Entity | John R. Borchert

John Borchert, B.A. (1941) DePauw University; M.A. (1946), Ph.D. (1949) University of Wisconsin. Regents' professor of geography at the University of Minnesota. Known for his work in urban geography, land use, and climate and water resources. University of Minnesota map library named in his honor upon his retirement (1989).

From the description of John R. Borchert papers circa 1949-1989. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 769419934

John R. Borchert was born in Chicago on October 24, 1918 and grew up in Crown Point, Indiana. He earned his B.A. in geology from DePauw University in 1941. During World War II, he studied weather patterns to assist the Allied forces in the bombing campaigns of Germany. After the war, he returned to pursue an education in geography, earning his M.A. in 1946 and Ph.D. in 1949 from the University of Wisconsin. He spent two years as an instructor at the University of Wisconsin (1947-1949), before joining the faculty of the University of Minnesota. In 1949, Dr. Borchert was appointed as assistant professor of geography, was promoted to associate professor in 1949 and made full professor in 1956. He was also chair of the Department of Geography from 1956 to 1961. In addition to his teaching duties at the University, Dr. Borchert was Associate Dean of the Graduate School (1965), first Director of the Center for Urban and Regional Affairs (1968-1977) and Special Assistant to the Vice President for Educational Relationships and Development (1966-1968). In 1981, Dr. Borchert was named Regents' professor, the highest honor bestowed upon a faculty member at the University of Minnesota.

Dr. Borchert's teaching and research emphasis was in the areas of the geography of natural resources, land development, and settlement in the Midwest and the United States. He was well known for his research on climate and water resources of the Midwest and for publications on the urbanization of the Upper Midwest, the evolution of metropolitan areas and highway development and public land policies in Minnesota. Upon his retirement from the University of Minnesota in 1989, the map library at the University was renamed the John R. Borchert Map Library, in honor of his accomplishments in the field of geography. Dr. Borchert was a member of the National Academy of Sciences, Association of American Geographers, Urban Land Institute, National Council for Geographic Education and American Institute of Planners. John Borchert died on March 30, 2001.

From the guide to the John R. Borchert papers, circa 1949-1989, (University of Minnesota Libraries. University of Minnesota Archives [uarc])