BOB MARSHALL

(JANUARY 2, 1901 - NOVEMBER 11, 1939)

environmentalist

"I love the woods and solitude. I should

hate to spend the greater part of my

lifetime in a stuffy office or a crowded city."'

--Bob Marshall

Early Life And Childhood:

Born in New York City, he was the third of four children of Louis and Flourence Marshall.

He was an average student who loved books that didnt have to do with school. Marshall loved sports and had a wild imagination. He spent a lot of his time studying the history of the adirondaks and reading the Lewis and Clark journals. His family had a cabin in Saranac, it was Marshall's escape. He spent every summer there until he was 25. When he was 15, his mother died of cancer. After the death of his mother, he furthered his experiences with the wilderness by travelling deeper through the rough country with skilled moutaineers and he planned on attending forestry school after high school. He attended ethical culture school, then he spent a year a Stanford University. In 1920 he transferred to the New York State College of forestry in Syracuse, which his father, Louis Marshall helped found.

Environmental Issues:

Bob Marshall was most concerned about deforestation. After graduation, Marshall went on to assist Leo A. Isaac who worked at the river forest equipment station in Washington. Marshall and Isaac never got along and Marshall was reassigned to Richard McArdlem, a member of the forest service. By the end of summer in 1924, Marshall returned to Harvard Forestry School to complete his masters in forestry Marshall discovered a link between decreased tree growth and election years. From 1925-1928, Marshall worked in Montana at the Northern Rocky Moutain Forest Experiement Station where he researched the reproduction in the forests after fires but he was involved in running every aspect of this station. Marshall then spent over a year exploring the Alaskan Wilderness and used his relationship with the townspeople as the basis of his book Artic Village. He spent half of his profits from the book to the Koyukuk natives.

Accomplishments:

From 1928-1930,  Marshall worked in his Ph.D. in  plant physiology. During that time, Marshall wrote the artical "The problem of the Wilderness" which was featured in Scientific monthly, in 1930. Marshall would later be one of the eight founders of the group known as The Wilderness Society, which still exists today. His work helped protect thousands of acres of land. After Marshall was named director of the Indian Forest Service, he fought for the rights of Native Americans. He was given the position of Federal Head of the division of forestry and grazing. Marhsall stressed the spiritual and aestheitc values of the wilderness. He helped propel the wilderness act of 1964 into law.

Other Facts:

Marshall died of Luekimia and heart failure in 1939. He was 38 years old.

SOURCES:

www.wikipedia.com

www.wilderness.net

Kayla Haberek

Danielle Blazic

<3 :)