ICA 1959–1984: The First Twenty-Five Years of the International Cartographic Association

Summary

This article reviews the first twenty-five years of the International Cartographic Association (ICA) from its founding in 1959 to 1984. Compiled by F.J. Ormeling Sr., it draws on unpublished materials from the ICA archives, conference documents, exhibition catalogs, and participant reports to systematically outline the association's origins, organizational structure, key activities, and achievements. The content covers: the international cooperation initiatives in cartography during the 1950s and the formal establishment of the ICA in 1959; the first General Assembly in 1961 and the subsequent twelve conferences, including their themes and venues; the evolution of international map exhibitions over twenty-five years; the activities of commissions and working groups and their contributions to vital areas such as education, terminology standardization, and automation; a review of the association's publications; its policy towards the Third World and seminars held in Wuhan, China, and India; relations with sister organizations such as the International Geographical Union (IGU), the International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ISPRS), and the International Federation of Surveyors (FIG); and a comprehensive survey of world cartographic periodicals. Additionally, the article includes biographies of eleven cartographers recognized for their service to the ICA and messages of goodwill from sister organizations. Finally, then-President J.L. Morrison offers a perspective on the future of the ICA. The article emphasizes that, despite operating with extremely modest resources, the ICA successfully brought together cartographers from over 60 member countries through volunteer efforts, fostering international academic exchange and knowledge dissemination, and earned recognition from international governmental bodies such as the United Nations and UNESCO.