William E. Doolittle

2014 Preston E. James Eminent Latin Americanist Career Award

Most members of CLAG know Bill well – he is a regular at CLAG and AAG meetings, indeed he has been part of CLAG since the 1970s and served as the Executive Director from 1997-2003. He also received the Carl O. Sauer Distinguished Scholarship Award from CLAG in 1994 and the CLAG Outstanding Service Award in 2004. The Preston James award is our highest honor and recognizes a long-standing commitment to Latin American lands and peoples. Bill certainly deserves the James Award since he is one of a handful of life-long Latin Americanists who has remained committed to the region and to our organization.

Bill is a cultural ecologist, geoarchaeologist, and geographer whose work has long focused on water systems in Mexico and the Southwestern United States. In the last decade or so, however, he has traveled extensively across parts of Spain, Portugal and Morocco to understand older versions of water management systems. In Bill’s words he is “a hardware guy when it comes to irrigation,” and it is the physical landscape imprint that continues to hold his interest, his curiosity. Those intensely worked landscapes, their legacy, are the grist for his mill.

Bill’s contributions to Latin Americanist geography began with his 1979 dissertation that examined the archaeology of agriculture and settlement in the Valley of Sonora in northwestern Mexico. Building on this early work, Bill’s research interests have focused on irrigation, terracing, water management, runoff agriculture, ranching, and other aspects of agricultural landscapes. Irrigation and cultivated landscapes in Mexico have remained his major focus.

Small farmers and contemporary agricultural practices are another major focus. Bill’s now classic 2001 article “Learning to See the Impacts of Individuals” highlights how his scholarship has been informed by the expert knowledge of smallholders. Indeed, Bill’s keen observational skills are apparent in “Agricultural change as an incremental process” (Annals AAG, 1984), a kind of modest theory-building piece that remains in some ways under-appreciated for its continued insight and relevance. Or to put it more bluntly, most change is not revolutionary when it comes to landscapes and livelihoods.

Bill has contributed two books to Latin American scholarship: his first book published in 1988, Pre-Hispanic Occupance in the Valley of Sonora, Mexico, and later in 1990, Canal Irrigation in Prehistoric Mexico, which was reissued in Spanish. And his two other books on pre-Columbian agricultural landscapes, The Safford Valley Grids: Prehistoric Cultivation in the Southern Arizona Desert (Tucson: Anthropological Papers of the University of Arizona 70, 2004), and the monumental Cultivated Landscapes of Native North America (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000) are clearly inflected with a lifetime of travel in Latin America but squarely focused on Mexico. All of these major works occupy a prominent place in the literature; but none more so, we would argue, than the massive Cultivated Landscapes volume. That work alone, rich with archival evidence and contemporary fieldwork observations, will continue to serve as a benchmark for archaeologists and the scholarship on Columbian consequences. More recently, Bill is producing an extensive database on Mexico’s aqueduct landscape, with an emphasis on which elements may (or may not) have crossed the Atlantic.

Finally, Bill’s contributions go beyond his own scholarship, as he has selflessly supervised the independent research of fourteen PhD dissertations, nine of which focused on topics in Latin America. Some of these graduate efforts were right in line with the kind of work that Bill himself would have done; others, tellingly, were further afield. The range of projects that he let us explore, adopt, and finally polish speaks to his intellectual range in supervising us. But it also reflects his ability to let the reigns go if we had a good idea, or to grab them if we were wandering too far afield.

For all this, Bill is fully deserving of the Preston James Award. We cannot imagine Latin Americanist landscape geography scholarship without his contributions. We cannot imagine CLAG without his long-term influence and presence.

-- Matthew Fry and Eric Perramond

JLAG's Ten Most Popular Articles by Requests Since 2010

10025 Christopher Gaffney (2010).
Mega-events and socio-spatial dynamics in Rio de Janeiro, 1919-2016
Journal of Latin American Geography 9(1). http://muse.jhu.edu/article/377416

3393 Jeremy Slack; Daniel E. Martínez; Alison Elizabeth Lee; Scott Whiteford (2016).
The Geography of Border Militarization: Violence, Death and Health in Mexico and the United States
Journal of Latin American Geography 15(1). http://muse.jhu.edu/article/613266

2748 James Freeman (2014).
Raising the Flag over Rio de Janeiro's Favelas: Citizenship and Social Control in the Olympic City
Journal of Latin American Geography 13(1). http://muse.jhu.edu/article/539604

2657 Jeffrey Todd Bury (2002).
Livelihoods, Mining and Peasant Protests in the Peruvian Andes
Journal of Latin American Geography 1(1). http://muse.jhu.edu/article/215262

2489 Cynthia Sorrensen (2005).
Maria Full of Grace (Maria, llena eres de gracia) (review)
Journal of Latin American Geography 4(2). http://muse.jhu.edu/article/189742

2423 Kate Swanson; Rebecca Maria Torres (2016).
Child Migration and Transnationalized Violence in Central and North America
Journal of Latin American Geography 15(3). http://muse.jhu.edu/article/639098

2407 Dr. Rikke Schmidt Kjærgaard (2015).
The Case of the Green Turtle: An Uncensored History of a Conservation Icon by Alison Rieser (review)
Journal of Latin American Geography 14(1). http://muse.jhu.edu/article/578762

2399 Karl H. Offen (2004).
The Territorial Turn: Making Black Territories in Pacific Colombia
Journal of Latin American Geography 2(1). http://muse.jhu.edu/article/174024

2269 Alexandra Pedersen (2014).
Landscapes of Resistance: Community Opposition to Canadian Mining Operations in Guatemala
Journal of Latin American Geography 13(1). http://muse.jhu.edu/article/539611

2260 Conor Harrison; Jeff Popke (2018).
Reassembling Caribbean Energy? Petrocaribe, (Post-)Plantation Sovereignty, and Caribbean Energy Futures
Journal of Latin American Geography 17(3). http://muse.jhu.edu/article/708949

JLAG's Ten Most Popular Articles by Requests in 04/2023

82 Maria Elisa Christie (2002).
Naturaleza y sociedad desde la perspectiva de la cocina tradicional mexicana: género, adaptación y resistencia
Journal of Latin American Geography 1(1). http://muse.jhu.edu/article/215263

78 Christian Brannstrom Adryane Gorayeb (2022).
Geographical Implications of Brazil’s Emerging Green Hydrogen Sector
Journal of Latin American Geography 21(1). https://muse.jhu.edu/article/855961

72 Austin Kocher (2021).
Migrant Protection Protocols and the Death of Asylum
Journal of Latin American Geography 20(1). http://muse.jhu.edu/article/787934

68 Felix M. Dorn; Fernando Ruiz Peyré (2020).
Lithium as a Strategic Resource: Geopolitics, Industrialization, and Mining in Argentina
Journal of Latin American Geography 19(4). http://muse.jhu.edu/article/772602

64 Karl H. Offen (2004).
The Territorial Turn: Making Black Territories in Pacific Colombia
Journal of Latin American Geography 2(1). http://muse.jhu.edu/article/174024

58 Luciene Cristina Risso; Clerisnaldo Rodrigues de Carvalho (2022).
A exibição de antipolíticas indígenas e ambientais orquestrada pelo governo brasileiro de Bolsonaro
Journal of Latin American Geography 21(2). https://muse.jhu.edu/article/863335|https://muse.jhu.edu/article/866471

54 Kate Swanson (2019).
Silent Killing: The Inhumanity of U.S. Immigration Detention
Journal of Latin American Geography 18(3). http://muse.jhu.edu/article/736947

51 William M. Denevan (2012).
Rewriting the Late Pre-European History of Amazonia
Journal of Latin American Geography 11(1). http://muse.jhu.edu/article/470627

48 Kathleen McAfee (2004).
Corn Culture and Dangerous DNA: Real and Imagined Consequences of Maize Transgene Flow in Oaxaca
Journal of Latin American Geography 2(1). http://muse.jhu.edu/article/174022

41 Verónica Gago; Liz Mason-Deese (2019).
Rethinking Situated Knowledge from the Perspective of Argentina's Feminist Strike
Journal of Latin American Geography 18(3). http://muse.jhu.edu/article/736944

JLAG's Ten Most Popular Articles by Requests in 2023

322 Karl H. Offen (2004).
The Territorial Turn: Making Black Territories in Pacific Colombia
Journal of Latin American Geography 2(1). http://muse.jhu.edu/article/174024

314 Christian Brannstrom Adryane Gorayeb (2022).
Geographical Implications of Brazil’s Emerging Green Hydrogen Sector
Journal of Latin American Geography 21(1). https://muse.jhu.edu/article/855961

279 Luciene Cristina Risso; Clerisnaldo Rodrigues de Carvalho (2022).
A exibição de antipolíticas indígenas e ambientais orquestrada pelo governo brasileiro de Bolsonaro
Journal of Latin American Geography 21(2). https://muse.jhu.edu/article/866471|https://muse.jhu.edu/article/863335

257 Maria Elisa Christie (2002).
Naturaleza y sociedad desde la perspectiva de la cocina tradicional mexicana: género, adaptación y resistencia
Journal of Latin American Geography 1(1). http://muse.jhu.edu/article/215263

204 Felix M. Dorn; Fernando Ruiz Peyré (2020).
Lithium as a Strategic Resource: Geopolitics, Industrialization, and Mining in Argentina
Journal of Latin American Geography 19(4). http://muse.jhu.edu/article/772602

171 Hanna Laako Edith Kauffer (2021|2021).
Conservation in the Frontier: Negotiating Ownerships of Nature at the Southern Mexican Border
Journal of Latin American Geography 20(3). https://muse.jhu.edu/article/839946|https://muse.jhu.edu/article/835649

148 Johnny Finn (2019).
Letter from the Editor
Journal of Latin American Geography 18(1). http://muse.jhu.edu/article/719689

146 Austin Kocher (2021).
Migrant Protection Protocols and the Death of Asylum
Journal of Latin American Geography 20(1). http://muse.jhu.edu/article/787934

139 Jeffrey Todd Bury (2002).
Livelihoods, Mining and Peasant Protests in the Peruvian Andes
Journal of Latin American Geography 1(1). http://muse.jhu.edu/article/215262

133 Verónica Gago; Liz Mason-Deese (2019).
Rethinking Situated Knowledge from the Perspective of Argentina's Feminist Strike
Journal of Latin American Geography 18(3). http://muse.jhu.edu/article/736944

Los Diez Artículos Españoles Mas Popular de JLAG por Solicitudes Desde 2010

2138 Danilo Borja; Juan Bay; Conny Davidsen; Traducido por Yulia Garcia Sarduy (2021).
Ancianos amazónicos en la frontera petrolera: La vida y muerte de Nenkihui Bay, líder tradicional Waorani
Journal of Latin American Geography 20(1). http://muse.jhu.edu/article/787933

2009 Maria Elisa Christie (2002).
Naturaleza y sociedad desde la perspectiva de la cocina tradicional mexicana: género, adaptación y resistencia
Journal of Latin American Geography 1(1). http://muse.jhu.edu/article/215263

1986 Diana Vela-Almeida; Sofia Zaragocin; Manuel Bayón; Iñigo Arrazola (2020).
Imaginando territorios plurales de vida: una lectura feminista de las resistencias en los movimientos socio-territoriales en el Ecuador
Journal of Latin American Geography 19(2). http://muse.jhu.edu/article/749633

1601 Geobrujas-Comunidad de Geógrafas (2021).
Cuerpos, fronteras y resistencia: mujeres conjurando geografí­a a través de experiencias desde el otro lado del muro
Journal of Latin American Geography 20(2). https://muse.jhu.edu/article/799599

1331 Christian Abizaid; Luis Ángel Collado Panduro; Sergio Gonzales Egusquiza (2020).
Pobreza Y Medios De Subsistencia En La Amazonía Peruana En Tiempos De La Covid-19
Journal of Latin American Geography 19(3). http://muse.jhu.edu/article/760940

1238 Diego B. Leal; David S. Salisbury; Josué Faquín Fernández; Lizardo Cauper Pezo; Julio Silva (2015).
Ideas cambiantes sobre territorio, recursos y redes políticas en la Amazonía indígena: un estudio de caso sobre Perú
Journal of Latin American Geography 14(2). http://muse.jhu.edu/article/586857

1225 Colectivo de Geografía Crítica del Ecuador (2017).
Geografiando para la resistencia
Journal of Latin American Geography 16(1). http://muse.jhu.edu/article/653095

962 Jerónimo Ríos Sierra (2020).
Una aproximación (geo)politológica a la crisis de la COVID-19 en América Latina
Journal of Latin American Geography 19(3). http://muse.jhu.edu/article/760939

719 Robert B. Kent (2012).
La geografía en América Latina: Visión por países
Journal of Latin American Geography 11(1). http://muse.jhu.edu/article/470642

660 Rosa Silvia Arciniega (2012).
Participación de Mujeres en el Mercado Laboral del Estado de México
Journal of Latin American Geography 11(1). http://muse.jhu.edu/article/470633

Os Artigos Português Mais Populares da JLAG por Solicitações Desde 2010

1621 Rogério Haesbaert (2020).
Território(s) numa perspectiva latino-americana
Journal of Latin American Geography 19(1). http://muse.jhu.edu/article/744032

1390 Luciene Cristina Risso; Clerisnaldo Rodrigues de Carvalho (2022).
A exibição de antipolíticas indígenas e ambientais orquestrada pelo governo brasileiro de Bolsonaro
Journal of Latin American Geography 21(2). https://muse.jhu.edu/article/863335|https://muse.jhu.edu/article/866471

709 Joseli Maria Silva; Marcio Jose Ornat (2020).
Geografias feministas na América Latina: desafios epistemológicos e a decolonialidade de saberes
Journal of Latin American Geography 19(1). http://muse.jhu.edu/article/744044

619 Joanna Salém Vasconcelos (2021).
Cuba, protestos e caminhos da revolução
Journal of Latin American Geography 20(3). https://muse.jhu.edu/article/835650

578 Joana Salém Vasconcelos (2021).
Cuba, protestos e caminhos da revolução
Journal of Latin American Geography 20(3). https://muse.jhu.edu/article/839951

271 Christian Dennys Monteiro de Oliveira; Fabrício Américo Ribeiro; Ivo Luis Oliveira Silva; Luiz Raphael Teixeira Silva; José Arilson Xavier de Souza; Gerlaine Cristina Franco; Marcos da Silva Rocha; Maryvone Moura Gomes; Camila Benatti (2020).
As organizações religiosas brasileiras frente à pandemia de COVID-19
Journal of Latin American Geography 19(3). http://muse.jhu.edu/article/760909

210 Vinicius Santos Almeida (2020).
Necromobilidade durante a pandemia da Covid-19
Journal of Latin American Geography 19(3). http://muse.jhu.edu/article/760907

156 Antoinette M.G.A. WinklerPrins (2009).
Cidades da Floresta: Urbanização, Desenvolvimento, e Globalização na Amazônia Brasileira (review)
Journal of Latin American Geography 8(1). http://muse.jhu.edu/article/260547

117 Jean-Yves Puyo (2008).
Mise en valeur de la Guyane française et peuplement blanc: les espoirs déçus du baron de Laussat (1819-1823)
Journal of Latin American Geography 7(1). http://muse.jhu.edu/article/232499

113 Raquel de Carvalho Dumith (2014).
Dinâmicas do sistema de gestão na Reserva Extrativista de Canavieiras, Bahia, Brasil: análise da robustez institucional
Journal of Latin American Geography 13(1). http://muse.jhu.edu/article/539607

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