Life as Adventure, Adventure as Life: Alvena Storm, Pioneer Woman Geographer

Abstract

In this article, we review the life and contributions to San Diego State University of Alvena Marie Suhl Storm. We begin with a discussion of the San Diego Normal School and follow that with a chronological description of her early childhood, which was significant in framing her development as a geographer. We review her four decades of teaching, starting in a one-room schoolhouse on the Umatilla Reservation in Oregon, and ending with her retirement as professor of geography at San Diego State University. We include some of her correspondence with Carl O. Sauer, her contribution to education, and, briefly, her interests in the development of the campus’s now-historic East Quad Mediterranean Garden. Professor Storm helped to shape geography in California through her teaching, development of field classes, and service to the university and community. We provide a glimpse of this woman geographer who led a remarkable, adventurous life.