ANSS Newsletter, mailed quarterly (when available) from 1943-1999, kept members posted on Society and member news. It featured a 1- to 3-page Teaching Tip, nature writing excerpts and announcements of upcoming regional, national and international events. Digital scans of the early newsletter issues 1943-1946 pictured here became somewhat skewed visually in the scanning process. You may see a few ‘blank’ … Read More
Liberty Hyde Bailey
Liberty Hyde Bailey – an American horticulturist and botanist 1858–1954 Born in South Haven, Michigan. In 1876 Bailey met botanist Lucy Millington who encouraged his interest in botany. Bailey entered the Michigan Agricultural College (MAC, now Michigan State University) in 1878 and graduated in 1882. He then spent two years as a herbarium assistant to the renowned botanist Asa Gray, of Harvard University. In 1884 Bailey returned to MAC to … Read More
E. Laurence Palmer
E (Ephraim) Laurence Palmer – an American science educator and conservationist 1888 – 1970 Eph Palmer was born in McGraw, New York, on July 8, 1888, to Laura Lincoln (née Darrow) and Ephraim Clark Palmer. He attended Cortland State Normal School, and in 1908 enrolled in Cornell University, graduating with an A.B. in 1911 and M.A. in 1913. He taught at Iowa State Teachers College before … Read More
AB Comstock
Comstock, Anna Botsford 1854–1930 First woman professor at Cornell University, leader of the nature-study movement, author and/or illustrator of many natural science books. Born Anna Botsford on September 1, 1854, on the family farm near Otto, in Cattaraugus County, New York; died on August 24, 1930, at her home in Ithaca, New York; attended a rural elementary schoolhouse, a “select” high school in … Read More
Teaching Tips
Teaching Tips were/are 1- to 3-page ‘lesson plans’ focused on helping teachers and students learn about the natural world. ANSS’ Tips were first published in the Society’s Newsletters but also found their way into many of the Nature Study Journals. Topics were as widespread and as varied as all the associated fields of nature-study and environmental education from Acid Rain … Read More
American Nature Study Society Archive
The American Nature Study Society Archive Project The nature study movement was a popular education movement in America in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Nature Study attempted to reconcile scientific investigation with personal, spiritual experiences gained from interaction with the natural world. Led by progressive educators and naturalists such as Anna Botsford Comstock, Liberty Hyde Bailey, and Louis … Read More
Nature Study Journals
Nature Study Journals (publications included here from 1964-2004), in 3-4 annually themed issues contained in-depth articles focused on nature study, nature education, environmental education, trends, issues, resources, opportunities and more all written and compiled by its members, guest writers and guest editors such as; L H Bailey, Anna Botsford Comstock, E L Palmer, Cap’n Bill Vinal, Roger Tory Peterson, Edwin … Read More
Brief History of the American Nature Study Society
The American Nature Study Society (ANSS), founded in 1908, is America’s oldest organization for environment ….’ devoted to the appreciation and understanding of our natural world’. ANSS played an important role in helping to bring about and nurture the Nature-Study movement in the early 20th century. ANSS was founded at the 1908 annual meeting in Chicago of the American Association for … Read More
Natural History Inserts — E L Palmer
Ephraim Lawrence (E L) Palmer was most well-known for his books such as Field Book of Natural History (1949), his weekly radio show This Week in Nature of the 1940s – 1950s, and his writings and contributions in the monthly publication of Nature Magazine including the 100+ Natural History Inserts. Each 8-page insert is inclusive of and focuses on a distinct and specific topic of … Read More
2020 Calendar of Events
To our Brandwein Institute family, The Brandwein Institute Board of Directors has cancelled all 2020 activities at the Brandwein Nature Learning Preserve due to the ongoing covid-19 pandemic and conditions in Orange County, NY. We look forward to welcoming student science campers and resuming weekend activities in 2021. Watch our website and Facebook page for updates. Again, to all our … Read More