124 Alaskan Science Conference 



study. Alfred H. Brooks wrote in 1902, "Southeastern Alaska 

 is par excellence the region of the world in which to study 

 glaciers. . . ." (6, p. 31). Later, Ralph S. Tarr and Lawrence 

 Martin added, "The Alaskan region is one of the most wonder- 

 ful regions of glaciation in the world, both from the standpoint 

 of number and size of its glaciers, and from the extent and 

 variety of associated phenomena; and a thorough study of any 

 of its facts is certain to yield important scientific results. The 

 phenomena of advance and recession of the glacier termini, the 

 former extent of the glaciers and their deposits, and the stu- 

 pendous work which they have accomplished in sculpturing the 

 wonderful series of fiords are among the phenomena demanding 

 attention. The features exhibited have far more than local 

 importance and application, for the fact that we have here large 

 glaciers descending to sea level in a comparatively-warm, humid, 

 north temperate climate gives rise to phenomena resembling 

 those of the wasting margin of the great continental ice 

 sheets of North America and Europe, and, therefore, throw 

 light upon and furnish aid in interpreting these phenomena." 

 (55, pp. 21-22). 



During the last period of great ice expansion in North Amer- 

 ica, a large part of central Alaska apparently remained ice-free 

 and glaciers appear to have been confined largely to the moun- 

 tain areas and the adjacent lowlands. Thus we have the apparent 

 paradox that, while New England and our Great Lakes area 

 were covered in places to a depth of several thousand feet, there 

 was no general ice cover in many parts of the Yukon Valley, 

 some 20 to 25 degrees farther north. 



It is impossible in a short report to enumerate all those who 

 have been active in the study of Alaskan glaciers and glaciation. 

 John Muir (34) in 1879 and 1880 was the first to report on the 

 glaciers of Glacier Bay. He was followed by G. Frederick Wright 

 (62) in 1886 and by Harry Fielding Reid (39, 40) in 1890 and 

 1892. The latter, with his mapping, photography and detailed 

 observations, set the pattern for most of the studies of existing 

 glaciers which have since been made. Israel C. Russell (41-43) 

 visited the Malaspina and several of the other glaciers of the 



