio, and R. Robles Ramos.
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COMISION DEL RIO P%PALOAPAN and COMISION DEL RIO TE?ALCATEPEC. These
two regional (drainage basin) commissions are semi-autonomous govern-
mental organizations patterned somewhat after the Northamerican
Tennessee Valley Authority. However, although persons from many gov-
ernmental organizations participate in the work of study and plan-
ning, the majority of the work and responsibility rests with the SRH
since the major jobs of reclamation in these two basins are respec-
tively draining and irrigating.
SECRETARIA DE EJCONOMIA. This ministry, along with SAG and SRH, con+rois
most of the natural resources of Mexico, studies the best means for
their exploitation, and maintains a statistical accounting of th.L!
status of the various resource's and economies. Research and publi-
cations of geographic value aoDear from time to time in nearly all
of the branches of this ministry.
DIR. GEN. DE ESTUDIOS ECONO1ICOS. This direccion studies natural
resources and plans their use -- esoecially in the Sector or
Oficina de Geografia Econo'mica. This Office of Economic Creeg-
raphy was founded by Dr. Rosa Filatti (died in 1943) who ha.i
studied under French economic geographers at the Sorbonn