DOCSLIB.ORG

MAY THEILGAARD WATTS (Mrs. Raymond Watts) Naturalist, Teacher, Author, Artist, Poet

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
MAY THEILGAARD WATTS (Mrs. Raymond Watts) Naturalist, Teacher, Author, Artist, Poet MAY THEILGAARD WATTS (Mrs. Raymond Watts) Naturalist, Teacher, Author, Artist, Poet Personal: Born May Petrea Theilgaard, May 1, 1893, Chicago,. Illinois Died August 20, 1975, Naperville, Illinois One of four daughters of Hermann and Claudia (Andersen) Theilgaard, Danish immigrants. Married Raymond Watts, engineer & aviator, December 27, 1924 · Children: Erica, Tom, Nancy, Peter Education: Lakeview High School, Chicago. Student of Herman S. Pepoon? B.S. (1918), University of Chicago. Botany and Ecology. Student of Dr. Henry C. Cowles. Art Institute of Chicago, student 1925. Professional: Public school teacher, 1911 -1924 (Midlothian: Arlington Heights: Wilmette: Lakeview High School, Chicago) Morton Arboretum, Lisle, Illinois. Part-time teacher, 1939-1941. Naturalist, 1942-1961. Naturalist Emeritus, 1961-1975. Author of Reading the Landscape(l957), Reading the Landscape of Europe(l971): Reading the Landscape of America(l975). Founder of the Illinois Prairie Path (1965) Honors: L1sted in Who's Who. Member Phi Beta Kappa. Wild Flower Preservatio~ Society, Honorary member. 1950 Friends of Our Native Landscape, Honorary Member. 1954 Margaret Douglas Medal for conservation education, Garden Club of America. 1963 May Theilgaard Reading Garden, Morton Arboretum. 1965 Du Page Audubon Society, President's Award. 1965 National Association of Biology Teachers, Hon. member 1966 Illinois Parks and Recreation, Special Citation. 1971 American Horticultural Society, Citation Award for Teaching. 1971 U.S. Department of the Interior, National Trails Symposium award. With Secretary of the Interior Rogers Morton, she cut ribbon opening up the National Trails System in the United States. 1972 Chicago Geographic Society's Book of the Year Award for Reading the Landscape of America. 1972 City of Naperville, "May Watts Day," May l. 1972 Illinois House of Representatives citation. 1972 Hutchinson Medal, Chicago Horticultural Society. 1972 Arthur Hoyt Scott medal, Swarthmore College. 1973 Association of Interpretive Naturalists, Hon. Member. 1975 American Nature Study Society, Honorary Life Member. 1976 Oikos Conference: "Reading the Landscape: A Tribute to May Watts, 1893-1975," The Morton Arboretum. 1989 May Watts Elementary School, Naperville, Illinois. MAY THEILGAARD WATTS Bibliography of published work 1925 ~How the Pine Tree Became Big Chief of the Friendly Forests." American Forests and Forest Life 31:288-289. 1925 "Vision." In: The Best Poems of 1925, Harcourt, Brace & Co"mpany. ~[Originally published in The Literary Digest, July 2 5, 19 2 5. ) [1936] Ravinia~ _ · H~r Charms and Destiny. Written and illustrated by May Theilgaard Watts, assisted by Hazel Crow Ewell. Ravinia (IL) Garden Club. Reprinted 1980 by Highland Park Historical Society of Park District of Highland Park. 1937 "Gingham Joys." Poem in Better Homes and Gardens, October, p. 156. 1938 My Nature Book: Fun in the Out-of-Doors. Poughkeepsie, NY, Art1sts & Writers Guild (Whitman Publishing Co.) 1943 "The Ferns of the Morton Arboretum." Morton Arb. Bull. of Popular Information 18(7-8). 1943 "Showy Fru1ts of the Forest Floor." Morton Arb. Bull. of I Popular Information 18(9). 1943 "Fragrance and Flavors." Morton Arb. Bull. of Popular Information 18(10). 1943 "Winter Twigs.w Morton Arb. Bull. of Popular Info. 18(11). 1943 "The Cones of 1:he Morton Arboretum. 11 Morton Arb. Bull. of I Popular Information 18(12). 1944 "Some Experiments 1n Soil Conservation at the Morton Arboretum.''' Morton Arb • . Bull. of Popular Info. 19(1). 1944 ' "Through a Magnifying Glass." Morton Arb. Bull. of Popular Information 19(2). 1944 "The Flowers Nc5'body Knows." Morton Arb. Bull. of Popular Information 19(3). 1944 iiSpring Wild Ffowers of the Forest Floor." Morton Arb. Btill. of Popular Information 19(4-5). 1944 "Roadside Plantings of Native Illinois Trees and Shrubs." Morton Arb .. Bull. of Popular Information 19(6). 1944 hBotanical Terms Used in Describing Leaves." Morton Arb. ·Bul1. of . Popular Information, 19(7). 1944 "The Maples of the Morton Arboretum." Morton Arb. Bull. of · · Popular tnJ~ormation 19 ( 8). 1944 "The Edge of the Forest." Morton Arb. Bull. of Popular Information 19(9). 1944 "The W1ndborne-Seed~." Morton Arb. Bull of Popular Information 19(10). 1944 "The Oaks of die Morton Arboretum." Morton Arb. Bull. of . Popular Information 19(11). 1945 "They Wear the Snow w1th a Difference." Morton Arb. Bull. of Popular Information 20(1). 1945 "The First Flm~ers of Spring." Morton Arb. Bull. of Popular Information 20(2). 1945 "The Men Behind the Plants." Morton Arb. Bull. of Popular Information 20(5). 1945 '~The Evergreen -Trees: A Pictorial Key to I dent if ication." Morton Arb. Bull. of Popular Information 20(6-7). 1945 "Let's Look at a Meadow." Morton Arb. Bull. of Popular Information 20(8). MAY WATTS BIBLIOGRAPHY, page 2 1946 "Hawthorn Traits." Morton Arb. Bull. of Popular Information 21(4). 1947 Beyond Fire. Rowena Bennett: .illustrated by May Watts. warrenville, IL. Blue Heron Publishing Company. 1947 "See How They Wtear the Weather." Better Homes and Gardens 25:22-23. 1948 "Witch Insurance in the Garden." Nature Magazine 41:38-40. 1948 "Adventure~ in Nature Education at the Morton Arboretum." Morton Arb. Bull. of Polular Information 23(1-2). 195 Tree Finder: A Pocket Manua for Identification of Trees by Their Leaves. Naperville, IL. Nature Study Guild. 1952 "This Is the Way: A Story for Our Hands to Tell." Outdoors Illustrated 4:.52-53. 1954 "Botanizing from a Lower Berth." Nature Magazine 47:19-21. 1955 Flower Finder: A Guide to Identification of Spring Wild Flowers ana Flower Families. Naperville, IL. Nature · ·Study Guild. 1957 Reading the Landscape. Macmillan. 1957 "The Stylish House, or Fashions as an Ecological Factor." Flower and Garden, 44:36-37. 1958 riThe Styl1sh HoUse, or Fashions as an Ecological Factor." Garden Journal of the New York Botanical Garden, May­ June, pp. l03-l05. 1958 "Adventures in Natur~ Education at the Morton Arboretum." University of Washington Arboretum Bulletin, (Winter) 21(4) :124-126. 1961 hThe Trees and Roofs of France: the Traveler's Landscape." Landscape 10(3)~9-14. 1962 "The Tree That Grows in Brooklyn: Do You Want It in Paducah?" tlower and Garden· 49:24-25. 1963 Master Tree Finder: A Manual for Identification of Trees by The1r Leaves. Naperv1lle, IL. Nature Study Guild. 1964 The Doubleday F1rst Guide to Trees. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday. 1966 "Nature Afoot.'' . The Chicago Tribune, weekly column from · .,, January i6 into May. 1967 "I Visit Dead Plants." Morton Arboretum Quarterly 3(1): 1968 "The Story of a Single Footpath." Fitness for L1ving, Sept.-Oct. , pp. 74-80. 1968 "The Illinoi~ Prairie Path." Landscape, spring pp. 11-14. 1969 "The Trees and Roofs of France." In: The Subversive Science: Essays Toward an Ecology of Man, ed. by Paul Shepard and Daniel McK1nley. New York: Houghton Mifflin • . Pp. 168-176. 1970 Winter Tree Finder. Berkeley, CA. Nature Study Guild. 1971 ' Reading the Landscape of Europe. Harper and Row. 1972 "Trees in Your Travels." Curious Naturalist, Dec. pp.2-3. 1972 "So~e Clues for Twig Detect1ves." Cur1ous Naturalist, December, pp. 12-13. 1975 ' R~~dirig the Landscape of America. Macmillan. (Enlarged and revised edition of Reading the Landscape) 1975 "The Herbs of the Prairie." Cornell Plantations, Autumn, dpp. 13-15. ( ARTICLES ABOUT MAY WNrTS 1947 "Naturalist, Poet Enjoys Canoeing, Hiking." Naperville Sun, November 27, p. 1. Port. 1957 Bern'I'Ce Decker, "Naturalist Shares Lore: Nature Hikes Become Games." Christian Science Monitor, May 9, Section C, p. 4: port. 1961 Genevieve Towsley, "Naturalist Extraordinary." Naperville Sun, October 10, 1961, Section 3, p.l. Port. 1963 Evelyn Lauter, "May Theilgaard Watts: She Walks in Beauty." Lake Forest News, October 31, cover feature: port. 1967 Ruth Wenner, 11 Mrs. Watts." Morton Arboretum Quarterly 3(1):9-13. Illus. port. 1971 Alfred Etter, "'rhe Secret World of May Watts." Morton Arboretum Quarterly 7(4):42-44. Port. 1972? James Elsener, flNaturalist Prefers Simple 'Old' to Senior Ci~~~en Tag." Chicago Tribune. 1975 Alfred Etter, "lReading May Watts." Morton Arboretum Quarterly 11(3):38-41. Port. 1975 Genev1eve Towsley, "Noted Naturalist, May T. Watts, Dies at 82." Naperville Sun, August 28, section 3, page 1. 1984 Philip Berger, ed. Highland Park: American Suburb at Its Best. Highland Park Landscape Preservation Comm1ttee. See pp. 11, 15. .I .
Load more

Recommended publications
  • The Vision of May Theilgaard Watts, the Creation of the Illinois Prairie Path, and a Community's Crusade for Open Space in Chicago's Suburbs
    Antioch University AURA - Antioch University Repository and Archive Student & Alumni Scholarship, including Dissertations & Theses Dissertations & Theses 2016 "One Narrow Thread of Green": The iV sion of May Theilgaard Watts, the Creation of the Illinois Prairie Path, and a Community's Crusade for Open Space in Chicago's Suburbs Anne M. Keller Antioch University, New England Follow this and additional works at: http://aura.antioch.edu/etds Part of the Environmental Studies Commons Recommended Citation Keller, Anne M., ""One Narrow Thread of Green": The iV sion of May Theilgaard Watts, the rC eation of the Illinois Prairie Path, and a Community's Crusade for Open Space in Chicago's Suburbs" (2016). Dissertations & Theses. 281. http://aura.antioch.edu/etds/281 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Student & Alumni Scholarship, including Dissertations & Theses at AURA - Antioch University Repository and Archive. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations & Theses by an authorized administrator of AURA - Antioch University Repository and Archive. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. Department of Environmental Studies DISSERTATION COMMITTEE PAGE The undersigned have examined the dissertation entitled: "One Narrow Thread of Green": The Vision of May Theilgaard Watts, the Creation of the Illinois Prairie Path, and a Community's Crusade for Open Space in Chicago's Suburbs presented by Anne M. Keller, candidate for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, and hereby certify that it has been accepted. * Committee Chair: Joy W. Ackerman, Ph.D. Title/Affiliation: Core Faculty, Department of Environmental Studies, Antioch University New England Committee Member: Alesia Maltz, Ph.D.
    [Show full text]
  • Introduction to the Native Landscape Reader
    Introduction Growing concerns about the depletion of scientific study, as a model for design, and resources and global climate change have as the focus of preservation (or restoration) propelled many people, from landscape ar- efforts in the man-made landscape. Aes- chitects to professional stewards to home thetically, philosophically, practically, and gardeners, to reexamine how we design politically, the native landscape served as and manage the land. From backyards to inspiration and guide, as a source of plants national parks, many have clamored for and as instructor on how to plant, and as more “naturalness,” a reconnection with something to treat with wonder and awe. our environment, which could guide us In addition, our relationship to the land- in both the aesthetic and the ecological scape generated much thought, as writers, realms. Although some people believe that designers, and others noted the calming longing for naturalness is relatively new, influence of nature, gardens, and parks perhaps originally spurred by Earth Day on the human spirit and fought to provide in 1970, there is in fact a rich history of such places as refuges within and around thought about the native landscape and developing cities and towns. Increas- the design and management of American ingly the native landscape was seen as a gardens, parks, and national preserves. resource requiring ongoing management That history is revealed in the writings col- and care—or active stewardship, in today’s lected in this volume. terms. During this period some of the ear- Through the nineteenth and early liest efforts in ecological remediation were twentieth centuries—roughly the same begun, as individuals sought to restore period that the profession of landscape integrity to damaged ecosystems, to man- architecture and many American conser- age roadsides, forestry tracts, and parks, vation movements were in their forma- and to create arboreta and botanic gardens tive stages—the native landscape was the as reserves of native flora and fauna.
    [Show full text]
  • Reading the Book of Nature May Theilgaard Watts and the Art of (Teaching) Ecology
    Faculty Research Leave Application Michael A. Bryson Associate Professor of Humanities and Sustainability Studies College of Professional Studies Submitted 2 November 2012 / Approved 16 January 2013 Reading the Book of Nature May Theilgaard Watts and the Art of (Teaching) Ecology Project Overview and Major Goals This project focuses on one of the most influential and remarkable voices in the environmental history of the Chicago Region: May Theilgaard Watts (1893-1975), whose writings, environmental education work, public outreach, and conservation advocacy dramatically shaped both the landscape itself as well as human perceptions of urban and suburban environments. A student of pioneering University of Chicago scientist Henry Chandler Cowles, who led the development of ecology as a scientific discipline with his work on plant community succession in the Indiana Dunes, Watts became an expert at "reading the landscape" through the lenses of ecology and botany. Possessed of an uncanny and singular ability to explain complex ecological relationships and processes, Watts perfected the art of interpreting stories of environmental change through observation and analysis of physical evidence -- plants, animal tracks, soil, water, rooflines, roads -- within both the natural and built environment. While she was widely traveled (and published one of her major books about her explorations of Europe), most of Watts' time and energy focused on the Chicago region, where she was the first naturalist-educator at the renowned Morton Arboretum in Lisle, IL. In this capacity, Watts not only led hundreds of education programs for children, adults, and aspiring naturalists; but also performed ecological research, developed educational materials and 2 curricula, and mentored many fellow educators and nature interpreters who specifically sought out her expertise.
    [Show full text]
  • National Register of Historic Places Inventory » Nomination Form
    Form No. 10-300 REV. (9/77) \ UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY » NOMINATION FORM SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN HOW TO COMPLETE NATIONAL REGISTER FORMS TYPE ALL ENTRIES -- COMPLETE APPLICABLE SECTIONS NAME HISTORIC Highland Park ^ LOCATION STREET&Nuyg|p incorporation limits of Highland Park 40T FOR PUBLICATION CITY. TOWN CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT Highland Park ^VICINITY OF 12 STATE CODE COUNTY CODE Illinois 012 Lake 097 CLASSIFICATION CATEGORY OWNERSHIP STATUS PRESENTUSE —DISTRICT —PUBLIC X-OCCUPIED —AGRICULTURE J^MUSEUM —BUILDING(S) —PRIVATE ILUNOCCUPIED ^COMMERCIAL J?PARK —STRUCTURE ^EBOTH —WORK IN PROGRESS ^EDUCATIONAL J£PRIVATE RESIDENCE —SITE PUBLIC ACQUISITION ACCESSIBLE ^ENTERTAINMENT J£RELIGIOUS —OBJECT —IN PROCESS X-YES: RESTRICTED ^.GOVERNMENT _ SCIENTIFIC xMultiple _ BEING.GONSIDERED , X-YES: UNRESTRICTED , ^INDUSTRIAL , ., ^TRANSPORTATION Resources A5/M •• '—NO v { - . ...:...' •, •: ,_^MItlTARY , , —OTHER: OWNER OF PROPERTY NAME ______Multiple ownership - see continuation sheet for addresses, property STREET & NUMBER owners and PIN numbers. CITY, TOWN STATE VICINITY OF LOCATION OF LEGAL DESCRIPTION COURTHOUSE. 1 . 2. REGISTRY OF DEEDS,ETC. Deerfield Township Assessor's Office West Deerfield Township STREET & NUMBER 600 Laurel Avenue Assessor s Office 858 Waukegan Road CITY. TOWN Highland Park, Illinois 60035 STATE Deerfield, Illinois REPRESENTATION IN EXISTING SURVEYS 60015 TiTLE 1.Highland Park Landmark Survey DATE 1979-81 FEDERAL STATE COUNTY "^LOCAL DEPOSITORY FOR SURVEY RECORDS West Ridge Center< 6_36_Ridge Road CITY. TOWN Highland Park (see continuation sheet for buildings listed,' other survey*? NPS Form 10-900-a OMB No.1024-0018 (3-82) Exp. 10-31-84 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form Continuation sheet Item number Page National Register of Historic Place Listings: (1980, U.S.
    [Show full text]
  • Request for Proposals for Updating Highland
    REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR UPDATING HIGHLAND PARK’S CENTRAL EAST SURVEY ARCHITECTURAL SURVEY (1999) AND REVIEWING LOCAL LANDMARK DOCUMENTATION SEPTEMBER, 2019 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Objectives 2. Timeline 3. Background 4. Scope of Work 5. Submittal Requirements 6. Professional Services Criteria 7. Terms and Conditions Attachment A: Professional Service Agreement Attachment B: Central East Architectural Resource Survey (1999) Attachment C: Examples of Landmark Documentation Attachment D: Example of Survey Entry 1. OBJECTIVES Through this Request for Proposals ("RFP"), the City of Highland Park, Illinois ("City"), requests proposals from qualified firms to provide services for two related projects: 1) Revisit the architectural information in the Central East architectural resource surveys (both the inventory and the written summary report) to reflect demolitions, new construction, and major alterations on properties that have taken place since 1998. This will include providing updated photographs wherever possible and updating the condition and historical status of the structures. New appreciation of certain architectural styles and trends may result in additional findings of significance within the survey area. A further objective is to ensure all survey information is available in digital form 2) Evaluating the quality of the documentation for Highland Park’s existing local historic landmarks. Many were nominated in the 1980s without the benefit of current research tools. An analysis of landmarks and their documentation may reveal opportunities to expand the City’s knowledge and appreciation of historic homes (collectively, “Services”). The selected proposer (“Consultant”) will be invited to enter into an agreement with the City (“Agreement”), in a form provided by the City and generally consistent with the agreement attached as Attachment A to this RFP.
    [Show full text]
  • Winter 99 Cover F&B
    Chicago EXPLORING NATURE & CULTURE WILDERNESSWINTER 1999 $3.95 CITIZEN SCIENTISTS • THE FOREST PRESERVES’ ROCKY START What is Chicago Wilderness? Chicago Wilderness is some of the finest and most significant nature in the temperate world, with roughly 200,000 acres of protected natural lands harboring native plant and animal communities that are more rare—and their survival more globally threatened— than the tropical rain forests. CHICAGO WILDERNESS is an unprece - dented alliance of 76 public and private organizations working together to study and restore, protect and manage the precious natural resources of the Chicago region for the benefit of the public. Chicago WILDERNES S is a quarterly magazine that cele - brates the rich biodiversity of this region and tells the inspiring stories of the people and organizations work - ing to heal and protect local nature. CHICAGO WILDERNESS A Regional Nature Reserve Friends of Nature he stirring and a cautionary tale of the battle to estab - wildflowers were disappearing from sites, not because they Tlish the Forest Preserve District of Cook County begins were being plucked but because their habitat was suffering. on page 4. When Dwight Perkins and Jens Jensen set about Once open areas, pleasant for strolling, picnicking or pro - saving “natural park lands” for the benefit of people, they viding respite for the eye, were gradually becoming choked did not know these holdings with invasive brush. would become refugia for rare and Yet ours is a continuing history endangered species, harboring bio - of civic pride and action on diversity of global conservation behalf of nature. Soon all the significance.
    [Show full text]
  • Summary for Collection of May Theilgaard Watts Materials
    Collection of May Theilgaard Watts materials COLLECTION, 1.1557 Collection Contents Collection of May Theilgaard Watts materials (1 record) Sketch for the Layout of the May T. Watts Reading Garden Artwork (305 records) Evergreen Nature Trail Guide, cover art Evergreen Nature Trail Guide, page 3 illustrations and layout Evergreen Nature Trail Guide, page 2 illustrations and layout with preliminary sketches Forest Nature Trail Guide, front cover/page 1 illustrations and layout w/ preliminary sketches Forest Nature Trail Guide, page 2 illustrations and layout with preliminary sketches Forest Nature Trail Guide, page 3 illustrations and layout with preliminary sketches Forest Nature Trail Guide, page 4 illustrations and layout Forest Nature Trail Guide, page 5 illustrations and layout with preliminary sketches Forest Nature Trail Guide, page 6 illustrations and layout with preliminary sketches Forest Nature Trail Guide, page 7 illustrations and layout with preliminary sketches Forest Nature Trail Guide, page 8 illustrations and layout with preliminary sketches Forest Nature Trail Guide, page 9 illustrations and layout with preliminary sketches Forest Nature Trail Guide, page 10 illustrations and layout with preliminary sketches Forest Nature Trail Guide, page 11 illustrations and layout with preliminary sketches Forest Nature Trail Guide, page 12 illustrations and layout with preliminary sketches Forest Nature Trail Guide, page 13 illustrations and layout Forest Nature Trail Guide, page 14 illustrations and layout Forest Nature Trail Guide,
    [Show full text]