by Nicole Smith
January 27th, 1888… The National Geographic Society was Founded.
Growing up, we had a shelf FULL of what, to me, seemed like hundreds of National Geographic magazines. I loved flipping through, seeing all of the beautiful pictures, and learning about places and cultures that otherwise, I would have never known existed. When I found out that today was “National Geographic Day,” I decided to take a little trip down memory lane and, at the same time, learn more about the magazine and its beginnings.
A group of 33 scientists, scholars, businessmen, and explorers who had a passion for geography, science, and travel, believed that Americans were beginning to take more of an interest in the outside world. The founding goal for the society was “the increase and diffusion of geographical knowledge”.
Nine months after the society’s founding, National Geographic Magazine, now titled National Geographic, began being printed. At the time, to receive a copy, one had to be a member of the society. It was quite different from the National Geographic we know today, being a scholarly journal with few photographs.
Alexander Graham Bell’s father-in-law, Gardiner Greene Hubbard, was the National Geographic Society’s first president, followed by Bell himself. In 1899, the society was given a renewed energy when Gilbert H. Grosvenor came in as editor-in-chief. The overall flow and structure of the magazine were simplified and became less technical. More first-person narratives were included, and photographs were used on a larger scale. The magazine’s popularity soared, with its circulation going from 1,000 to 2 million in only a few years. The society’s membership went from 1,400 to 74,000 within the first decade of the twentieth century and jumped to 713,000 in the following decade! The member number kept climbing, and eventually, Grosvenor became president of the society while remaining editor-in-chief.
Today, the National Geographic Society is one of the largest and most inclusive organizations in the world. Having covered thousands of topics since its inception 134 years ago, National Geographic magazine has been inspiring people’s curiosity in faraway, unknown countries, their food and customs, and above all, those who live there, both human and not.
Revenue from magazine subscriptions and society membership has funded thousands of grants for exploration and research throughout the years, from underwater exploration by Jacques Cousteau to Hiram Bingham’s excavation of the Incan city Machu Picchu. And, one I’m sure most of you remember, Jane Goodall’s studies with chimpanzees.
Having documented exploration in outer space and deep undersea, covering the discovery of ancient civilizations and remote cultures, and sharing their findings with the world, the society publishes a magazine that is read by millions. Aside from that, they also produce documentary and feature films, a television channel, books, music, games, and a website!
Environmental literacy and conservation have been a focus of National Geographic Magazine’s in the twenty-first century, covering issues such as deforestation and endangered species.
Today, I invite you to find a National Geographic Magazine, grab a blanket (it’s cold!!!), sit in your favorite comfy chair, and take a trip around the world!
“Is it possible to know the truth without challenging it first?” – National Geographic Society
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