Melville Bell Grosvenor was a prominent American journalist, editor, and a member of one of the most notable families in American history. Grosvenor was born on November 26, 1901, in Washington, D.C., and died on April 22, 1982, at his winter home in Miami. He was the president of the National Geographic Society and the editor of The National Geographic Magazine from 1957 to 1967. Grosvenor was the grandson of Alexander Graham Bell, the inventor of the telephone, and his father, Gilbert Hovey Grosvenor, was the first editor of The National Geographic Magazine. In this biography, we will delve into the life and accomplishments of Melville Bell Grosvenor.

Melville Bell Grosvenor was born in Washington, D.C., on November 26, 1901, to Gilbert Hovey Grosvenor and Elsie May Bell Grosvenor. The year following his birth, he was present at the laying of the cornerstone of the National Geographic Society’s first building, Hubbard Hall, while in his grandfather’s arms. In 1919, Grosvenor enrolled in the U.S. Naval Academy, and on June 8, 1923, he graduated with the Class of 1923, which included his lifelong friend, Admiral Arleigh Burke.

After graduation, Grosvenor was commissioned as an ensign in the United States Navy. However, in 1924, he resigned from the Navy and joined the staff of the National Geographic Society as a picture editor. Grosvenor is credited with taking the first color aerial photograph when he took a shot of the Statue of Liberty by circling the monument in a Navy Airship ZM C2. The photograph was published in the September 1930 issue, leading the Society to adopt the Finlay process, then the newest method for producing color photographs. He also took early aerial color photographs of Washington, D.C., which appeared in the magazine.

In 1957, Melville Bell Grosvenor became the president of the National Geographic Society and editor of The National Geographic Magazine, succeeding his father, Gilbert Hovey Grosvenor. Grosvenor initiated major changes, which are credited with resuscitating the organization and increasing membership from 2.1 million to 5.5 million. He added or promoted new editorial staff including Wilbur Garrett and Joseph Judge, and photographers such as Thomas Nebbia and Bruce Dale.

Under Grosvenor’s editorship, the magazine added full-color photographs to its black-white-yellow cover and installed new presses and equipment to enhance its high-quality color picture spreads. Grosvenor pushed the Society to create new products, including television documentaries, books, globes, and its first Atlas of the World, and published articles on exotic African, Asian, and South American locations; wildlife, insects, and other natural splendors; and anthropological studies on primitive tribal societies. He also commissioned articles on space, polar, and undersea research and other subjects.

Grosvenor expanded the scope of the society’s operations, branching into the production of documentaries bearing the National Geographic name, which began airing on television. Four of these were produced per year. Among the features produced during Grosvenor’s presidency were documentaries covering the first American expedition to Mount Everest and Jacques Cousteau’s underwater exploits.

Grosvenor sharply increased grants for research and exploration. The Society gave one of the first grants to oceanographer Jacques-Yves Cousteau, and supported anthropologists Louis S.B. and Mary Leakey, primatologist Jane Goodall, and other modern pioneers. Grosvenor also campaigned to save the California redwoods before conservation became a popular cause.

One of Grosvenor’s principal contributions was in the development of photography as a medium for capturing and sharing images of the world. He recognized the potential of photography to educate and inform people about the natural world and its beauty, as well as the need to protect it. Under his leadership, National Geographic magazine became renowned for its stunning photographs of exotic locations and wildlife, helping to popularize nature photography and inspire a love of nature in generations of readers. Grosvenor’s efforts also extended to other media, such as television, where he helped launch National Geographic Specials, a series of documentaries that brought the wonders of the natural world into people’s living rooms. Through his work, Grosvenor helped to create a culture of conservation and appreciation for the environment that continues to this day.

As the society expanded under Grosvenor’s leadership, it began to explore new areas of research and investigation. The society’s documentaries covered subjects ranging from the first American expedition to Mount Everest to Jacques Cousteau’s underwater exploits. Grosvenor also increased grants for research and exploration, supporting the work of anthropologists, oceanographers, and other pioneers.

One of the society’s most significant contributions during Grosvenor’s tenure was the creation of the National Geographic Atlas of the World, which became the standard reference work for geographers, cartographers, and students around the world. The atlas featured detailed maps and illustrations of the world’s geography, climate, and natural resources, and it was the first atlas to use satellite imagery and computer technology.

Despite the society’s many achievements under Grosvenor’s leadership, he faced criticism for maintaining the magazine’s traditional tone of “gentlemanly detachment” from the world’s problems. Some readers and writers felt that the magazine should engage more directly with issues like poverty, war, and environmental degradation. Grosvenor defended the magazine’s approach, arguing that it was important to maintain a sense of objectivity and impartiality in order to preserve the society’s reputation for accuracy and reliability.

After stepping down as editor and president, Grosvenor continued to be involved with the National Geographic Society as chairman and editor emeritus. He remained an active sailor and outdoorsman, and he continued to explore new areas of research and investigation throughout his life. In 1977, he was honored with the National Geographic Society’s highest award, the Hubbard Medal, for his contributions to the field of geographic exploration.

Melville Bell Grosvenor died of a heart attack on April 22, 1982, at his winter home in Miami, Florida. He was 80 years old. His legacy as a pioneering explorer, photographer, and publisher lives on in the National Geographic Society, which remains one of the world’s foremost educational and scientific organizations. Today, the society continues to explore new areas of research and investigation, using the latest technology and scientific methods to explore the world’s geography, culture, and natural resources.

References:

  1. https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melville_Bell_Grosvenor
  2. https://www.trivia-library.com/b/history-of-national-geographic-magazine-part-1.htm
  3. https://www.nytimes.com/1982/04/24/obituaries/melville-b-grosvenor-dies-at-80-led-national-geographic-society.html
  4. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1982/04/24/melville-grosvenor-former-editor-of-national-geographic-dies/8295047c-68fb-4b6d-8b7e-925acf3d2f83/
  5. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pres._Kennedy_Awards_the_National_Geographic_Society%27s_Gold_Medal_to_Jacques_Cousteau.jpg