Mark Jefferson (1863–1949) was the chief cartographer of the American Delegation to the Paris Peace Conference in 1919. He was also the head of the geography department at Michigan State Normal College (MSNC), now

Eastern Michigan University Eastern Michigan University (EMU, EMich, Eastern Michigan or simply Eastern) is a public university, public research university in Ypsilanti, Michigan, United States. Founded in 1849 as the Michigan State Normal School, it was the fourth normal ...

(EMU), from 1901-1939. Jefferson received his bachelor's degree from

Boston University Boston University (BU) is a Private university, private research university in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. BU was founded in 1839 by a group of Boston Methodism, Methodists with its original campus in Newbury (town), Vermont, Newbur ...

and his master's degree from

Harvard University Harvard University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. Founded in 1636 and named for its first benefactor, the History of the Puritans in North America, Puritan clergyma ...

. From 1883-1889 he worked at an astronomical observatory in Argentina. From 1890-1901 he was a high school teacher in Massachusetts. In addition to teaching at MSNC he also taught at the Harvard Summer School. Among Jefferson's students were geographers Isaiah Bowman and Charles C. Colby. In 1916 Jefferson served as president of the

American Association of Geographers The American Association of Geographers (AAG) is a Nonprofit organization, non-profit learned society, scientific and educational society aimed at advancing the understanding, study, and importance of geography and related fields. Its headquar ...

. Today, he is especially remembered for introducing the concept of the primate city, a culturally dominant city found in some countries. A biography of Jefferson entitled ''Mark Jefferson: Geographer'' written by Geoffrey J. Martin was published by Eastern Michigan University Press in 1968. EMU has a building named after Mark Jefferson.

Sources

* *''Aurora'' (MSNC yearbook) 1918.
''Annals of the American Association of Geographers'' Vol. 39, no. 4
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jefferson, Mark 1863 births Boston University alumni Harvard University alumni Eastern Michigan University faculty Harvard Summer School instructors American geographers 1949 deaths Presidents of the American Association of Geographers American expatriates in Argentina