Wallace Walter Atwood

Born in Chicago in 1872, Wallace Walter Atwood studied at the University of Chicago, earning his bachelor's degree in 1897 and his doctorate in 1903. He went on to teach geology there, later served as professor of physiography at Harvard, and also worked with the U.S. Geological Survey.

Atwood became president of Clark University in 1920 and remained in that role until 1946. At Clark, he also led its School of Geography, helping build the university's reputation in that field.

He was known not only as a scholar of geography and geology, but also as a gifted teacher and textbook writer. His books brought geography to a wide audience, from schoolchildren to college students, and his influence lasted well beyond his own classroom.