J. Keith Fraser
Encyclopedia
Dr. John Keith Fraser is a Canadian physical geographer
. He served as president of the Canadian Association of Geographers
, as well as the executive secretary, publisher and general manager of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society
.
, serving in the Royal Canadian Air Force
/Royal Air Force
.
In 1955, he received a M.A. degree from the University of Toronto
. He received his Ph.D. in 1964 from Clark University
; his dissertation was entitled The physiography of Boothia Peninsula, Northwest territories a study in terrain analysis and air photo interpretation of an Arctic area.
, publishing articles after many of his field assignments.
One of his first assignments, in the late 1940s, was as an observer on tugs
in the Mackenzie River
, and on Hudson's Bay Company
vessels in the western Arctic Ocean
.
In 1951, he assisted geomorphologist
J. Ross Mackay in investigating Amundsen Gulf
's Darnley Bay
area. After reviewing recent aerial photographs
and old maps, Fraser determined that the Rivière La Roncière-le Noury, charted by French Missionary Oblate
Émile Petitot
in 1875 but considered nonexistent decades later by explorer Vilhjalmur Stefansson
, did exist. Though there were errors in the placement of the Roncière's mouth at Franklin Bay
, the Roncière was the same river as the partially mapped Hornaday River
by Andrew J. Stone in 1899.
The following year, he participated in the Canadian Ice Distribution Survey. In 1953, Fraser studied the central Arctic coast around the Boothia Isthmus. In 1954, he the department's representative to the Aklavik Relocation Survey team in the Mackenzie Delta
, and in 1955, he studied the southeastern coastline of Victoria Island. 1956 found him studying the south coast of King William Island
and Sherman Inlet.
in 1959. In 1982, he was appointed executive secretary, publisher and general manager. A new publisher arrived in 1988, but Fraser continued in his other two roles until 1990. In that same year, the Society established the Fraser Lectureship in Northern Studies program in his honor.
He became a Fellow of the Arctic Institute of North America
in 1960.
In 1975, Fraser received the Award for Service to the Profession of Geography from the Canadian Association of Geographers. Six years later, he served as president of the Association.
In 1992, Fraser was award the Camsell Medal by the Royal Canadian Geographical Society in honour of his service to the Society.
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...
. He served as president of the Canadian Association of Geographers
Canadian Association of Geographers
The Canadian Association of Geographers is an educational and scientific society in Canada aimed at advancing the understanding of, study of, and importance of geography and related fields. There are five divisions: Atlantic, Ontario, Prairie, Quebec, and Western.The organization was founded on...
, as well as the executive secretary, publisher and general manager of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society
Royal Canadian Geographical Society
The Royal Canadian Geographical Society is a Canadian non-profit educational organization dedicated to imparting a broader knowledge and deeper appreciation of Canada — its people and places, its natural and cultural heritage and its environmental, social and economic challenges.-History:The...
.
Biography
Fraser is a veteran of World War IIWorld 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...
, serving in the Royal Canadian Air Force
Royal Canadian Air Force
The history of the Royal Canadian Air Force begins in 1920, when the air force was created as the Canadian Air Force . In 1924 the CAF was renamed the Royal Canadian Air Force and granted royal sanction by King George V. The RCAF existed as an independent service until 1968...
/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...
.
In 1955, he received a M.A. degree from the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
. He received his Ph.D. in 1964 from Clark University
Clark University
Clark University is a private research university and liberal arts college in Worcester, Massachusetts.Founded in 1887, it is the oldest educational institution founded as an all-graduate university. Clark now also educates undergraduates...
; his dissertation was entitled The physiography of Boothia Peninsula, Northwest territories a study in terrain analysis and air photo interpretation of an Arctic area.
Career
After the war, Fraser had a career as a Canadian government employee with the Geographical Branch, Department of Mines and Technical Surveys, OttawaOttawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, publishing articles after many of his field assignments.
One of his first assignments, in the late 1940s, was as an observer on tugs
Tugboat
A tugboat is a boat that maneuvers vessels by pushing or towing them. Tugs move vessels that either should not move themselves, such as ships in a crowded harbor or a narrow canal,or those that cannot move by themselves, such as barges, disabled ships, or oil platforms. Tugboats are powerful for...
in the Mackenzie River
Mackenzie River
The Mackenzie River is the largest river system in Canada. It flows through a vast, isolated region of forest and tundra entirely within the country's Northwest Territories, although its many tributaries reach into four other Canadian provinces and territories...
, and on Hudson's Bay Company
Hudson's Bay Company
The Hudson's Bay Company , abbreviated HBC, or "The Bay" is the oldest commercial corporation in North America and one of the oldest in the world. A fur trading business for much of its existence, today Hudson's Bay Company owns and operates retail stores throughout Canada...
vessels in the western Arctic Ocean
Arctic Ocean
The Arctic Ocean, located in the Northern Hemisphere and mostly in the Arctic north polar region, is the smallest and shallowest of the world's five major oceanic divisions...
.
In 1951, he assisted geomorphologist
Geomorphology
Geomorphology is the scientific study of landforms and the processes that shape them...
J. Ross Mackay in investigating Amundsen Gulf
Amundsen Gulf
Amundsen Gulf is a gulf located in Canadian Northwest Territories, between Banks Island and Victoria Island and the mainland . It is approximately in length and about across where it meets the Beaufort Sea....
's Darnley Bay
Darnley Bay
Darnley Bay is a large inlet in the Northwest Territories, Canada. It is a southern arm of the Amundsen Gulf. The bay measures long, and wide at its mouth.The Parry Peninsula is to the west and Halcro Point is to the east...
area. After reviewing recent aerial photographs
Aerial photography
Aerial photography is the taking of photographs of the ground from an elevated position. The term usually refers to images in which the camera is not supported by a ground-based structure. Cameras may be hand held or mounted, and photographs may be taken by a photographer, triggered remotely or...
and old maps, Fraser determined that the Rivière La Roncière-le Noury, charted by French Missionary Oblate
Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate
The Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate is a missionary religious congregation in the Catholic Church. It was founded on January 25, 1816 by Saint Eugene de Mazenod, a French priest born in Aix-en-Provence in the south of France on August 1, 1782. The congregation was given recognition by Pope...
Émile Petitot
Émile Petitot
Father Émile-Fortuné Petitot Father Émile-Fortuné Petitot (also known as Émile-Fortuné-Stanislas-Joseph Petitot) Father Émile-Fortuné Petitot (also known as Émile-Fortuné-Stanislas-Joseph Petitot) (Inuk name, Mitchi Pitchitork Tchikraynarm iyoyé, meaning "Mr...
in 1875 but considered nonexistent decades later by explorer Vilhjalmur Stefansson
Vilhjalmur Stefansson
Vilhjalmur Stefansson was a Canadian Arctic explorer and ethnologist.-Early life:Stefansson, born William Stephenson, was born at Gimli, Manitoba, Canada, in 1879. His parents had emigrated from Iceland to Manitoba two years earlier...
, did exist. Though there were errors in the placement of the Roncière's mouth at Franklin Bay
Franklin Bay
Franklin Bay is a large inlet in the Northwest Territories, Canada. It is a southern arm of the Amundsen Gulf, southeastern Beaufort Sea. The bay measures long, and wide at its mouth. The Parry Peninsula is to the east, and its southern area is called Langton Bay.Franklin Bay receives the...
, the Roncière was the same river as the partially mapped Hornaday River
Hornaday River
Hornaday River is a waterway located above the Arctic Circle on the mainland of Northern Canada....
by Andrew J. Stone in 1899.
The following year, he participated in the Canadian Ice Distribution Survey. In 1953, Fraser studied the central Arctic coast around the Boothia Isthmus. In 1954, he the department's representative to the Aklavik Relocation Survey team in the Mackenzie Delta
Mackenzie River
The Mackenzie River is the largest river system in Canada. It flows through a vast, isolated region of forest and tundra entirely within the country's Northwest Territories, although its many tributaries reach into four other Canadian provinces and territories...
, and in 1955, he studied the southeastern coastline of Victoria Island. 1956 found him studying the south coast of King William Island
King William Island
King William Island is an island in the Kitikmeot Region of Nunavut and forms part of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. In area it is between and making it the 61st largest island in the world and Canada's 15th largest island...
and Sherman Inlet.
Affiliations
Fraser became a Fellow and director of the Royal Canadian Geographical SocietyRoyal Canadian Geographical Society
The Royal Canadian Geographical Society is a Canadian non-profit educational organization dedicated to imparting a broader knowledge and deeper appreciation of Canada — its people and places, its natural and cultural heritage and its environmental, social and economic challenges.-History:The...
in 1959. In 1982, he was appointed executive secretary, publisher and general manager. A new publisher arrived in 1988, but Fraser continued in his other two roles until 1990. In that same year, the Society established the Fraser Lectureship in Northern Studies program in his honor.
He became a Fellow of the Arctic Institute of North America
Arctic Institute of North America
The Arctic Institute of North America is mandated to study the North American and circumpolar Arctic in the areas of natural science, social science, arts and the humanities. In addition, it acquires, preserves and disseminates information on environmental, physical, and social conditions in the...
in 1960.
In 1975, Fraser received the Award for Service to the Profession of Geography from the Canadian Association of Geographers. Six years later, he served as president of the Association.
In 1992, Fraser was award the Camsell Medal by the Royal Canadian Geographical Society in honour of his service to the Society.
Partial works
- (1952), Identification of Petitot's Riviere La Ronciere-le Noury
- (1959), Notes on the glaciation of King William Island and Adelaide Peninsula, N.W.T. OCLC 14036925
- (1966), The realistic approach to geographical names in Canada
- (1970), Place names of the Hudson Bay Region OCLC 6155814019
- (1972), Directory of Canadian geography OCLC 629993
- (1972), List of theses and dissertations on Canadian geography OCLC 251485540