Exploring John Muir letters on Calisphere
- 1. Scientist, Writer, Activist: Exploring John Muir’s Letters Sherri Berger, California Digital Library - Calisphere Nicole Gilbertson, UC Irvine History Project California Council for the Social Studies, March 2, 2012
- 2. Overview About Calisphere John Muir correspondence Scope of collection How to find letters Selections: Scientist, Writer, Activist Analyzing primary sources Your turn!
- 3. About Calisphere Over 220,000 digital items Images: photos, drawings, paintings, murals, posters… Texts: letters, oral histories, reports… From more than 100 CA institutions Collection strength: CA history …but much more
- 11. eras
- 12. Themed Collection Eras 1780-1880: California in Transition 1848-1865: Gold Rush Era 1870-1900: Closing of the Frontier 1900-1940s: Emerging Industrial Order 1929-1939: The Great Depression 1939-1945: World War II 1950s-1970s: Social Reform
- 13. Closing of the Frontier
- 15. people
- 18. JARDA
- 20. Images on maps
- 21. Who was John Muir? Born 1838 Writer and naturalist 5 years in Yosemite Founded Sierra Club, National Park advocate Traveler, explorer
- 22. John Muir Correspondence More than 6,000 letters Both to and from Muir Span much of his life: 1856-1914 Scanned – see the handwriting Transcribed – easier reading, searching Document travels, activism, family, etc. Themed Collection Topic
- 25. America’s interest in science grows 8.12 Students analyze the transformation of the American economy and the changing social and political conditions in the United States in response to the Industrial Revolution. 1. Trace patterns of agricultural and industrial development as they relate to climate, use of natural resources, markets, and trade and locate such development on a map. • Professionalization of science and growing relevance in American life – Mapping of the mountain ranges, identification of glaciers, description of natural world in 1860s and 70s – California State Geological Survey mandate to find useful minerals, catalog plants, assess agriculture, and describe topography
- 26. John Muir: Scientist • 1871 Smithsonian requested that Muir send reports on his mountain explorations • Extensive experience as botanist • Explorations in Alaska studying glaciers – Muir Glacier
- 27. John Muir and Joseph LeConte • Le Conte University of California Professor – Studied glaciers and ice age – Credited his knowledge of CA glaciers to Muir • Muir argued that a glacier once existed in Sierra Nevada – “Yosemite Glaciers” • Muir’s study was validated by U.S. Geological Survey in late 19th century
- 28. John Muir and Joseph LeConte December 17, 1871
- 29. John Muir: Writer 8.6 Students analyze the divergent paths of the American people from 1800 to the mid-1800s and the challenges they faced, with emphasis on the Northeast. 7. Identify common themes in American art as well as transcendentalism and individualism (e.g., writings about and by Ralph Waldo Emerson...) • Trancendentalist? • Ralph Waldo Emerson considered Muir “one of his men.”
- 30. Muir to Emerson March 26, 1872
- 31. John Muir: Activist 8.12.5. Examine the location and effects of urbanization, renewed immigration, and industrialization (e.g., the effects on social fabric of cities, wealth and economic opportunity, the conservation movement). • Robert Underwood Johnson provided Muir with a national audience led to Yosemite as national park in 1890 – The Century • Preservationists vs. Conservationists • Muir helped establish the Sierra Club in 1892 and was President
- 32. Muir to Johnson March 4, 1890
- 33. Scientist, Writer, Activist: Exploring John Muir’s Letters • What kinds of arguments did Muir use in favor of the preservation of the natural world? • How did Muir emphasize different aspects of nature for different audiences? • What themes does Muir use to depict nature?
- 34. Supporting Lessons • Education in the Environment Initiative – EEI 8.12.5 http://www.calepa.ca.gov/education/eei/curriculum / • PBS Series National Parks: America’s Best Idea – Interactive Timeline http://www.pbs.org/nationalparks/history/timeline/
Editor's Notes
- #26: DanielWorster, p. 190
- #28: Worster p 192-3
- #29: http://content.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/kt438nf19h/?order=2&brand=calisphere
- #30: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transcendentalismtranscendentalists' core beliefs was the inherent goodness of both man and nature. Transcendentalists believed that society and its institutions - particularly organized religion and political parties - ultimately corrupted the purity of the individual. They had faith that man is at his best when truly "self-reliant" and independent. It is only from such real individuals that true community could be formed.Quote in Worster p. 208
- #31: http://content.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/kt9h4nf342/?order=2&brand=calisphere
- #32: Preservationists like Muir argued for the protection of nature—part of the National Park Movement and the National Park Service established in 1916Conservationists interested in managing the environment, regulation was needed to control industry’s use of landRoosevelt supported both sides with the establishment of the Public Lands Commission 1903 created to regulate landsLiberty, Equality, Power p.798Robert Underwood Johnson met Muir in 1889 editor of NYC magazine The Century million readers and high-profile magazine, in 1889 Muir and Johnson explored Yosemite and Muir highlighted the destruction of the sheep grazing, tourists. Johnson suggested Muir write for magazine and outline the proposal of Yosemite as a national park, which was included in the legislation passed in 1890 under President Harrison (third national park after Yellowstone and Sequoia National Park in Sierra)
- #33: http://content.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/kt3t1nf0r1/?__utma=209367296.59753803.1324003771.1330276872.1330282241.21&__utmb=209367296.0.10.1330282241&__utmc=209367296&__utmx=-&__utmz=209367296.1330282241.21.6.utmcsr=content.cdlib.org|utmccn=%28referral%29|utmcmd=referral|utmcct=/ark:/13030/kt9h4nf342/&__utmv=-&__utmk=232856733
- #35: Muir 1879 Glacier Bay excerptWith Roosevelt camping trip 1903