Centennial Information

We are celebrating a century of OSU geography!

During the 2008-2009 academic year, we will be celebrating a century of OSU geography. All of the speakers in this year's colloqium series are alumni of the deparment. In addition, we will unveil a number of exhibits around Derby and on this webpage to honor our rich history. This year's celebration will culminate with the Centennial Celebration Weekend on May 15-16, 2009. Make sure you sign up for our centennial listserv below to receive periodic e-mails regarding this year's events.

Centennial Weekend Schedule    New!

The schedule for the Centennial Weekend on May 15-16 is ready! For questions, please contact us by clicking here! We look forward to seeing you on the 15th and 16th!

The Eugene Van Cleef Exhibit

The Eugene Van Cleef Collection is now on display! Dr. Van Cleef was a professor in the Ohio State Department of Geography from 1920 to 1963. As part of the Centennial Celebration during the 2008-09 academic year, we are showcasing Van Cleef's collection as a way of honoring our history.

Beyond simply displaying the maps, we designed this exhibit to be interactive with an extensive audio component.
UPDATE: There were issues with downloads stopping before completing. The files have been temporarily moved to a new server until we can correct this problem. Please let us know if you still have problems downloading the files.

In order to participate:

• Download either the Zip file (contains 7 audio files, one interview for each display, and an introduction by Ed Malecki and Earl Brown) or the individual files. The filenames are numbered sequentially. You may need to right-click (Windows) or Control-Click (Mac) to download the files.
  • All Files (15 MB) or
  • Introduction and Instructions
  • About Van Cleef (With Ed Malecki and Earl Brown)
  • Joseph Lewis
  • Marc Auerbach
  • Fletcher Chmara-Huff
  • Darla Munroe
  • Jeff Olson
  • Marie Cieri
• Transfer these files to some kind of portable mp3 player, come to the north corridor in Derby, and enjoy the show!
• Start with the file labeled "Introduction and Instructions" for more detail as to how the exhibit works.

** If you do not have a portable digital device, I will be placing a loanable CD or tape player with all of the audio files in the office.

Thank you for your participation in this project. If you have any questions or suggestions, please e-mail Phil Birnie.

Centennialwear Update!

Attending Centennial Celebration events is not the only way to show support for OSU geography. The OSU Geography Centennial T-Shirts are in! There are two ways to obtain this one-of-a-kind shirt.

• If you are in the Columbus area, stop by the Department of Geography office and ask for Diane Carducci.
• T-Shirts will also be available for purchase during the May Weekend (See Below)

The Centennial T-shirts are five dollars. We are also accepting donations for the Geography Graduate Student Support fund. Please contact Diane Carducci if you have any questions.

Front: "A Century of Geography" - "The Ohio State University," with Centennial Celebration logo.
Back: "Absolute Location: 40°0'2" North, 83°0'45" West" - "Relative Location: On the Cutting Edge of Geography," with Ohio State University logo.

May Weekend Information  New!

The May weekend is fast approaching. Book your hotel soon to avoid last-minute frustration. Check out the Experience Columbus website for a complete listing of nearby hotels. About halfway down the page under "Research Hotels and Lodging," select "OSU" on the "Location" dropdown. This website is also a great resource for nearby dining options and family activities.

Centennial Listserv

Not on our Listserv yet? Not sure? Need to update your contact information? E-mail our webmaster with your name and e-mail address to sign up!

The Hunker Tour

On November 3, 1956, our very own Prof. Henry L. Hunker, led a group of professional geographers from around the country on a tour of "Urban-Industrial Columbus, Ohio." Thanks to Prof. Ola Ahlqvist and his students, you can relive Prof. Hunker's tour on Google Earth! Click here for details.

The Hunker Tour was featured in The Lantern on Thursday December 4, 2008!

Department History & Huntington Award Recipients

Click here for an historical overview of our department along with a list of of Huntington Award recipients. The Huntington Award has been given annually since 1959 for distinction in undergraduate work.

Calendar of Events

The calendar below is an outline of Centennial activities. Be sure to sign up for the Centennial listserv to receive detailed information concerning each event.