Fred Bowerman Kniffen (January 18, 1900 – May 19, 1993) was an American geographer and distinguished professor in the Department of Geography and Anthropology at Louisiana State University for over 64 years.

[1] Kniffen had a background in anthropology, geography, and geology when he arrived at Louisiana State University in the late 1920s.

[2] While there, he made great strides in the Department of Geography and Anthropology that led to the development of new research areas, additional courses, and well trained graduate students.

After the army, Kniffen enrolled at the Superior State Normal School, where he earned college credits for three semesters.

Kniffen developed an interest in geography (especially the human aspect) during his undergraduate years at the University of Michigan as a result of long conversations with Carl O. Sauer.

Once Kniffen received his doctorate degree, he promptly took a position as an assistant professor at Louisiana State University in the fall of 1929.

[3] During this time, one of Kniffen's main job duties included formalizing the geography curriculum in the department in tandem with other colleagues.

[3] In the beginning of Kniffen's career at Louisiana State University, the Departments of Geography and Anthropology were initially separate.

This was due in large part to his history at the University of California, Berkeley and his work with Carl O. Sauer, Oskar Schmieder, and Alfred L. Kroeber.

Some of which include the folk-ways of sport hunting, geographical myths of Louisiana, and costumes of American working men.

[2] Lastly, Kniffen contributed greatly to the understanding of French Louisiana by encouraging his students to conduct theses and dissertations on the topic.