Gathering of Elders

April 1988, The Holden Arboreum, Kirtland, Ohio   1. Keynote – Roger Tory Peterson, Intro – Paul Spector 2. History of ANSS – Ralph Dexter, Intro – Paul Spector 3. Panel to the Past – Moderator – Cliff Knapp, Intros – Paul Spector 4. History of Cornell – Science Leaflets – Dr. Verne Rockcastle, Intro – Paul Spector 5. Honor … Read More

LH Bailey Award

The Liberty Hyde Bailey Award – presented for Excellence, Achievement, and Outstanding Service to Nature Study. The award was established in 1987 to honor the American Nature Study Society first president, Liberty Hyde Bailey. And to recognize his significant contributions to the development of nature study. The award is/was presented to an individual who exemplifies ideals expressed by Bailey embodied … Read More

EL Gordon Award

THE EVA L. GORDON AWARD for EXCELLENCE IN CHILDREN’S SCIENCE LITERATURE A long-time member of the American Nature Study Society, Eva L. Gordon was honored a year following her death in 1962 when the American Nature Study Society (ANSS) Board of Directors established the Eva L. Gordon Award for Excellence in Children’s Science Literature. Eva L. Gordon was a pioneer … Read More

Eva L. Gordon

Eva Lucretia Gordon – author, pioneer in children’s science literature, educator 1891-1962 Eva L. Gordon was a pioneer in writing children’s’ science literature having co-authored two primary grade textbooks of nature stories long before science for young children existed. These books were based on her first-hand knowledge of the outdoors and her experience teaching first and second graders in the … Read More

John Gustafson

John Alfred Gustafson 1925-2016 John was born in Boston, Massachusetts to second-generation Swedish immigrants, and showed an early interest in the world of nature and living things. He attended Boston Public Schools, enrolling in the horticulture emphasis at Jamaica Plain High School. During World War II he joined the United States Marine Corps at age 17 and as part of … Read More

Helen Ross Russell

Dr. Helen Beaumont Ross Russell 1915-2014 Environmental biologist, author, illustrator, educator, Helen Ross was born on February 21, 1915 in Myerstown, Pennsylvania, United States. Daughter of George Smith and Helen Louise (Boyd) Ross. As a young girl, Helen attended her hometown school, Myerstown High and was valedictorian in 1932. One of the first female Ph.D. graduates of Cornell University’s nature … Read More

ANSS Newsletters

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