In Memoriam

The Auk 115(2):465-469, 1998

IN MEMORIAM: ROGER TORY PETERSON, 1908-1996

SUSAN RONEY DRENNAN NationalAudubon Society, 700 Broadway,New York,New York10003, USA

ROGERTORY PETERSON,1908-1996

(Photographtaken in 1994by SusanRoney Drennan)

When RogerTory Petersondied on 28 July and joined a Junior Club. Like so 1996, he was one month shy of his eighty- many kids, he had a newspaperroute as a eighthbirthday. He was born on 28 August sourceof small money.Unlike most,however, 1908 to immigrantsCharles Gustav Peterson, Roger planned his route so that he passedas from Varmland, , and Henrietta Bader many differenthabitats and feedersas possible Peterson, from a little town near Breslau, Ger- when he got up at dawn to deliver TheJames- many (now Poland).The placewas Jamestown, townMorning Post. He thriftily savedhis pen- southwestern New York, at the eastern end of nies and dimes,and when he had enough,he Lake Chautauqua,about 25 miles from Lake boughta bird guide by ChesterReed, a four- Erie.As a youngchild he becameentranced by power LeMaire opera glassfrom an advertise- the beautyof natureand becamea practicing ment in Bird-Lore(ancestor of Audubonmaga- naturalistat the ageof eleven,when he wasin- zine), and his first camera,a four-by-fiveplate troducedto birds in his 7th grade classroom model Eastman Primo Number 9. 465 466 In Memoriam [Auk, Vol. 115

In 1925,when Rogergraduated from high with membersof the BronxCounty Bird Club, school,family moneywas scarce.Just after his a club that collectedno dues and had no by- 17thbirthday, he took a job at the Union-Na- laws, constitution, newsletter, committees, or tional Furniture Factory in Jamestown,under permanentmeeting place. The club was started the supervisionof WillemDieperink von Lan- by a bunchof city dwellersin their teenswho gereis.Here he decoratedChinese-lacquer cab- were mad for birding for the loveof the chase. inetsfor $8 per week.Langereis was a tough, Roger and the other members,who included demanding,and temperamentalboss, but he Joe Hickey, Irving Kassoy,and Allan Cruick- recognizedthat youngPeterson had talent.He shank,attended the bimonthly meetings of the encouragedRoger to becomean artist and in- LinnaeanSociety of New Yorkat the American sistedthat he goto New YorkCity to attendart Museum of Natural History. This august or- school.Roger was alreadyhusbanding his re- ganization,with older,more experienced pro- sourcesto attendhis first AOU meetingto be fessionaland amateur ornithologists among its held at the American Museum of Natural His- members,favorably influenced the club and tory in November1925. At theend of that three- guided the boys in becomingaccomplished day meeting, Petersonwas completelyover- naturalists.In fact, the roots of Roger'slater whelmed:he'd met many of hisbigger-than-life achievementsgo back to the club, where the heroesincluding , who signed tall, gawky youth played a heaven-sentgame Roger's applicationfor membershipin the with a groupof like-mindedboys fired by their AOU, and Louis Agassiz Fuertes, Peterson's own enthusiasms. idol and the bird artist whom he then knew With his formalart trainingover, Roger al- best.Fuertes was touched by theyouth's enthu- lowedhimself to be luredinto teachingnatural siasm and gave him a slim red sable paint- historyand art during the summersin Michi- brush,"good for laying in washes."Here he ganand then at CampChewonki in Wiscassett, alsomet FrancisLee Jaques, with whomhe be- Maine.Finally, he took a fulltimeteaching job camevery closefriends, Frank M. Chapman, at the prestigiousRivers School for boysnear Arthur A. Allen, and Edward Howe Forbush, Boston,Massachusetts, where he taughtmany amongothers. This meetingset the patternfor boysfrom familiesof consequence.One of his his whole future. He went home, hoarded his students destined for fame was Elliot Richard- meagersalary, and dreamedabout returning to son,who laterbecame Attorney General of the New York to begin formal art training. United States. Richardson, in 1974, nominated January1927 saw the nineteen-year-oldPe- Peterson as the teacher who had influenced him tersonback in New York City enrolledat the most, and subsequentlyPeterson was named Art StudentsLeague, studying under the dis- "Teacher of the Year" and received the Golden 'tinguishedteacher Kimon Nikolaides(author Key Award from the AmericanAssociation of of TheNatural Way to Draw),and leadingrealist School Administrators. painterJohn Sloan, of theAshcan School. Using Once upon a time, bird identificationwas charcoaland later oil on canvas,he took classes based solely on the plumage and measure- in basicdrawing and life drawing from models. mentsof a bird in hand.Then along came those His progresswas rapid. To supporthimself who becameskilled at noticingdistinctive as- and keepup art schoolpayments, he returned pects of stance,behavior, and flight action, to his old profession--decoratingand refinish- which, togetherwith plumagecharacteristics, ing furniture. He told me oncethat severalof were diagnosticof a species.It was now the the moregarish beds on whoseheadboards he early 1930s,and afterhe finisheda full day of painted pretentiousroses were destinedfor teachingat the RiversSchool, Roger retired to someof the city'shigher-class bordellos. After his cubby-hole-sizedroom, where he laboredat two yearsat the Art StudentsLeague, Roger his first field guide. Other field guideswere competedfor andwon a placeat the moretra- available,such as Frank M. Chapman'sColor ditionalNational Academy of Design,where he Keyto NorthAmerican Birds, Ralph Hoffman's studied for the next three years under Ray- propheticbut greatlyoverlooked guide pub- mond Neilson, Vincent DuMond, and Edmund lishedin 1904and its companionguide to the Dickinson. birds of the PacificCoast published later, and Most of his birding in thosedays was done ChesterReed's tiny illustrated guides.How- April 1998] In Memoriam 467

ever,Peterson saw his guide as "... a boiling artists,he had a financialstruggle when he downof thingsso that anybird wouldbe readi- turned professional.During theseyears he re- ly and surelytold from all othersat a glanceor illustratedand redesignedthe sameAudubon from a distance."Night after night, for three JuniorLeaflets that had so inspiredhim as a years, he worked out his dissatisfactionwith boy. Somehow,the productivelyenergetic Pe- otherguides by creatingone of his own.Pains- terson,during the busiestyears of his profes- takinglyhe sketched birds' distinctive patterns; sionallife, found time to carry out a truly pro- carefullyhe distilledthe text so that the most digiousamount of writing, resulting in a mass prominent field marks enabling identification of semipopularbooks. His JuniorBook of Birds were describedto his liking. The first of his waspublished in 1938.He completelyrevised guides,published in 1934,had no purposeoth- therequirements for theBoy Scouts' Bird Study er than facilitatingidentification--a marvelous Merit Badgeand preparedthe officialbooklet featof sustainedapplication. But the GreatDe- aboutthe badge.He wrote articlesfor Lifemag- pressionwas getting worse, and the book azine,using his own paintingsand photogra- calledfor ratherexpensive art work. Fouror phyto presenta widegamut of birdstudies for fivepublishers turned it down.Finally, Hough- a national audience. A Field Guide to Western ton Mifflin was enthusiastic but still felt the Birdswas published in 1941.His ornithological book would lose too much money. Richard writing wasaimed largely at a popularmarket, Pough,whose own guidelater becamea com- bridgingthe gap between professional and am- petitor of Peterson's,felt so confidentthat Pe- ateur TheAudubon Guide to Attracting Birds was terson'sbook would be a successthat he guar- written with JohnBaker in 1941.During World anteedto personallymake up anymoney that War II, he was drafted into the U.S. Army HoughtonMifflin might lose.Roger himself Corpsof Engineers,where his field guide prin- agreedto forgoroyalties on the first 1,000cop- cipleswere usedwhen he produceda "plane ies, and then seriouslywondered if any more spottingmanual" for the U.S.Army Air Corps. thanthat would sell. Well, Roger didn't have to He thoughtthat plane identification couldn't be wastetime worrying abouthis uncollectedroy- all that difficult once he'd taken on the identi- alties.The entireprint run of 2,000copies of A fication of birds of both the eastern and western FieldGuide to theBirds (giving field marks of all United States. In the late 1940s, the Peterson speciesfound in easternNorth America)sold Identification System was extended to cover out in a few weeks, and the book had to be re- othernature subjects. Houghton Mifflin contin- printed immediately.Since then, there have uesto publishthe series,which today numbers been four considerablyupdated revisions,47 morethan 50 titles.Until his death,Roger re- reprintings,and morethan sevenmillion cop- mained the editor. ies of Peterson'stwo field guides (Easternand Rogerjoined the AOU in 1929, becamean Western)sold. The magnitudeof this achieve- Elective Member in 1935, and a Fellow in 1948. ment is difficult to appreciatebecause many of In 1944, at age 36, he receivedthe William us grew up with one or another"Peterson" in BrewsterMemorial Award, the AOU's highest hand. honor. He served as Vice President of the AOU In that windfall year, 1934,Roger joined the in 1962 and regularly attendedits annual meet- staff of the National Association of Audubon ings. Societies as Educational Director and Art Di- His firstmarriage, to MildredWashington in rectorfor Bird-Lore.He becameSecretary of the late 1936,lasted less than sevenyears. After NationalAudubon Society in the 1960s,and he their divorce in 1943, he married Barbara Coul- continuedto serveas its specialconsultant up ter, who sharedhis interests,was his unfailing to his death.In 1971,Roger received the Con- companionand support,and motherof their servation Medal of the National Audubon So- two sons, Tory Coulter born in 1947, and Lee ciety, an honor of which he was extremely Allen in 1950.Barbara was the ever-capable, be- proud. hind-the-scenesagent for their 33-yearenter- For the next quarter-centuryRoger tackled prise. Their marriage ended in divorce in his work as a craftsman,feeling strongly that March 1976.The followingmonth, Roger mar- art was somethingthat shouldbe enjoyedby ried Virginia Marie Quinlan Westervelt, a everyone.Like so many young and unknown woman of charm and character with similar in- 468 In Memoriam [Auk, Vol. 115 tereststo Roger's.In the last20 yearsof Roger's lawing the sprayingof DDT throughoutCon- life, her presencewas felt whereverhe went. necticut,in orderto bring backthe Osprey.He Between1938 and 1948, Petersonpublished was a remarkableman, driven by an indefati- 12 featureson birds (with topicssuch as mi- gableenergy and a self-imposedneed to live up gration,warblers, marsh birds, birds of prey, to what he thoughtwas expectedof him. etc.) for Lifemagazine, all illustratedwith his From the 1960sto the end of his life, Roger paintings.In 1948,he wrote BirdsOver America, traveledthe world over,painting, photograph- illustratedwith his own photographs.He re- ing, lecturing,and receivingthe honors,dis- ceivedthe JohnBurroughs Medal in 1950,his tinctions, and tributes that were awarded him. first literary award for naturewriting. In 1952, He had his prioritiesright. The more he trav- he receivedthe first of 23 honoraryDoctor of eled,the morehe realizedthat he had to spread Sciencedegrees. He met Britain'sbest-known the gospelof bird protection.During the last ornithologist,James Fisher, in 1950.The friend- three decades of his life, Peterson did more shipblossomed, and in 1953the two embarked than any other singleperson to propel birds on a 100-day,30,000-mile odyssey. They trav- into the American consciousness.Through eled the lengthand breadthof North America, him, peoplecame to learn not just whichbird starting in Newfoundland and ending in Alas- was which, but how all birds fitted into the ka by way of Mexico.Houghton Mifflin in 1955 scheme of nature and, in turn, how crucial each publishedthe story of their madcaptranscon- part of the schemewas to the whole.When he tinental tour: Wild America. The film "Wild lectured, it was often in aid of a favorite bird America," with essentiallythe same theme, conservationproject, and he was a great fund was shown in Russia in 1957, the first film on raiser.After some of his especiallyanimated Americanwildlife to be shown there. Roger talks,vast benefits in publicinterest and aware- and Fisher coauthoredThe Worldof Birds in ness followed. 1964.In 1954,Roger authored and illustratedA Rogerwas the preeminentbirder of his time. FieldGuide to theBirds of Britainand Europe with Roger and birds had servedeach other very his Europeanfriends, Guy Mountfortand Phil usefully indeed. He clearly realized this and Hollom. It hassold upwards of a million copies began participating in international bird pro- in 13 differentlanguages. That year Rogerre- tectionconferences from Tokyoto Kenya,using ceivedhis first major internationalaward: the his influenceto gain a footholdin variouscon- Geoffrey St. Hilaire Gold Medal from the servation debates. He received the Gold Medal FrenchNatural History Society. of theNew YorkZoological Society in 1961,and In 1954,Roger and Barbarabought a densely in 1968 he was instrumental in the creation of wooded,70-acre estate in Old Lyme,Connect- a national park at Lake Nakuru in Kenya. He icut, convenientto both New York City and was heavily involved in the founding of the Boston,where the officesof Roger'sprimary World Wildlife Fund in 1962, and he served as publisher,Houghton Mifflin, are located.Here the United States Chairman of the International the Petersonsraised their sonsand here Roger Council for Bird Preservation. lived the rest of his life. As his life progressed, Rogerrose to be an internationalfigure as an many of the leadingornithologists in the Unit- author, painter, teacher,and conservationist. ed Statesand in other countrieswere his per- He believedthat theappreciation of naturepre- sonalfriends, and visitorsfrom all parts of the cedesits conservation,because people are not world were sure of a welcome.Roger was ex- motivatedto conservewhat meansnothing to tremelyhospitable and enjoyednothing more them. He learned how to marshal his tremen- than havingfriends in to talk aboutbirds, old dousvitality into a one-manconservation dy- times, or abouthis other greatlove, conserva- namo, galvanizing othersto act on behalf of tion. birds. During the early 1960s,Roger began actively Roger enjoyed an enormous following campaigningagainst environmentaldegrada- worldwide. Throughouthis career, he gave tion, and he became the world's finest advocate himself wholeheartedlyto his work and at- for birds. He testifiedagainst DDT at the U.S. tained successby sheerhard work and initia- Senatehearings in the mid-1960s.In the 1970s, tive without any formal scientifictraining. he threwhimself into a campaignaimed at out- Throughout his last decade, Roger moved April 1998] In Memoriam 469

steadilybetween his drawingboard, painting he wasknighted and receivedthe Order of the and revisinghis field guides,and the world of Golden Ark in The , and he was travel, fame, and influence. He was still brisk of designatedMaster Wildlife Artist by the Leigh mind and sharp of tongue, and he never YawkeyWoodson Museum of Art. In 1986,he seemedhappier than when photographingin receivedthe EugeneEisenmann Medal from the field. At his death,Roger had upwardsof the LinnaeanSociety of New York.And in 1980, 150,000slides of birds, includingmore than he receivedfrom PresidentJimmy Carter the 10,000of the world'spenguin species, all taken PresidentialMedal of Freedom, the highest by himselLfiled in his Old Lyme office.Bird honor awarded to an American civilian. With conservationhas lost one of its majorprotago- his untiring zeal, conservationcould have had nistswhile his life'swork takesits placein his- few ambassadorsbetter able than Roger to tory. reach and affect an audience. He was a world- Throughthe width and fecundityof his cre- famousexample of notjust what-to-do, but that ative output as a leading bird artist, Roger's it can be done. name was known to millions throughoutthe Roger was very independent,sometimes ag- world. He made a vast number of friends, in- gressive,and not oneto sufferfools gladly, but troduced many people of all ages to birding, he alsowas kindly andhumorous. He wasquiet and workedto keepthe interestof manyof to- and excellentcompany. He enjoyedthe com- day's field people from flagging.One of his panionshipof thosehe respectedand trusted, greatestqualities was his abilityto inspireoth- and his friendshipswere durableand varied. ers.As a companionin the field he wasunsur- His companywas avidly sought by birders who passable.His quicksense of humorwas a great appreciatedthat Rogerwas himself a rarity. He asset in times of stress. He was never short of a was warm, forthright,even blunt in opinion, birdwatchingtale or two,and it wasalways fun with an impish senseof fun that he retained listeningto yarns abouthis numerousadven- into old age. tures.He hasbeen a greatfriend to manybird- An artist is fortunate--and so also is the ers who havehim to thank for early encour- world--in that he leavesbehind tangibleme- agement and continued guidance.Roger was mentosof his talentsfor future generationsto alwaysthe first to congratulatesomeone on a enjoy.What regrettablycannot be preservedis piece of good birding, suchas a difficult or the warm and fruitful relationshipso many quick identification. people enjoyedwith this gifted and friendly It was a causeof great satisfactionto his man. So has ended a most remarkable life, full friendsand admirersthat he receivedpublic of highadventure in manyspheres, and of very recognitionduring his lifetime.Among his in- considerableachievement. Those of us privi- numerable medals and awards is the Arthur A. leged to have known and worked with and Allen Award from the Cornell Laboratoryof learnedfrom RogerTory Petersonhave gained Ornithologyin 1967. In 1972,he becamethe immeasurablyfrom his friendshipand the en- first American to receive the Gold Medal of the thusiasmhe conveyedin all that he did and World Wildlife Fund from Prince Bernhard of said and wrote. We are left with happy mem- The Netherlands. In 1974, he received the Ex- oriesof a man of greathumanity, intelligence, plorersMedal from the Explorers Club. In 1978, energy,and fun.