Richard Hartshorne was born in Kittanning, Pennsylvania on December 12, 1899.
Hartshorne graduated from Princeton University with a degree in mathematics in 1920.
While preparing to enroll for an advanced degree in mathematical studies, Hartshorne
was influenced by the geographer Ellsworth Huntington, who suggested he focus on
geography instead. Hartshorne took the advice and earned his PhD in geography from
the University of Chicago in 1924. After he graduated, Hartshorne began teaching at
the University of Minnesota and taught there until 1940. Hartshorne wrote much
during this period, including, arguably his most enduring work, The Nature of Geography (1939). This was intended to
provide a clear understanding of the nature, objective, and definition of geography
during a time of competing theories and differing thought on the subject.
Hartshorne left Minnesota to become a professor at the University of
Wisconsin-Madison in 1940. However, with the outbreak of war, he was not there very
long. In September 1941, Hartshorne went to Washington, D.C. to organize a geography
division with the Office of Strategic Services (which later became the Central
Intelligence Agency). Hartshorne was then in charge of this division, which was
under the Research and Analysis Branch, for the duration of World War II. He
supervised over a hundred people and provided research and information on particular
regions. He later served as the Assistant Chief of the Branch from 1943 to 1945.
After the war, Hartshorne returned to the University of Wisconsin and remained there
until he retired with Emeritus status in 1970.
Throughout his career, he continued to write and give lectures, and worked in various
capacities as well. He served as the President of the Association of American
Geographers (AAG) from 1949-1950 and oversaw the merger with the AAG and the
American Society of Professional Geographers. He was also a faculty member with the
National War College and a consultant to the Service Academy Board, Secretary of
Defense. Hartshorne also received numerous honors, including the Charles P. Daly
Medal from the American Geographical Society in 1959, the "Outstanding Achievement"
Award from the AAG in 1960, an Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree from Clark University
in 1971, and the Victoria Medal from the Royal Geographical Society in 1984.
Hartshorne died in 1992.
