Emrys G. Bowen
Encyclopedia
Royal Geographical Society
The Royal Geographical Society is a British learned society founded in 1830 for the advancement of geographical sciences...
, FSA
Society of Antiquaries of London
The Society of Antiquaries of London is a learned society "charged by its Royal Charter of 1751 with 'the encouragement, advancement and furtherance of the study and knowledge of the antiquities and history of this and other countries'." It is based at Burlington House, Piccadilly, London , and is...
, BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
, MA
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
, LLD, DUniv
Open University
The Open University is a distance learning and research university founded by Royal Charter in the United Kingdom...
, (known as E G Bowen) (28 December 1900 - 8 November 1983), was an internationally renowned Geographer
Geographer
A geographer is a scholar whose area of study is geography, the study of Earth's natural environment and human society.Although geographers are historically known as people who make maps, map making is actually the field of study of cartography, a subset of geography...
with a particular interest in the physical geography
Physical geography
Physical geography is one of the two major subfields of geography. Physical geography is that branch of natural science which deals with the study of processes and patterns in the natural environment like the atmosphere, biosphere and geosphere, as opposed to the cultural or built environment, the...
and social geography
Social geography
Social geography is the branch of human geography that is most closely related to social theory in general and sociology in particular, dealing with the relation of social phenomena and its spatial components. Though the term itself has a tradition of more than 100 years, there is no consensus on...
of his native Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. A diminutive figure, Bowen was on the academic staff of the Department of Geography and Anthropology at the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth, from the 1920s, and was still writing and lecturing there up until his death in 1983.
Biography
E G Bowen was born in CarmarthenCarmarthen
Carmarthen is a community in, and the county town of, Carmarthenshire, Wales. It is sited on the River Towy north of its mouth at Carmarthen Bay. In 2001, the population was 14,648....
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, the elder child of Thomas Bowen, an insurance agent, and Elizabeth Ann Lynch. He was educated at the council school, Pentre-poeth, and from 1912 to 1919 at Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Carmarthen, before proceeding in 1919 to the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth, where he obtained a first-class honours degree in Geography
Geography
Geography is the science that studies the lands, features, inhabitants, and phenomena of Earth. A literal translation would be "to describe or write about the Earth". The first person to use the word "geography" was Eratosthenes...
in 1923.
Bowen became the first Cecil Prosser research fellow at the Welsh National School of Medicine
University of Wales College of Medicine
The University of Wales College of Medicine was a medical school based in the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, that formed a part of the University of Wales...
at Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
, where he investigated the relationship between 'racial type' and chest disease. From 1928 to 1929 he was an assistant editor with the Encyclopædia Britannica
Encyclopædia Britannica
The Encyclopædia Britannica , published by Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., is a general knowledge English-language encyclopaedia that is available in print, as a DVD, and on the Internet. It is written and continuously updated by about 100 full-time editors and more than 4,000 expert...
before being appointed in 1929 as assistant lecturer in the Department of Geography and Anthropology
Anthropology
Anthropology is the study of humanity. It has origins in the humanities, the natural sciences, and the social sciences. The term "anthropology" is from the Greek anthrōpos , "man", understood to mean mankind or humanity, and -logia , "discourse" or "study", and was first used in 1501 by German...
at Aberystwyth. He remained there for the rest of his academic career, including during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, when he continued to lecture and also taught meteorology
Meteorology
Meteorology is the interdisciplinary scientific study of the atmosphere. Studies in the field stretch back millennia, though significant progress in meteorology did not occur until the 18th century. The 19th century saw breakthroughs occur after observing networks developed across several countries...
to the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
initial training wing which was located there. He was Gregynog Professor of Geography and Anthropology from 1946 to his retirement in 1968.
Bowen was President of the Institute of British Geographers in 1958 and President of Section E of the British Association
British Association for the Advancement of Science
frame|right|"The BA" logoThe British Association for the Advancement of Science or the British Science Association, formerly known as the BA, is a learned society with the object of promoting science, directing general attention to scientific matters, and facilitating interaction between...
in 1962. He was awarded the Murchison Grant by the Royal Geographical Society
Royal Geographical Society
The Royal Geographical Society is a British learned society founded in 1830 for the advancement of geographical sciences...
in 1958. In 1949 he was elected a Fellow
Fellow
A fellow in the broadest sense is someone who is an equal or a comrade. The term fellow is also used to describe a person, particularly by those in the upper social classes. It is most often used in an academic context: a fellow is often part of an elite group of learned people who are awarded...
of the Society of Antiquaries
Society of Antiquaries of London
The Society of Antiquaries of London is a learned society "charged by its Royal Charter of 1751 with 'the encouragement, advancement and furtherance of the study and knowledge of the antiquities and history of this and other countries'." It is based at Burlington House, Piccadilly, London , and is...
and in 1967 he was President of the Cambrian Archaeological Society. He was awarded an honorary LLD by the University of Wales
University of Wales
The University of Wales was a confederal university founded in 1893. It had accredited institutions throughout Wales, and formerly accredited courses in Britain and abroad, with over 100,000 students, but in October 2011, after a number of scandals, it withdrew all accreditation, and it was...
and in June 1979 was awarded an honorary DUniv by the Open University
Open University
The Open University is a distance learning and research university founded by Royal Charter in the United Kingdom...
. He was an honorary member of the Gorsedd of Bards
Gorsedd
A gorsedd plural gorseddau, is a community or coming together of modern-day bards. The word is of Welsh origin, meaning "throne". It is occasionally spelled gorsedh , or goursez in Brittany....
.
Bowen continued with his academic work and writing after his retirement, continuing to lecture at the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth, the United Theological College Aberystwyth
United Theological College Aberystwyth
The United Theological College located in Aberystwyth, in the county of Ceredigion in mid Wales was the ministerial training college of the Presbyterian Church of Wales and an associate college of the University of Wales...
, and at various other universities and colleges on Geography and Church History.
Bowen's work on the Settlements of the Celtic Saints in Wales (1954) revolutionised studies in this field.
He lived for many years with his sister. After his retirement in 1968 Bowen continued to live at Aberystwyth where he died unmarried after a heart attack on 8 November 1983 at Bronglais General Hospital, Aberystwyth. He was buried at Carmarthen.
The 'E G Bowen Map Room' at Aberystwyth University is named in his memory.
Publications and articles
Antiquities and History. In Cambrian forests 1959. p. 34-40Bedyddwyr Cymru tua 1714 TCHB, 1957 t. 6-14
Cardiganshire in Pre-historic times TCAS 11, 1936 p. 12-20
CarmarthenTown Plan:a Geographical Interpretation TCMS 59, 1934 p. 1-7
Carmarthenshire and Wanderings of the Celtic Saints TCMS 62, 1936 p. 42-5
Carmarthenshire: Physiographical Background. In J.Lloyd:History of Carmarthenshire, Vol.1, 1935. Sect.1.
Celtic Saints CYG 2, 1946 p. 130-3
Celtic Saints in Cardiganshire CER 1, 1, 1951 t. 3-17
Churches of Mount and Verwig CER 2, 1952-5 p. 202-5
Clawdd Mawr BBCS 9, 1937
Clinical Study of Miners' Phthisis in Relation to the Geographical and Racial Features of the Cardiganshire Lead-Mining Area. In 'Studies in Regional Consciousness and Environment' Oxford, 1930 p. 189-202
Cult of Dewi Sant at Llanddewi Brefi CER 2, 1953 p. 61-5
Cyfrifoldeb yr Eglwys i Noddi ei Bywyd ei Hunan SG, 1955 t. 133-40
Daearyddiaeth Cymru fel cefndir i'w hanes. Darlith radio y BBC yng Nghymru BBC., 1964. 40 t.
Dechrau trefi yng Nghymru FD 2, 1932 t. 260, 266, 285-6
Dyfed-the land and its people. in 'Land of Dyfed in Early Times' Cardiff:Cambrian Archaeological Association, 1964
Economic and Social Life. History of Carmarthenshire Vol 2. 1939. Ed. By E.G.Bowen
Early Christianity in British Isles GEOG 17, 1932
Ein hen drefi hynod FG, 1932 t. 285-6
Exiles LW 20, No. 1, 1965 p. 5-7
Folk culture and local museums CAR 1, 1941-4 Pt. 2, p. 4-8
For Herbert John Fleure (on his eightieth birthday, 6 June 1957) GE 42, 1957 p. 137-40
From Antiquarianism to Archaeology in Cardiganshire 1909-1957 CER 3, 1959 p. 257-64
Geographers' Approach to Agriculture AAG 2, 1953 p. 10-14
Geography in Sixth Form Bulletin Collegiate Faculty of Education, Aberystwyth. 1958 p. 2-3
Gwlad a Thref EFR 9, Rhif 2, 1944 t. 27-30
Human Geography of West Wales. N.U.T. Souvineir 1933 p. 10-22
Importance of St David's in Early Times St David's Cathedral Report. 1955 p. 6-13
Incidence of phthisis in relation to race-type and social environment in Central Wales JRAI January-June, 1933 p. 49-61
Incidence of Phthisis in relation to racial types and social environment in Wales Br. Jnl of TB, July 1929
Industries of Wales. Chapter in 'Land of Welsh Dragon' University of Wales Press Board, 1953
Introductory survey of economic and social conditions in Carmarthenshire in industrial periods. In 'Hist. Carmarthenshire' 1939, Vol. 2., Chapter 4
Le Pays de Galles TIBG 26, 1959 p. 1-23
Map of Trehelig common fields MC 41, 1929-30 p. 163-8
Men's Hostel CBS p. 202-4
Meirioneth in the Dark Ages JMHS 2, 1955 p. 169-78
Monastic Economy of the Cistercians at Strata Florida CER 1, 1950-1 p. 34-7
Nature Study and Geography in West Wales NLW 1, No. 1, 1955 p. 17-21
Passage to Patagonia LW 20, No. 2, 1965 p. 4-6
People and Culture of Rural Wales BG 1925-27 p. 77-8
Prehistoric South Britain. In 'Historical Geography of England before 1800.' Chapter 1 C.U.P., 1936
Professor H.J.Fleure on his 80th birthday:an appreciation of his contributions to Geography Geog. 42, 1957
Racial Geography of Europe at the Dawn of Age of Metal JRAI 61, 1931
Rural Settlements in South West Wales Geog. Teacher 13, 1925 p. 317
Rural Settlements of Central Wales. In 'Comptes Rendus du Congres International de Geographie Tome 3' 1934 p. 205-13
Rural Wales. Chapter 14 of 'Great Britain:Geographical Essays' (ed. J.Mitchell) CambridgeUniversity Press, 1962 p. 247-64
Settlements of the Celtic Saints in Wales. University of Wales Press, 1954. X, 179 P. 2nd ed. Same imprint and collation. 1956
Settlement Pattern of Wales. In 'Field Studies in British Isles' (Steers) 20th International Congress, 1964 p. 279-93
Sir C. Bryner Jones CER 2, 1952-5. p. 125-6
Social Studies in Welsh Schools WA 1, 1949 p. 11-18
Some geographical and anthropological factors in study of industrial diseases JSM 38, 1930 p. 11
South West Wales Br. Grassl. Soc. Handbook, 1963 p. 10-16
Travels and Settlements of the Celtic Saints WL 24, 1946 p. 100-3
Travels of Celtic Saints ANT, 1944 p. 16-28
Travels of St. Samson of Dol AS 13, 1934 P. 61-7
Trefi Newydd Cymru FG 2, 1932 t. 19
Un byd AE 1953 t. 102-4; CR 18, 1953-4 t. 48-51
Wales: A physical, historical and regional geography Methuen, 1957. 528 p. Ed. By E.G.Bowen
Wales:A study in geography and history University of Wales Press Board, 1941. xvi, 182 p. 2nd ed. 1947; 5th imp. 1952
Weather and Farmer BRF 7, No. 5, 1954
Welsh Emigration Overseas AV 67, 1960 p. 260-71
Welsh Family Farm JUA 39, 1958 p. 5-8
Publications with Fleure, H.J.
Denmark and Wales GEOG, 1930
Publications with Fox, C
Carmarthenshire in New Stone Age etc. In Lloyd, J.:History of Carmarthenshire. Vol. 1. 1935