70 years ago today, the Conservation Foundation was established to support the New York Zoological Society’s ever-expanding conservation program.
CF funded courses in conservation study, educational films and radio programs, publications, and workshops. It also funded scientific research on natural resources, including the work cited by Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring (1962).
Although CF was closely affiliated with NYZS, and they jointly sponsored many wildlife conservation projects in the 1950s and 1960s, it was an independent organization from the start. In later years, the Foundation’s work turned more toward human environmental problems associated with development and away from wildlife conservation. In 1965, under the presidency of Russell Train, it moved its offices to Washington, DC and later became an affiliate of the World Wildlife Fund.
Shown is the Conservation Foundation’s logo and statement of purpose from an annual report held in WCS Archives Collection 1029. Processing for this collection was made possible by a grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC) Access to Historical Records grant program.
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I am retired from TN State Parks and am working through the estate of TSP Naturalist Emeritus Mack Prichard. I found 7 CF bulletins dating from 1965-69, bearing the above logo, plus a Directory of Summer 1967 Workshops in Conservation and Related Subjects. The latter was published by The Conservation Education Association, under financial sponsorship of TCF. I also have a number of CEA items dating from the 1950’s – 70’s. It does not seem to exist today, and I’m wondering whether the association with TCF led to their being absorbed into your organization. If so, I’d like to donate these to you for your archives, along the aforementioned pieces.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely, John Froeschauer Nashville, TN
Hi John, Thanks so much for asking about this. We’ll email you separately to discuss.
Madeleine,
John Froeschauer from Tennessee again. I would’ve emailed you but I lost your address. Recently I ran across another trove of various Conservation Fund papers and correspondence (about 1″ thick) from 1958-68, plus Annual Reports from 1954-64. Some interesting historical perspectives on the “State of the Ark” such as it was then. Please let me know your address and I get these items to you.
Thanks, again, John