"Writing About Conservation Giants" Ocean City Free Public Library May 12, 2016 5/1/2016 Printable Version - Writing About Conservation Giants:A Talk by Historian Ronald H. Epp Printable Version - Writing About Conservation Giants:A Talk by Historian Ronald H. Epp May 12, 2016 (6:30 PM - 8:00 PM) Writing About Conservation Giants A Talk by Historian Ronald H. Epp Ronald H. Epp is the author of the firstbiography of George B. Dorrever written, Creating Acadia National Park: the Biography of George Bucknam Dorr. This biography is based on painstaking research both in the US and abroad, including federal, state, and private archives. This work will appeal to general and scholarly readers who care about the philanthropic roots of land conservation, those interested in what has been celebrated as "America's Best Idea," and above all, those who know and love Acadia National Park. Ronald H. Epp will discuss his archival research process that resulted in blending the land preservation strategies of Charles William Eliot, George B. Dorr, and John D. Rockefeller. Thursday, May 12th 6:30pm RONALD H. EPP, Ph.D. is a historian and professor of philosophy with a background in scholarly publishing and academic library leadership. His research over the last two decades into the Massachusetts families that influenced the development of conservation philanthropy has resulted in numerous talks and publications for Acadia National Park, Hancock County Trustees of Public Reservations, Mount Desert Island Historical Society, and many other organizations. He served as a consultant for the Ken Burns documentary America's Best Idea: the National Parks and has uncovered and inventoried hidden collections of documents relating to the history of Acadia National Park. Ocean City Free Public Library 1735 Simpson Avenue Ocean City NJ 08226 For more information, please contact Julie Brown at 609-399-2434 X5222 or e-mail jbrown@oceancitylibrary.org http://www.oceancitylibrary.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=content.pageDetailsPrintable&id=69377&typelD=4020 1/2 1st. 4/16 Writing About Conservation Giants : Notes Julie Brown and CT experiences 1. Welcome. Kathyed Head Hampshite Experience 2. Book Launch in Bar Harbor on April 7th at Jesup Memorial Library. Jesup is but one of several cultural institutions: Abbe, MDIBL, JAX that he founded on MDI. 3. Ask for show of hands for those who have been to Acadia. 4. Describe MDI and location in our day and Dorr's day. First, I'll speak about the subjects of the book and then the research and writing process. 5. Non-business travel in mid-19th century. Elitist. Eliot family and the German university model for Harvard where the maternal grandfather of G.B. Dorr had served as Treasurer. 6. In 1868 Dorr family 1st traveled to MDI, prompted by Hudson River School. After 1874 graduation, Dorr travels in Europe. Rosaline and George Howard. Dorr-Howard letters are 1st discovery! Eliot family followed in 1880, with Champlain Society as outcome. Oldfarm and Ancestral are outcomes. Read Hadley, pg. 2, para. 1. Attracted by beauty and wildness of mountains, ocean, and landscape. 7. Growth of Rusticators. Hotels and lavish mansions. Privatization of land limits access. 8. One of Eliot's sons, Charles Eliot, was an Olmsted partner. "The Coast of Maine" alerted others to privatizing dangers. Outcome: The Trustees (1891), America's first land trust. Death in 1897; father's biography. My discovery #2: Crane Estate, Ipswich. 9. Dorr's early maturity lacked direction. Explain. Harvard involvements. Mount Desert Nurseries (1896). Bachelor. Topographical know. of MDI. 10. At the time of Eliot's publication of son's biography, HCTPR founded to counteract overdevelopment. First acquisitions. Land title work. 11. Dorr sharpens leadership skills at Harvard (Emerson Hall & 2nd Yard). 12. JDR Jr. and his family vacation on MDI. Eyrie purchased. Carriage road roads in Ohio and at Pocantico. Needs to cross Trustee lands. 13. At same time, state legislative threat to HCTPR. Mr. Dorr goes to D.C. WWI. 14. TRoosevelt. Read CANP, pg. 137. 15. Birth of the NPS. Mather & Albright. 16. From 1916-26 the relationships between "The Triumvirate" intensify. During this decade, Eliot in his eighties, Dorr in his sixties, JDR Jr. his forties. Characterize focus of each: philanthropic conservation, despite their strong personalities, their voluminous letters reveal a common commitment not born out of negotiation-but out of public service, a belief in the democratizing power of scenic landscapes. Read pp. 11-12 of CANP. CANP_Talks_WritingaboutConservation_4.16.2016 3/9/2016 XFINITY Connect XFINITY Connect eppster2@comcast.net + Font Size RE: Epp at the OCFPL From : Julie Brown Wed, Mar 09, 2016 08:10 AM 2 attachments Subject : RE: Epp at the OCFPL To : Ronald Epp Hi Ronald, I apologize for the delay, and for keeping you waiting. Yes, Thursday, May 12th at 6:30pm is perfect. We will happily pay you a $100 honorarium to speak. Thank you for attaching the marketing announcement and C.V. Unfortunately the library doesn't have a specific mechanism in place for book sales after events we normally allow authors to sell their books, but they have to be the ones in charge of that (i.e. as you said, with a credit card reader, etc.). If you have handouts available afterwards with information about the book, that may be a good way too of people being able to go home and order their own copies. Of course, it's your preference! And yes, I think the topic "Writing about Conservation Giants" would be perfect! I'm very excited to hear your talk, as I know others will be too. I've attached our library's performer contract, and a voucher and W-9 form for payment processing. If you would, please put your name and the date on the 1st page under the top section labeled "To," along with filling out the rest of the paperwork. They can be mailed, faxed, or scanned back, whatever is most convenient for you. As I work on publicity for the event, I'll use the website and information that you sent me. Is it alright for me to use your head shot from the Friends of Acadia website, or would you like me to use something else? Looking forward to working with you, Julie Julie Brown Adult Programming Librarian Ocean City Free Public Library Health 1735 Simpson Ave. Ocean City, NJ 08226 (609) )399-2434, ext. 5222 jbrown@oceancitylibrary.org From: Ronald Epp [mailto:eppster2@comcast.net] Sent: Tuesday, March 08, 2016 10:23 PM To: Julie Brown Subject: Epp at the OCFPL https://web.mail.comcast.net/zimbra/h/printmessage?id=357940&tz=America/New_York&xim=1 1/6 2/5/2016 XFINITY Connect XFINITY"Connect eppster2@comcast.net + Font Size Re: Speaking at the Ocean City Free Public Library From : Ronald Epp Fri, Feb 05, 2016 10:07 AM Subject : Re: Speaking at the Ocean City Free Public Library To : Julie Brown Bcc : Sam Brown Dear Julie, Thank you for following through on Sam's suggestion that I might be an interesting speaker for the OCFPL. Presently I am doing the final galley edits for the George B. Dorr biography to be published early April, with a publication launch at the Jesup Memorial Library in Bar Harbor; Dorr secured the land, found a donor, and provided oversight for the construction of this 1911 cultural institution that is now raising funds for an addition (interesting archival story here that I'll relate when we meet). I won't have a PP presentation, just the old academic talking off the seat of his pants. But I do have a couple of themes I've developed for other New England talks that you might reflect on for your audience: 1. "Lessons from the Archives" concerning the research process that led to the publication 2. "New England Conservation Pioneers" tracing the 19th and 20th century roots of environmentalism 3. "The Prince of Altruists," two decades of living with and writing about the Father of Acadia National Park 4. "Writing about Giants," biographically blending the lives of America's foremost educational innovator (Charles William Eliot), a horticulturist turned park builder (G.B. Dorr), and the father of 20th-century American philanthropy (John D. Rockefeller Jr.) My schedule would work best for the month of May, early June, and late September or October. I would provide you in advance with a current C.V., copy of the book, and any promotional material that you can't locate on the Acadia Centennial Partners or Friends of Acadia websites. I'd also like to bring copes for possible sale at the event/signing. Please don't hesitate to call or email me as we work through these arrangements. I will seek your help in recommending a place for overnight lodging, assuming the talk will be late afternoon or evening. I plan on visiting your dad in April when I'll be spending much of the month with area publication events. Most cordially, Ron Ronald H. Epp, Ph.D. 532 Sassafras Dr. Lebanon, PA 17042 717-272-0801 From: "Julie Brown" To: eppster2@comcast.net Sent: Saturday, January 30, 2016 3:22:41 PM Subject: Speaking at the Ocean City Free Public Library Hello Ron! This is Julie Brown, the daughter of your friend Sam Brown, following up to see if you would still be interested in speaking at our public library in Ocean City, NJ, on the topic of George B. Dorr. We would love to have you! Please let me know your availability, and any other information you could provide about the presentation. I also loved hearing about your history with Absecon and Ocean City! Small world that I now find myself there. https://web.mail.comcast.net/zimbra/h/printmessage?id=351841&tz=America/New_York&xim=1 1/2 2/5/2016 XFINITY Connect Thank you, and looking forward to hearing from you, Julie Brown Adult Programming Librarian Ocean City Free Public Library 1735 Simpson Ave. Ocean City, NJ 08226 (609)399-2434, ext. 5222 jbrown@oceancitylibrary.org s://web.mail.comcast.net/zimbra/h/printmessage?id=351841&tz=America/New_York&xim