Description:

The relatively short history of meteorology as a science and profession is marked by the names of people who have become synonymous with its growth … names like Redfield, Espy, Henry, Lapham, Abbe, Kline, Bjerknes, Rossby, Reichelderfer, Simpson, and Wexler. Some have achieved nearly mythical status; others that should be on a list of meteorological heroes are mere footnotes. How could that be?  

The answer may lie in the way our collective history has been written, often by those with an agenda to promote, an ax to grind, a goal to be achieved. Throughout time, historians have grappled with uncovering “facts” while also dealing with their own biases and loyalties. By reviewing the historiography, or “the study of the history of history” (Knowlton, 2010) of these heroes, we can begin to uncover these issues, bringing new light onto our history.

This session will invite scientists, authors and historians to explore the historiography of our community’s heroes and in doing so, pave a way toward a more enlightened approach to recognize not only those identified as the leaders of the field, but also the truly unsung heroes of the profession on whose shoulders we stand.