the john muir exhibit - uop - uop_conference_1996 - eber
presentation by Ronald Eber
FULL TEXT: John Muir and the Pioneer Conservationists of the Pacific Northwest
by Ron Eber (off-site link to johnmuir.org)
ABSTRACT:
John Muir's connections with the literary and scientific communities in the
Northeast and California are well known. However, his acquaintances with
many pioneer naturalists, mountaineers and conservationists in the Pacific
Northwest have received little attention. This paper will explore these
acquaintances and how they established the foundation of the early
conservation movemåent on the Pacific Coast using many new letters, diaries
and news accounts regarding John Muir's visits to the Pacific Northwest.
Although Muir's travels in Oregon and Washington were limited, he was able
to become acquainted with a wide range of important community leaders who
shared his love for the regions extensive forests and wilderness.
Beginning with his first visit in 1880, Muir gave a series of lectures
about his recent trip to Alaska. The "standing room only" lectures
received extensive coverage in the Oregonian and provided an opportunity
for those already familiar with Muir's writings and explorations about
Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada to experience him in person. Muir renewed
and expanded these acquaintances during his most extensive trip to the
Pacific Northwest in 1888. This trip, which took him to Portland, Mount
Rainier, Multnomah Falls, the Columbia River Gorge and Crater Lake, allowed
for further exploration of the region and its emerging conservation issues.
Many of those Muir met on these early trips later became active members of
the Mazamas, a Northwest mountaineering club, and vocal advocates for the
protection of Crater Lake and the establishment of the Cascade Range Forest
Reserve. Among those to be discussed, the more prominent were Oregon
Supreme Court Justice John Waldo, William Gladstone Steel and Colonel L.
L. Hawkins. Judge Waldo extensively explored the Cascade Mountains and
was a leading advocate for forest protection in Oregon. Will Steel later
founded the Mazamas and his tireless efforts earned him the title, the
"Father of Crater Lake National Park" Col. L. L. Hawkins originally met
and camped with Muir as a member of Joseph LeConte's 1870 trip to the High
Sierra. In 1895, he became President of the Mazamas and later helped Muir
coordinate joint Sierra Club and Mazama efforts to retain the Cascade Range
Forest Reserve.
Muir relied on the acquaintances from his earlier trips to rally support
for the region's Forest Reserves when he traveled again to the Pacific
Northwest in 1896 and 1899. What emerged from his earlier visits and
acquaintances was a network of individuals dedicated to the protection of
the pristine forests, wilderness areas and park lands of the Pacific
Northwest. Finally, the importance of this early network of conservation
leaders was clearly demonstrated in a joint Sierra Club - Mazama climbing
trip to Mount Rainier in 1905. This trip brought together an amazing
group of pioneer mountaineers and conservationists who had heard and been
inspired by Muir's wilderness gospel. Although Muir could not attend, this
trip firmly established a working relationship between the Sierra Club,
the Mazamas and other northwest conservationist. The trip resulted in
joint efforts to improve the protection of Mount Rainier National Park and
helped to enlist northwest conservationists in John Muir's final crusade to
protect Hetch-Hetchy and the integrity of national park's everywhere.
RESUME
Experience in Field: Ron Eber serves on an advisory committee to the Curator of Special Collections at the University of Oregon's Knight Library regarding the
establishment of an Oregon Conservation Collection. Visiting lecturer at
the University of Oregon and Willamette University on Oregon Land Use
Planning, Agricultural Land Preservation, The History and Meaning of Land
in America, Oregon Conservation History and John Muir and the American and
Northwest Conservation Movement.
He has also written a variety of articles on environmental subjects and
Oregon conservation history including "John Waldo, Pioneer
Conservationists of Oregon," "The History of Oregon's Forest Reserves," and
"John Muir and Oregon," John Muir Newsletter, Fall 1993.
Education: Masters in Urban and Regional Planning, University of Oregon;
B. A. in Geography, Cal State University, Northridge.
Current Employment: Rural and Agricultural Land Specialist, Oregon
Department of Land Conservation and Development (1975 to present).
1996 John Muir Conference
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