Emrys George Bowen FRGS, FSA, also known as E. G. Bowen (28 December 1900 – 8 November 1983), was an internationally renowned geographer with a particular interest in the physical geography and social geography of his native Wales. A diminutive figure, Bowen was on the academic staff of the Department of Geography and Anthropology at the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth, from the 1920s and was still writing and lecturing there until his death in 1983.
E. G. Bowen was born in Carmarthen, Wales, the elder child of Thomas Bowen, an insurance agent, and Elizabeth Ann Lynch. He was educated at the council school, Pentre-poeth, and from 1912 to 1919 at Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Carmarthen, before proceeding in 1919 to the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth, where he obtained a first-class honours degree in Geography in 1923.
Bowen became the first Cecil Prosser research fellow at the Welsh National School of Medicine at Cardiff, where he investigated the relationship between 'racial type' and chest disease. From 1928 to 1929 he was an assistant editor with the Encyclopædia Britannica before being appointed in 1929 as assistant lecturer in the Department of Geography and Anthropology at Aberystwyth. He remained there for the rest of his academic career, including during World War II, when he continued to lecture and also taught meteorology to the Royal Air Force initial training wing which was located there. He was Gregynog Professor of Geography and Anthropology from 1946 to his retirement in 1968.
Bowen was President of the Institute of British Geographers in 1958 and President of Section E of the British Association in 1962. He was awarded the Murchison Grant by the Royal Geographical Society in 1958. In 1949 he was elected a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries and in 1967 he was President of the Cambrian Archaeological Society. He was awarded an honorary LL.D. by the University of Wales and in June 1979 was awarded an honorary D.Univ. by the Open University. He was an honorary member of the Gorsedd of Bards.
Bowen continued with his academic work and writing after his retirement, continuing to lecture at the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth, the United Theological College Aberystwyth, and at various other universities and colleges on Geography and Church history.
Bowen's work on the Settlements of the Celtic Saints in Wales (1954) revolutionised studies in this field.
He lived for many years with his sister. After his retirement in 1968 Bowen continued to live at Aberystwyth where he died unmarried after a heart attack on 8 November 1983 at Bronglais General Hospital, Aberystwyth. He was buried at Carmarthen.
The 'E. G. Bowen Map Room' at Aberystwyth University is named in his memory.
Publications and articles
Antiquities and History. In Cambrian forests 1959. p. 34–40Bedyddwyr Cymru tua 1714 TCHB, 1957 t. 6–14Cardiganshire in Pre-historic times TCAS 11, 1936 p. 12–20CarmarthenTown Plan:a Geographical Interpretation TCMS 59, 1934 p. 1–7Carmarthenshire and Wanderings of the Celtic Saints TCMS 62, 1936 p. 42-5Carmarthenshire: Physiographical Background. In J.Lloyd:History of Carmarthenshire, Vol.1, 1935. Sect.1.Celtic Saints CYG 2, 1946 p. 130-3Celtic Saints in Cardiganshire CER 1, 1, 1951 t. 3–17Churches of Mount and Verwig CER 2, 1952–5 p. 202-5Clawdd Mawr BBCS 9, 1937Clinical Study of Miners' Phthisis in Relation to the Geographical and Racial Features of the Cardiganshire Lead-Mining Area. In 'Studies in Regional Consciousness and Environment' Oxford, 1930 p. 189–202Cult of Dewi Sant at Llanddewi Brefi CER 2, 1953 p. 61-5Cyfrifoldeb yr Eglwys i Noddi ei Bywyd ei Hunan SG, 1955 t. 133-40Daearyddiaeth Cymru fel cefndir i'w hanes. Darlith radio y BBC yng Nghymru BBC., 1964. 40 t.Dechrau trefi yng Nghymru FD 2, 1932 t. 260, 266, 285–6Dyfed-the land and its people. in 'Land of Dyfed in Early Times' Cardiff:Cambrian Archaeological Association, 1964Economic and Social Life. History of Carmarthenshire Vol 2. 1939. Ed. By E. G. BowenEarly Christianity in British Isles Geog. 17, 1932Ein hen drefi hynod FG, 1932 t. 285-6Exiles LW 20, No. 1, 1965 p. 5–7Folk culture and local museums CAR 1, 1941–4 Pt. 2, p. 4–8For Herbert John Fleure (on his eightieth birthday, 6 June 1957) GE 42, 1957 p. 137-40From Antiquarianism to Archaeology in Cardiganshire 1909–1957 CER 3, 1959 p. 257-64Geographers' Approach to Agriculture AAG 2, 1953 p. 10–14Geography in Sixth Form Bulletin Collegiate Faculty of Education, Aberystwyth. 1958 p. 2–3Gwlad a Thref EFR 9, Rhif 2, 1944 t. 27–30Human Geography of West Wales. N.U.T. Souvineir 1933 p. 10–22Importance of St David's in Early Times St David's Cathedral Report. 1955 p. 6–13Incidence of phthisis in relation to race-type and social environment in Central Wales JRAI January–June 1933 p. 49–61Incidence of Phthisis in relation to racial types and social environment in Wales Br. Jnl of TB, July 1929Industries of Wales. Chapter in 'Land of Welsh Dragon' University of Wales Press Board, 1953Introductory survey of economic and social conditions in Carmarthenshire in industrial periods. In 'Hist. Carmarthenshire' 1939, Vol. 2., Chapter 4Le Pays de Galles TIBG 26, 1959 p. 1–23Map of Trehelig common fields MC 41, 1929–30 p. 163-8Men's Hostel CBS p. 202-4Merioneth in the Dark Ages JMHS 2, 1955 p. 169-78Monastic Economy of the Cistercians at Strata Florida CER 1, 1950–1 p. 34-7Nature Study and Geography in West Wales NLW 1, No. 1, 1955 p. 17–21Passage to Patagonia LW 20, No. 2, 1965 p. 4–6People and Culture of Rural Wales BG 1925–27 p. 77-8Prehistoric South Britain. In 'Historical Geography of England before 1800.' Chapter 1 C.U.P., 1936Professor H. J. Fleure on his 80th birthday: an appreciation of his contributions to Geography Geog. 42, 1957Racial Geography of Europe at the Dawn of Age of Metal JRAI 61, 1931Rural Settlements in South West Wales Geog. Teacher 13, 1925 p. 317Rural Settlements of Central Wales. In 'Comptes Rendus du Congres International de Geographie Tome 3' 1934 p. 205-13Rural Wales. Chapter 14 of 'Great Britain:Geographical Essays' (ed. J. Mitchell) Cambridge University Press, 1962 p. 247-64Settlements of the Celtic Saints in Wales. University of Wales Press, 1954. X, 179 P. 2nd ed. Same imprint and collation. 1956Settlement Pattern of Wales. In 'Field Studies in British Isles' (Steers) 20th International Congress, 1964 p. 279-93Sir C. Bryner Jones CER 2, 1952–5. p. 125-6Social Studies in Welsh Schools WA 1, 1949 p. 11–18Some geographical and anthropological factors in study of industrial diseases JSM 38, 1930 p. 11South West Wales Br. Grassl. Soc. Handbook, 1963 p. 10–16Travels and Settlements of the Celtic Saints WL 24, 1946 p. 100-3Travels of Celtic Saints ANT, 1944 p. 16–28Travels of St. Samson of Dol AS 13, 1934 P. 61-7Trefi Newydd Cymru FG 2, 1932 t. 19Un byd AE 1953 t. 102-4; CR 18, 1953–4 t. 48–51Wales: a Physical, Historical and Regional Geography Methuen, 1957. 528 p. ed. by E. G. BowenWales: A study in geography and history University of Wales Press Board, 1941. xvi, 182 p. 2nd ed. 1947; 5th imp. 1952Weather and Farmer BRF 7, No. 5, 1954Welsh Emigration Overseas AV 67, 1960 p. 260-71Welsh Family Farm JUA 39, 1958 p. 5–8Publications in collaborationDenmark and Wales Geog., 1930 (with H. J. Fleure)Carmarthenshire in New Stone Age etc. In Lloyd, J.: History of Carmarthenshire. Vol. 1. 1935 (with Cyril Fox)
