Bruce Crossan Ogilvie

Bruce Crossan Ogilvie

Bruce C. Ogilvie born on June 21,1915 in Avon, NY, the fourth son of George Russell and Myra Bell Emery Ogilvie. He died May 11, 2010 at the age of 94 in Benzie County, Michigan. He was a member of the Illinois Saint Andrew Society.

Born to a Scots immigrant parent, he lived much of his early life in rural areas of New York, Michigan, Ontario and Maine. As a Maine State Scholar in 1933, he attended Farmington State Normal (now University of Maine at Farmington) from 1933 to 1935 to earn his initial teaching certificate. After one year of teaching at a one-room school in Chesuncook, Maine, he returned to Farmington for an additional year to obtain his Life Certificate in 1937.

In 1938, he earned a Bachelor of Education from Rhode Island College of Education, and continued to teach school in Rhode Island for one additional year before attending graduate school at Clark University, Worcester, MA, completing most of the requirements for a Master of Arts in Geography. As war approached, he joined the Office of Strategic Services, Washington, DC as a cartographer. In 1942, he received a direct commission in the U.S. Navy Reserve, and served as a Line Officer Afloat in the North Atlantic until 1944, then as a Cartographer with the US Navy Hydrological Office in Washington, D.C. until after the end of WWII. He resigned his Navy commission as a Lieutenant Senior Grade in 1952.

In 1947, appointed Instructor in Geography at the University of Georgia, Athens for one year, and then returned to complete his Master’s thesis at Clark University followed by a postgraduate fellowship in Urban Geography leading to an earned Ph.D awarded in 1956. In the 1960s and 70s he taught Cartography in the graduate school of Geography at the University of Chicago, as a member of the adjunct faculty.

In 1959, he began as Map Editor and later, The Geographer, at Rand McNally & Co., Chicago, IL. From 1960 through 1977, he was responsible for company-wide production of maps, globes and atlases for which the Company was so well known. He was Editor and Coordinator of many projects, including The Time-Life Atlas (1961) and The International Atlas (1973), author of The Children’s World Atlas (1980) and numerous other publications and articles. He also wrote, printed, published and distributed nationally five miniature books: The Heart Shaped World Map: 21st Century Reflections on 16th Century Cosmographic Maps, 2008, The Little Red Schoolhouse (2000), Olde Tyme Geography (1997, Joggerfy of the U.S. of A. (1995) and, A Litter of Picnickers (1993).

In 1978, at the urging of a former student, he became a consultant to the U.S. Geological Survey, Department of Interior, Reston, VA. He translated to full-time federal employment in 1979 in the Geographic Information Section, including time as Acting Chief for several years in National Geographic Information Center. He retired, once again, in 1985, and moved back to the Chicago area.

During the first fifteen years of retirement, he taught part-time in North Suburban Schools as a substitute teacher, filled in at local community colleges, and private colleges and universities when needed. He thoroughly enjoyed over sixty years of elementary, high school, college and graduate level instruction.

The University of Maine at Farmington honored him, on his 70th year reunion, shortly after his 90th birthday, as the keynote speaker at the June 23, 2005 ceremonies.

Had it not been for the loss of eyesight, he might have continued teaching. As it was, he retained a strong sense of his place and purpose throughout these last years of his life, always quick to question, investigate, listen and learn.

His son, Bruce Campbell Ogilvie, who lives in Frankfort, Michigan, recently made a gift to the Scholarship Fund of the Society in the name of his father and mother. The Bruce C. and Martha M. Campbell Ogilvie Scholarship for Geographic Education will be available to persons interested in the study of geography. Contact the Society office for further information.

Wayne Rethford
President Emeritus Illinois St. Andrews Society
wrethford@comcast.net
630-629-4516


The Scottish American History Club meets this Saturday at the Scottish Home. The museum opens at 9:00 a.m. and the program begins at 10:00 a.m. At this meeting there will be a Power Point presentation on the years, 1866-1876, as we work through our history in ten year segments. We will look at the 6 men who served as President of the Society and what activities the Society was involved with and some of Chicago history as well.

We will also have on display for the first time, the restored and framed certificate from the Order of Scottish Clans designating Clan MacNeil as an official member in 1909. The certificate has been restored and preserved. It is amazing.

February 4, 2012 we will feature Tom Campbell and his book, “Fighting Slavery in Chicago.” Mr. Campbell is a life member of the Society and his lecture has been featured on television, so we are please he can join us.

March 31, 2012 - We are making preliminary plans for a behind-the-scenes tour of the Auditorium theater and another site which has not been finalized. Watch for further details.

The April meeting will probably be canceled.