Wolf River Conservancy Collection

Processed by Jennifer Lenow

2010

MEMPHIS AND SHELBY COUNTY ROOM

Memphis Public Library and Information Center 3030 Poplar Ave Memphis, TN 38111

Scope and Content Notes

Wolf River Conservancy Collection

The Wolf River Conservancy was founded in 1985 as a primarily grassroots organization to “conserve and enhance the Wolf River corridor and watershed as a sustainable natural resource.” Since then, the non-profit land trust has gained well- deserved prominence and admiration in the Mid-South community through its myriad of ecological, recreational, and educational accomplishments that provide widespread benefits to the community at large. This collection containing newspaper clippings, WRC newsletters, and wildlife literature, donated by Woodrow Jacobs, Kathy Steele, and other nature enthusiasts and WRC supporters from the Mid-South, chronicles the internal development and accomplishments of the conservancy and provides a comprehensive historical background of the natural habitat around Wolf River. A significant portion of the collection documents the successful campaign to save what is now known as the

Ghost River, a section of the Wolf River headwaters, thanks in part to Millington businessman Babe Howard and fundraising efforts of the Wolf River Conservancy. More than anything, this collection exemplifies that the Wolf River Conservancy is an organization committed not only to the conservation of the Wolf River proper but to the sustainability and betterment of the Mid-South community at large – both people and wildlife. Through community and educational outreach programs, recreational opportunities, conservationist efforts, and environmental advocacy campaigns, the Wolf

River Conservancy has proved an invaluable service to the Mid-South community. In light of the recent plans to construct a 30-mile greenway along the Wolf River – a bridge

2 between not only natural habitats, but also communities in the Mid-South, this collection proves particularly relevant to the future of the Mid-South area.

3 Folder 1 – Newsletters and Reports Part 1 of 2 (17 items, 1993-1998)

Item 1: River Currents May 1993 (6 pages) This newsletter highlights the successful funding of an upcoming study of the Wolf River Basin, the Wolf River Conservancy’s participation in the local Good Earth Festival, a recent survey of a section of Wolf River in North , an appeal for financial support, and a survey of flora and fauna in the Wolf River area. Also included is a letter by Lucius E, Burch, Jr. on his conservationist efforts in light of the recent naming of the Lucius E. Burch, Jr. Natural Area.

Item 2: River Currents September 1993 (8 pages) This newsletter highlights the awarding of a $1,000 IBM grant to the Wolf River Conservancy, the successful preservation of 7-8 acres of near the Austin Peay Highway known as the Waterbury Property, and the planting of more than 50 species of wildlife by volunteers in the Wolf River area. Also included is a brief history of the Wolf River by Bill Lawrence.

Item 3: River Currents January 1994 (10 pages) This newsletter highlights the upcoming Annual Membership Meeting of the Wolf River Conservancy at which the distinguished Lucius E. Burch is to speak, a recent outing into the Wolf River, an inventory report of Wolf River trails, a meeting between WRC president Charles Askew and Memphis Mayor Willie Herenton, and the plausibility of a future Wolf River Greenbelt.

Items 4-7: River Currents May 1994 (6 pages, 4 copies) This newsletter highlights the results of the 1994 election for WRC officers, Lucius E. Burch’s honorary speech at the WRC Annual Membership Meeting, and the successful volunteer efforts to clear Wolf River trails of damage incurred by the 1994 ice storm.

Item 8: River Currents Fall 1994 (8 pages) This newsletter highlights a 265-acre donation of land by a Collierville resident Mr. Buck Clark, watershed awareness, and a summary of two Rhodes College students’ research on the channel morphology of the Wolf River.

Items 9-10: River Currents April 1995 (8 pages, 2 copies) This newsletter highlights the discovery of a new mussel species in the Wolf River never before sighted in , the Beasley Farm Acquisition, and a review of the Wolf River Greenbelt plans.

Item 11: River Currents January 1996 (10 pages) This newsletter highlights the ongoing legislative process to name the Ghost River section of the Wolf River as a Natural Area under the Tennessee Natural Areas Program, a report on the integration of Wolf River education in local schools, a biological report on mussels, and pictures from the 1995 Donor Recognition Night.

Item 12: River Currents Fall 1996 (12 pages)

4 This newsletter offers a survey of fauna known in the Wolf River area including the Meadow Jumping Mouse, Great Horned Owl, and the Summer Tanager; another installment of local Mussel happenings; and Rhodes College ecology students’ reflection papers on their experiences with Wolf River.

Item 13: River Currents Spring 1997 (8 pages) This newsletter highlights the recent hiring of Larry Smith as the first Wolf River Conservancy Executive Director, a listing of volunteer and education efforts and opportunities, and some information on mayflies. Also included is a letter from the newly hired WRC Executive Director.

Item 14: River Currents Summer 1997 (12 pages) This newsletter offers a report of the recent acquisition of 50 acres known as the Cole tract to be added to the Ghost River Natural Area, the building of cedar boxes to house the Wood Ducks in the WRC preserve, a history and survey of in the Ghost River, and the summer blooming of wild roses in the Wolf River area.

Item 15: River Currents Fall 1997 (12 pages) This newsletter highlights the recent success of volunteer efforts to clean up the Henry G. Hill Conservation Area at Covington Pike and I-240, another installment of Dr. David Kesler’s mussel research, and another addition to the Rhodes “River Reflections.”

Item 16: River Currents Winter 1997 (12 pages) This newsletter offers a history and survey of the newly acquired land known as the Henry G. Hill estate, information detailing the erosion process known as “headcutting,” a recent Tennessee Ornithological Society bird survey in the Wolf River area, an informative report on snakes in the Wolf River area, and a survey of the Waterbury forest. Also included is a letter from the WRC president Mac McWhirter.

Item 17: River Currents Winter 1997-98 (8 pages) This newsletter details the possible expansion of the Ghost River Natural Area to include hiking trails for the public. Also included are the musings of two nature enthusiasts inspired by their recent experiences with the Wolf River and a letter from the director, Larry Smith.

Folder 2 – Newsletters and Reports Part 2 of 2 (15 items, 1998-2000)

Item 1: River Currents Spring 1998 (12 pages) This newsletter provides brief biographical profiles of the newly elected 1998 Wolf River Conservancy board members and a spring recreational schedule. Also mentioned is the upcoming unveiling of a sculpture in LaGrange to commemorate the grassroots efforts responsible for the creation of the Ghost River State Natural Area and Wolf River Wildlife Management Area.

Item 2: River Currents Summer 1998 (12 pages)

5 This newsletter reports on the LaGrange monument dedication mentioned in the previous newsletter and volunteer efforts to clean sections of the Wolf River, as well as details the adventures of two Memphians – Fritz and Gary – along the Wolf River.

Item 3: River Currents Autumn 1998 (12 pages) This newsletter announces the Wolf River Conservancy’s recent acquisition of a $15,000 grant from the Gildea Foundation and provides information on sulphur butterflies, water pollution, and poison ivy.

Item 4: River Currents Winter 1998-99 (8 pages) This newsletter reports on the recent leak of a gas pipeline located near the Wolf River, the prompt cleanup response thereto, and two recent trips coordinated by WRC board members.

Item 5-6: Wolf River Conservancy 1999 Annual Report (10 pages, 2 copies) In this annual report, the Wolf River Conservancy recognizes the individuals and organizations who have pledged financial support to the WRC and highlights the accomplishments of the WRC throughout the year in areas such as restoration, advocacy, and education, as well as outlines the future goals thereof and the projected financial data for 2000.

Item 7: River Currents Spring 1999 (8 pages) This newsletter provides brief biographical profiles of the new 1999 WRC board members as well as a calendar of upcoming outdoors events and an account of local educational efforts in conjunction with the Wolf River Conservancy.

Item 8: River Currents Summer 1999 (8 pages) In this newsletter, WRC executive director Larry Smith discusses the recent WRC purchase and acquisition of a new tract of land including an old dumping site. Also included is a piece on Sven Thesen – a former Memphian – who plans to hike both the Pacific Crest Trail and the Appalachian Trail in one calendar year.

Item 9: The Germantown Environmental Reporter July 1999 (4 pages) This edition of the Germantown Environmental Reporter offers information about water conservation, recycling, dragonflies, and the – the site of three major earthquakes in the early 19th century.

Item 10-11: River Currents Autumn 1999 (12 pages, 2 copies) This newsletter announces the recent $25,000 gift from the Browning-Ferris Industries to the Wolf River Conservancy and includes another addition of the “River Reflections” by Rhodes College biology students.

Item 12: River Currents Winter 1999-2000 (12 pages) In this newsletter, WRC executive director Larry Smith discusses the ecological importance of wetlands as well as a political and environmental history thereof. Other

6 news details the new additions to the Wolf River trail system and an update on headcutting efforts.

Item 13: River Currents Spring 2000 (8 pages) This newsletter offers a review of the Wolf River Conservancy’s activities in 1999 as well as a survey of Bartlett trails along the Wolf River and a spring schedule of canoeing and hiking trips.

Item 14: River Currents Summer 2000 (8 pages) This newsletter offers a survey of wildlife – particularly that of birds – in the Wolf River area and a report on the recent Ghost River Trip guided by several WRC board members.

Item 15: River Currents Autumn 2000 (12 pages) This newsletter discusses the possibility of a future public greenway along the Wolf River and features another installment of “River Reflections” by Rhodes College biology students.

Folder 3 – Newspaper and Magazine Articles (31 items, 1979-1995)

Items 1-4: January 28, 1979, Mid-South “Shade Steele’s Shades of Nature” (5 pages, 4 copies) This article written by Jay Hall and featured in The Commercial Appeal’s Mid-South magazine highlights the life, work, and inspiration of a young mid-south artist Shade Steele, whose paintings mainly thrive on and consist of the bucolic outdoors that surround him in Mississippi. While his specialties concern water fowl and white-tailed deer, Mr. Steele is responsible for the iconic painting of the Mississippi Valley Red Wolf, which was donated to the Memphis & Shelby County Room by Kathy Steele and is intended for official use by the Wolf River Conservancy.

Item 5: July 1, 1984, Mid-South “Memphis’ Other River” (10 pages) This article written by John Branston and featured in The Commercial Appeal’s Mid- South magazine highlights the more-than-80-miles of the Wolf River that course through and north Mississippi. Also featured are photographs of the Wolf River and its offshore vistas by Charles Nicholas.

Items 6-7: January 19, 1995, The Commercial Appeal “Aims compete in wilderness of upper Wolf” (2 copies) This article written by Tom Charlier examines the state’s financial predicament involving the upcoming auctioning of what is known as the Beasley Farm encompassing the Ghost River section of the Wolf River located near La Grange, Tennessee. Although the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Committee has pledged $2 million of the $4 million expense, the Wolf River Conservancy, largely subsisting on donations, must raise the remainder in order to save the wetlands.

Items 8-9: February 24, 1995, The Commercial Appeal

7 “Activists fail; wetlands set for auction” (2 copies) This article written by Tom Charlier reports the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Committee and the Wolf River Conservancy’s failure to raise the $4 million needed to buy the 4,067-acre Beasley Farm. Consequently, the land is to be divided into smaller tracts, which are to be individually auctioned off the following day.

Items 10-11: February 25, 1995, The Commercial Appeal “Babe Howard pledges $200,000, halts today’s sale of Wolf wetlands” (2 copies) This article written by Tom Charlier announces that Millington businessman and chairman of the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Commission Babe Howard has pledged $200,000 toward the acquisition of the Beasley Farm less than 24 hours before the scheduled auction thereof. In effect, this pledge postpones the auction until The Conservation Fund can buy the piece of land in full, from which the state would eventually buy the land.

Items 12-13: March 18, 1995, The Commercial Appeal “Conservationists short $1.4 million in Wolf buy” (2 copies) This article written by Tom Charlier follows the ongoing efforts to raise money in order to buy the Beasley Farm along the Ghost River. Although the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Committee has pledged $2.5 million and the Wolf River Conservancy has raised $100,000 toward the goal, $1.4 million is still needed to secure the deal, which in effect will involve repaying The Conversation Fund for their initial purchase.

Items 14-15: March 30, 1995, The Commercial Appeal “Citizen Babe: Purposefulness marks tycoon of civic causes” (4 pages, 2 copies) This article written by Michael Kelley offers a revealing and comprehensive account of the personal, occupational, and extracurricular life of Millington business tycoon, conservationist, outdoorsman, and prominent community leader Babe Howard who has nearly reached a legendary status in the eyes of many mid-southerners. Mr. Howard has recently garnered much attention with his $200,000 pledge to save the Ghost River wetlands.

Items 16-17: April 12, 1995, The Commercial Appeal “Call of the Wild: Deadline speeds up drive for funds to save wetlands” (2 copies) This article written by Tom Charlier follows the ongoing struggle to raise the additional $1.4 million needed to secure the Beasley Farm property. Although the Wolf River Conservancy has applied for several grants, as well as appealed to the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, Babe Howard who signed the contract with the sellers of the property to postpone the initial plans for auction, conceded that he would go through with the deal, providing another $800,000 of his own money if the WRC could not raise the money by the deadline.

Items 18-19: April 13, 1995, The Commercial Appeal “Ghost Music: Nature needs support singing state’s praises” (2 copies) This editorial provides a synthesis of recent fundraising news involving the purchase of the Beasley Farm property surrounding the Ghost River wetlands and makes an appeal

8 for help to community members concerned – as they should be, the article purports – for the future of these wetlands as an invaluable unspoiled natural resource of Tennessee.

Items 20-21: April 15, 1995, The Commercial Appeal “Howard closes purchase of Wolf tract” (2 copies) This article written by Tom Charlier announces the final sale of the Ghost River property to Babe Howard, who, in order to purchase the property, committed another $800,000 in addition to his initial down payment of $200,000 and assumed the payments of a $3 million loan. Although the state intends to in turn buy the property from Howard, the available funds to do so still fall short an estimated $700,000.

Item 22: May 3, 1995, The Commercial Appeal “Sundquist hinges Wolf to buy on private aid” (1 page) This article written by Tom Charlier reports Governor Don Sundquist’s announcement to pledge another $500,000 toward the purchase of the Ghost River property – rendering the total amount pledged by the state $3 million – if the additional $1 million needed is raised from the private sector.

Items 23-24: May 5, 1995, The Commercial Appeal “Challenge for the Wolf” (2 copies) This editorial entreats the public for financial support to raise the additional $975,000 needed to secure the Ghost River property. Also included is a map of the Wolf River.

Items 25-26: May 31, 1995, The Commercial Appeal “Wolf River wetlands project buys time” (2 copies) This article written by Tom Charlier reports the recent deadline extension granted to the Wolf River Conservancy and the Conservation Fund to raise the additional $400,000 needed to secure the Ghost River property. In a week’s time, the funds are expected to be finalized in full.

Items 27-28: June 14, 1995, The Commercial Appeal “Funds in hand for Wolf wetland, says conservationists” (2 copies) This article written by Tom Charlier announces the long-awaited-and-strived-for achievement of raising $4.3 million to secure the Beasley Farm, or what has been come to be known as Ghost River property, and names the fundraising efforts to save the wetlands the largest and most successful ever conducted in West Tennessee.

Items 29-30: June 15, 1995, The Commercial Appeal “The Wolf is saved” (2 copies) This editorial recapitulates the arduous fundraising efforts over the past six months to secure the Ghost River wetlands and highlights the attractions and tentative future plans for the area, including a greenbelt along Wolf River.

Item 31: June 25, 1995, The Commercial Appeal “Thanks to you the Wolf is no longer up the creek” (2 pages)

9 The Wolf River Conservancy extends gratitude to all of the individuals, families, and organizations that offered financial support to raise the appropriate money in order to save the Ghost River wetlands.

Folder 4 – WRC Pamphlets and Guides (8 items)

Items 1-2: Undated “Wolf River Greenway” pamphlet (2 copies) This pamphlet – a joint venture of the Wolf River Conservancy and The Commercial Appeal – advertises the many recreational, educational, and sylvan amenities that the Wolf River has to offer and stresses the importance of conserving the river as well as the surrounding forested area. To ensure the protection of the Wolf River against future urban development, the WRC has proposed a greenbelt alongside the banks of the river. Also featured is a map of the Wolf River, including the proposed greenbelt and recommended floats.

Items 3-4: Undated WRC “It’s in Danger” pamphlet (2 copies) This pamphlet, an outgrowth of the campaign to save the Ghost River from being parceled and sold at auction by a Mississippi timber company in 1995, argues the natural significance of the wetlands and the importance and responsibility of conserving them. The pamphlet also strongly appeals to the public to aide the Wolf River Conservancy in protecting these unspoiled wetlands.

Item 5: Undated “Dear Wolf River Supporter” letter This letter from the Wolf River Conservancy president Stephen Tower as a companion to the Wolf River Greenway Community Guide delineates the plans for a greenway along the Wolf River and stresses the importance of volunteer and financial support in order to realize these ambitious plans.

Items 6-8: Undated Wolf River Greenway Community Guide (11 pages, 3 copies) This comprehensive guide to the Wolf River provides a geological and sociopolitical history of the Wolf River, a survey of the prevalent wildlife residing therein, and a review of the present challenges facing the conservation of the Wolf River, as well as enumerates the myriad ecological, societal, educational, recreational, and health advantages that a greenway along the Wolf River would provide the Mid-South community. Throughout the pamphlet are photographs of the Wolf River and surrounding wildlife, as well as a map of the Wolf River.

Folder 5 – History and Context: Flora and Fauna (13 items)

Items 1-6: Undated Red and Gray Wolves Distribution Maps (6 copies)

10 These adjacent maps of the United States include the distribution of the Gray Wolf –the more common, mainly Northern subspecies – and the Red Wolf, historically a Southern subspecies.

Items 7-8: Undated “Land Between the Lakes: The Red Wolf” (4 pages, 2 copies) This publication by the Tennessee Valley Authority provides a history of the highly endangered Red Wolf subspecies indigenous to the southeastern United States and outlines conservationist efforts to save the subspecies from total extinction, after it has already been officially named extinct in the wild.

Item 9: Undated “The Trumpeter Swan” (10 pages) This excerpt from Sylvia Bruce Wilmore’s Swans of the World provides extensive information about the trumpeter swan native to North America including the present challenges the species faces. The chapter also features drawings of different species of North American swans as well as a handrawn account of the trumpeter swans’ copulatory practices.

Items 10-11: Undated “Trumpeter’s past and present breeding and wintering habit” (2 copies) The juxtaposition of these two maps of North America renders a visual comparison of the trumpeter swans’ breeding and wintering habits in the past and present.

Items 12-13: Undated The Wolves of North America (7 pages, 2 copies) This excerpt from The Wolves of North America offers extensive information about the habitats, geographic distribution, and anatomy of the North American Red Wolf and the different subspecies thereof. Of particular interest is the section pertaining to the Mississippi Valley Red Wolf.

Folder 6 – History and Context: Maps and Treaties (1700s-1837, 13 items)

Items 1-3: 1700s Domain Map (3 copies) This map outlines the Chickasaw territory in the 1700s.

Items 4-7: 1837 Chickasaw Nation Map (3 copies) This map outlines the Chickasaw territory circa 1837 – after the signing of the 1832 treaty.

Items 8-9: Undated Note from donor of maps (2 copies)

11 The individual who presumably donated the photocopies of Chickasaw maps and treaties contained in this collection wrote an accompanying note to Woodrow Jacobs, expressing her hope that they are “useful” for his mapmakers.

Items 10-13: 1832 Chickasaw Treaty of 1832 (7 pages, 3 copies) These treaties document the ceding of land from the Chickasaw Nation to the United States government under the presidency of Andrew Jackson. This area would later constitute the city of Memphis.

Folder 7 – Correspondence (1995, 7 items)

Item 1: Undated Phone Message from Kathy Steele to Ms. LaPointe at Memphis Public Library This phone message concerns the ownership and reproduction rights of a recent collection that Kathy Steele donated the Memphis & Shelby County Room at the Memphis Public Library.

Item 2: Undated From: Woodrow Jacobs and Kathy Steele To: Patricia LaPointe This letter asserts that the contribution of the “Red Wolf” painting to the Memphis Public Library was made in honor of the Wolf River Conservancy. The letter also asks that the artist Shade Steele be made aware of all the library’s uses of his painting, which is also intended for official use by the Wolf River Conservancy.

Items 3-4: June 5, 1995 (2 copies – one handwritten, one typed) From: Woodrow Jacobs To: Patricia LaPointe In this letter, Mr. Woodrow Jacobs formally offers his edition of The Wolves of North America as “a tribute to the ongoing efforts of the Wolf River Conservancy, on behalf of the Wolf River and its inhabitants, and most especially in honor of Mr. Babe Howard – the ‘Wolf’s Best Friend.’”

Item 5: June 17, 1995 Gift Information Sheet This Memphis Public Library gift information sheet completed by donor Shade Steele with regards to his “Red Wolf” painting asks that the gift be a tribute to the Wolf River Conservancy as well as Babe Howard.

Item 6: June 19, 1995 From: Keith Kirkland To: Whom It May Concern In this letter, Keith Kirkland confirms that he has received the painting entitled “Red Wolf” by Shade Steele.

12 Item 7: June 21, 1995 From: Patricia M. LaPointe To: Woodrow D. Jacobs In this letter, Ms. LaPointe, the curator of the Memphis & Shelby County Room, extends gratitude to Woodrow Jacobs for his donation of the book The Wolves of North America and for his offering of the “Red Wolf” painting by Shade Steele. She concedes, however, that the library is not prepared to accept the gift due to restriction rights of the painting.

Folder 8 – Exhibit Materials (1995, 16 items)

Item 1: Undated Wolf River Conservancy Map (large; mounted) This map of the Wolf River includes the proposed greenbelt area and recommended canoe floats. The map was enlarged and mounted for the Memphis & Shelby County Room Wolf River Collection exhibit.

Items 2-7: Undated “Wolf River Collection: Memphis & Shelby County Room” (6 copies) These title cards introduce the Memphis & Shelby County Room’s Wolf River Collection exhibit.

Item 8: Undated “Shade Steele’s Wolf River Portfolio” This title card – intended for the Memphis & Shelby County Room Wolf River Collection exhibit – for Mr. Steele’s “Mississippi Valley Red Wolf” painting includes the artist’s address.

Items 9-10: Undated “Mississippi Valley Red Wolf” painting (2 copies, mounted) This reproduction of Shade Steele’s “Mississippi Valley Red Wolf” painting, also intended for official use by the Wolf River Conservancy, was donated to the Memphis Public Library and mounted for the Memphis & Shelby County Room’s Wolf River Collection exhibit.

Item 11: January 19, 1995 “Aims compete in wilderness of upper Wolf” (mounted) This article written by Tom Charlier examines the state’s financial predicament involving the upcoming auctioning of what is known as the Beasley Farm encompassing the Ghost River section of the Wolf River located near La Grange, Tennessee. Although the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Committee has pledged $2 million of the $4 million expense, the Wolf River Conservancy, largely subsisting on donations, must raise the remainder in order to save the wetlands. The original newspaper clipping was mounted for the Memphis & Shelby County Room Wolf River Collection exhibit.

Item 12: February 24, 1995 “Activists fail; wetlands set for auction” (mounted)

13 This article written by Tom Charlier reports the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Committee and the Wolf River Conservancy’s failure to raise the $4 million needed to buy the 4,067-acre Beasley Farm. Consequently, the land is to be divided into smaller tracts, which will are to be individually auctioned off the following day. This article was mounted for the Memphis & Shelby County Room Wolf River Collection exhibit.

Items 13-15: February 25, 1995 “Babe Howard pledges $200,000, halts today’s sale of Wolf wetlands” (3 copies – one of which is mounted) This article written by Tom Charlier announces that Millington businessman and chairman of the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Commission Babe Howard has pledged $200,000 toward the acquisition of the Beasley Farm less than 24 hours before the scheduled auction thereof. In effect, this pledge postpones the auction until The Conservation Fund can buy the piece of land in full, from which the state would eventually buy the land. This article was mounted for the Memphis & Shelby County Room Wolf River Collection exhibit.

Item 16: March 18, 1995 “Conservationists short $1.4 million in Wolf buy” (mounted) This article written by Tom Charlier follows the ongoing efforts to raise money in order to buy the Beasley Farm along the Ghost River. Although the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Committee has pledged $2.5 million and the Wolf River Conservancy has raised $100,000 toward the goal, $1.4 million is still needed to secure the deal, which in effect will involve repaying The Conversation Fund for their initial purchase. This article was mounted for the Memphis & Shelby County Room Wolf River Collection exhibit.

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