Walter Elmer Ekblaw

Walter Elmer Ekblaw circa 1913

Walter Elmer Ekblaw (March 10, 1882 – June 7, 1949) was an American geologist and botanist and college professor. He is credited as an originator of the concept of homecomings on college campuses.[1]

Life and career

He was born on March 10, 1882 in Illinois to Swedish immigrant parents. He graduated from the University of Illinois with a B.A. in 1910. He taught at the University of Illinois from 1910 to 1913.[2]

Together with Clarence F. Williams, he organized the first University of Illinois homecoming on October 15, 1910.

From 1913 to 1917, he served as geologist and botanist of the Crocker Land Expedition with Maurice Cole Tanquary. On his return to the United States he wrote a paper on The importance of nivation as an erosive factor, and of soil flow as a transporting agency, in northern Greenland (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Vol. 4, 1918, p. 288-93), and also one on The food birds of the Smith Sound Eskimos (Wilson Bulletin, Vol. 31 (o.s.), Vol. 26 (n.s.), No. 106, 1919, p. 1-5). Later publications dealt with The ecological relations of the polar Eskimo (Ecology, Vol. 2, 1921, p. 132-44) and Eskimo dogs forgotten heroes (Natural History, Vol. 37,1936, p. 173-84).[3][4]

He became a research associate with the American Museum of Natural History and then a professor of geography at Clark University from 1924 to 1949.

He attended Clark University and received a Ph.D. in 1926.[5]

In 1947, he received the Order of the Polar Star from King Gustav V of Sweden for his work in promoting good relations between Sweden and the United States.

He died on June 7, 1949.

References

  1. ↑ W. Elmer Ekblaw (University of Illinois Archives)
  2. ↑ Obituary (journals.cambridge.org)
  3. ↑ "Doom, death and drama infuse a University of Illinois expedition to the Arctic". University of Illinois Alumni Association. Retrieved 2009-07-23.
  4. ↑ "Dr. Ekblaw, Once Arctic Explorer For U. of I., Dies". Chicago Tribune. June 7, 1949. Retrieved 2009-07-23.
  5. ↑ W. Elmer Ekblaw: The Polar Eskimo (Clark University Alumni Directory)

Other sources

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