Category Archives: conservation

James Watt: From Wyoming’s Landscapes to Political Stances, Faith as a Driving Force

James “Jim” Watt, the former Interior Secretary, passed away on May 27, 2023, at the age of 85. While his tenure as Interior Secretary during the Reagan administration defined him, his career spanned various roles and contributions. Born and raised … Continue reading

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The “Messiah” of the Desert?: Floyd E. Dominy and Water Conservation in the West

Concern over the future of water in the West is growing. Record breaking droughts and rapidly growing cities where water is already scarce has strained the current water infrastructure to its limits. The current path appears unsustainable, so in the … Continue reading

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Female Fire Finders of the American Forests

Standing guard atop a lookout tower dozens of feet above the forest floor, female fire finders, sometimes called “lady lookouts” have been helping to protect American forests since before World War I. Hallie Morse Daggett was the first female lookout … Continue reading

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Grand Teton National Park and the Jackson Hole National Monument Controversy

Grand Teton National Park – one of the most beautiful spots in Wyoming – turns 93 on February 26. It was originally a Native American hunting ground. British and American fur traders were drawn to the area for its exceptionally … Continue reading

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Mardy and Olaus Murie, Conservation Enthusiasts

Margaret (Mardy) and Olaus Murie were fiercely dedicated to protecting America’s most beautiful places and wildlife. The couple enriched the concept of conservation, all while experiencing the outdoors and enjoying the wildlife and beautiful scenery around them. The story of … Continue reading

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Shelly and Mary Louise Grossman: the protection of our planet before Earth day

April 22nd is a day to think about, celebrate, and remember the importance of our planet and its conservation. It is called Earth day. This celebration started in 1970, following the oil blowout near Santa Barbara, in January 1969.  Its … Continue reading

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Do Feed the Bears – The Arthur E. Demaray Collection

Arthur E. Demaray was a National Park Service Administrator who worked as the liaison between the Park Service and Congress. He worked for the park service from 1917 to 1951. Demaray’s writings offer insights into Yellowstone National Park during the … Continue reading

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Preserving a Legacy: Murie Family Films Digitized

University of Wyoming, American Heritage Center (AHC) has digitized and made accessible online 461 films documenting Wyoming, including a film of the Heart Mountain Japanese Relocation Center, Alaska, Chesapeake Bay, Ireland, Brittany, Portugal, and South Africa from the Murie Family … Continue reading

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Frederick “Fritz” Gutheim: Pioneering Planner and Urban Environmentalist

Frederick Gutheim was born on March 3, 1908, in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He was raised in Washington, D.C., where he attended Sidwell Friends School and later Dr. Devitt’s Preparatory School. He earned a degree from the Experimental College of the University … Continue reading

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Exploring Ecology’s Roots – The Clements Papers

Frederic Edward Clements, a leading botanist of the early twentieth century, was born 16 September 1874 in Lincoln, Nebraska, the son of Ephraim George and Mary Angeline (Scoggin) Clements.  He received a B.S. degree from the University of Nebraska in … Continue reading

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