National Geographic Society

The National Geographic Society was formed on January 22, 1888. Originally they were an elite group of wealthy individuals and academics with a specific interest in travel and the world around us.

The very first president of the National Geographic Society was Gardiner Greene Hubbard, the father-in-law of Alexander Graham Bell, the Scot widely credited with inventing the world's first telephone!

Alexander Graham Bell eventually became the second president on the death of Gardiner Greene Hubbard in 1897.

In 1899, Bell's own son-in-law, Gilbert Hovey Grosvenor became the first full-time editor of National Geographic magazine, a position he held for the next 55 years.

Since his death, various other members of the Grosvenor family have continued to hold elite positions within the company.

Nepotism is alive and well at the National Geographic Society whose headquarters are in Washington DC.

The aim of the National Geographic Society is to promote environmental and historical conservation, world culture and history through geography, archaeology and natural science.

It has become one of the largest non profit making scientific and educational institutions in the world.

It is instantly recognisable by its logo, a yellow portraitframe which features on every single issue of their monthly magazine.

Generations of people the world over have grown up with and been enchanted with the National Geographic magazine which features amazing color photographs to accompany interesting and educational stories covering many peoples and geographic locations throughout the world.

The original mission of the National Geographic Society was "to increase and diffuse geographic knowledge while promoting the conservation of the world's cultural, historical, and natural resources" They have admirably succeeded in carrying this out.

There are 12 editions published of the National Geographic magazine annually, plus at least 4 additional map supplements. It is currently published in 32 different languages worldwide.

Its total readership is in the region of 50 million per month!

In addition to their magazine National Geographic, the society also published several other magazines in the US alone:

• National Geographic Kids
• National Geographic Little Kids
• National Geographic Traveller
• National Geographic Adventure
• National Geographic Explorer
• National Geographic Green Guide
• Glimpse Magazine
• and an online outlet called National Geographic News

They also publish many maps, atlases and books.

In 2007, National Geogrpahic created the Global Media group to oversee and take care of all its interests in television, film, book publishing, radio and digital media.

The current president of the Global Media Group is Tim Kelly and effective from 1st of January 2011 he will take over presidency of the National Geographic Society too, following the retiral of Gilbert M Grosvenor.

Just who is Tim Kelly related to? He must be a son-in-law.