The geography of isolation: nineteenth century science, exploration and the conception of the Aleutian Islands

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Author
Watson, Annette
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URI
http://hdl.handle.net/11122/6765
Abstract
The purpose of this thesis is threefold: first, to follow the early history of Alaska from the point of view of the Aleutian Islands; second, to follow how the history of science intersects with this history. Third, to show how nineteenth century science and scientists conceived of the Aleutians, and how their conceptions translated to public perceptions of landscape. The Aleutian Islands went from being the center of the newly-purchased Alaska in 1867--to an isolated chain of islands stretching beyond the margins of the map. Tracing the progression of this isolation demonstrates how landscape--an amalgamation of physical experience and myth--is the product of one's identity.
Description
Thesis (M.A.) University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2000
Table of Contents
Ch. 1. Introductio n: the creation of a country -- ch. 2. What is the Aleutian environment? : Geographical knowledge in the context of modern versus nineteenth century science -- ch. 3. The utilitarian and romantic vision of Victorian science : the legacy of Russian America and early understanding of the northern environment -- The Alaska purchase and its early conception : Senator Charles Sumner -- George Davidson and the romantic utility of Alaska -- Successor to Davidson and Kennicott : William Healey Dall, romantic scientist -- ch. 4. The Aleutians as a working landscape : in the field with William Healey Dall, Lucien Turner, and the Revenue Cutter Service -- The Aleutians as scientific field : from the romantic to the practical -- Packaging the Aleutian landscape for future consumption -- From the Humboldt to the Yukon : Dall explores the Western Aleutians -- The Near Islands : Attu and Buldir -- The Rat Islands : Kiska and Amchitka -- The Andreanof Islands : Adak, Atka, and Amlia -- Bogoslov -- Packaging the Aleutian landscape for the scientists' identity -- The conception corroborated : Lucien Turner and the Revenue Cutter Service -- ch. 5. Conservation and aesthetics in Alaska : the Aleutians conceived as periphery -- Henry Wood Elliot and John Muir : Landscape aesthetics and Alaskan tourism -- Science or tour? : the Harriman Alaska Expedition -- The pop science of National Geographic -- The geography of isolation -- Literature cited.
Date
2000-12
Type
Thesis
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