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Theodore Roosevelt, the Conservationist
by Rebecca Quail
Theodore Roosevelt accomplished many things as the 26th President of the United States. When asked what he thought his top accomplishments were he listed his efforts in conservation as one of the top four.
As a young boy Theodore Roosevelt was interested in the natural world. When he entered college Roosevelt intended to become a naturalist. As he grew older he used his knowledge of the natural world to inform the public about the declining condition of the Nation's natural resources. As a young man he was cofounder of the Boone and Crockett Club which played a large role in the establishment of many conservation oriented laws. When he became governor of New York he continued his quest of protecting nature from destruction. However, it was not until he became President that Roosevelt truly left his mark.
Theodore Roosevelt brought conservation to the public eye when concern about natural resources was practically nonexistent. Roosevelt started a movement of wise-use of natural resources, and thanks to his foresight we have forests to enjoy and clean water to drink.
Childhood
Theodore was born in New York City on October 27, 1858 to Theodore Roosevelt Sr. and Martha Bullock. He was one of four children and from an early age was interested in the natural world. Originally Theodore's interest was expressed in the collection of specimens, including birds nests, animal bones and occasional live animals. Spurred on by his father's activities in establishing the American Museum of Natural History, Theodore decided to use his collection to form his own museum. Named the "Roosevelt Museum of Natural History" the collection started with only 12 specimens. Recruited help from cousins, Theodore managed to increase his collection to over 200 specimens in the first year.
The early creation of the museum indicated Theodore's interest in animals and, while his cousins eventually lost interest, he continued to collect. In what was to become a characteristic manner he wrote about his observations and experiences. When his parents realized that Theodore's interest in a nature was more than a phase, they found ways to encourage him. On trips to the country, Theodore would spend as much time as possible observing animals and plants. Many adults talking to the young boy were surprised at how much knowledge he had been able to accumulate. When Theodore was just over ten years old his father allowed him to begin studying taxidermy.
In 1871, when Theodore was 12, his family took their first trip to the Adirondack Mountains of New York. While visiting the Adirondacks, Theodore was able to observe plants and animals that were previously unknown to him except in books.
Of course, the Adirondack Mountains were not the only natural classroom for young Roosevelt. His family often visited Oyster Bay in Long Island where birds were abundant. In 1872 his family traveled to Egypt for a year. Roosevelt was not happy to leave his museum and his home, however he became much more enthusiastic about the trip when his father said that he could learn to use a gun while in Egypt. Any animal that was shot was quickly mounted as a specimen for his collection. Even at this young age his skill in taxidermy was very advanced and specimens he collected are still on display today at several museums.
The College Years
As he continued to grow so did Theodore's enthusiasm for the natural world. When it was time for college, he entered Harvard resolving to become a "scientific man of the Audubon, or Wilson, or Baird or Coues type". While in college he took nearly every natural history class available in Harvard and traveled with friends to the Adirondacks and to the wilderness of Maine. It was during this time that Roosevelt wrote his first published paper with Henry Minot, called "The summer birds of the Adirondacks in Franklin County, NY". During his senior year, while courting Alice Lee, Theodore changed his mind about becoming a naturalist and shifted his attention to political science. In 1880, Theodore married Alice Lee and entered Columbia Law School. By the next year he was elected to the New York Assembly and began his political career. While he had changed his mind on careers, he did not lose interest in the natural world.
After College
After he entered the Assembly he donated 622 bird specimens from his collection to the Smithsonian Institute. Even though these specimens were collected and prepared while his was still a teenager the museum accepted them with high praise for the quality of the work done.
Roosevelt discovered a new laboratory in the 1883… the West. He was so excited about what he saw on a trip to the Dakota Badlands, he invested in a herd of cattle. This move insured that he would return to the West and nine months later he did. Several major changes had occurred in the meantime, both his mother and his wife died, while giving birth to his first daughter. From 1884- 1892 Theodore divided his time between New York and the Dakotas, becoming familiar with many new species of plants and animals, which he wrote about in several books. During this time he witnessed the decline of the large game animals.
Roosevelt married Edith Kermit Carow in 1886 and they took up residence at Sagamore Hill in Oyster Bay, Long Island. Roosevelt had chosen the location for Sagamore Hill so that he could be near the natural world, especially the birds. Sagamore Hill was the main residence for Roosevelt until the end of his life.
The Boone and Crockett Club
In 1887, with the help of George Bird Grinnell, Roosevelt founded the Boone and Crockett Club. Both men had recognized the decline of birds and animals occurring across the country due to unregulated hunting. The formation of the Boone and Crockett Club was intended to bring together "worthy sportsmen" who appreciated the need for responsibility in hunting. This club was later to become a very powerful force in the establishment of conservation laws. The club worked closely with a magazine called Field and Stream which was used to stress the seriousness of the declining animal populations, the need for scientific forest management and for regulatory laws. Members for the club were actively recruited from the leaders in forestry, wildlife and lawmaking.
Roosevelt served as president of the Boone and Crockett Club for six years. During that time, the club played a role convincing Congress to protect the forests of Yellowstone, which had been declared a National Park in 1872. A provision of this bill gave the President of the United States the power to set aside forest reserves to protect them from logging. Roosevelt would later use this provision when he became President. Fair hunting practices, establishment of the Bronx Zoo in New York, and many other wildlife and forestry related issues were at the forefront of the club's efforts.
Legislation that the Boone and Crockett Club supported with Theodore Roosevelt as president |
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Year Enacted
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Legislation
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Others Involved
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Significance
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| 1889 | Creation of National Zoo | Established the first public zoo in America | |
| 1891 | An Act to Repel Timber Culture Laws | B. E. Fernow F.H Newell |
Set the foundation of the national forest system |
| 1894 | Park Protection Act | John F. Lacey George Grinnell |
Prevented development on Yellowstone National Park |
| 1895 | Creation of Bronx Zoo | Committee appointed by Roosevelt | Established first zoo in New York |
| 1897 | Fair Hunting Standards | Temporarily prevented hounding and jacklighting in New York State. Regulations eventually became permanent, and other states followed New York's lead with similar regulations. |
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Governor of New York
Theodore Roosevelt was elected governor of New York in 1898. The term of office for governor was two years which did not allow Roosevelt much time. Nevertheless he immediately began an investigation into questionable activities of the Fisheries, Forest, Game Commission concerning the Adirondack Park. Theodore recognized the Park as a great resource for forestry and wildlife. Roosevelt appointed a new 
president of the commission and insured that the Park was protected.
While governor, Roosevelt began working with Gifford Pinchot. Pinchot had been schooled in Europe as a forester. There he had learned about a concept of conservation through wise use. Roosevelt and Pinochet became friends and worked together for many years to protect America's natural resources.
In his second address to the state legislature Roosevelt talked of proper management of the stated resources and his plans for protecting them. This address was the first time a New York governor had publicly stated his thoughts on conservation. Of his work in New York, Roosevelt said in his autobiography "All that I later strove for in the Nation in connection with conservation was foreshadowed by what I strove to obtain for New York State when I was governor…"
Actions by Theodore Roosevelt While Governor of New York |
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Year Enacted
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Action
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Others Involved
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Significance
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1899
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Investigated and later appointed a new president of the Fisheries, Forest and Game Commission |
Residents of the Adirondack Park | Ended corruption within the Fisheries, Forest and Game Commission which lead to proper protection of the reserves |
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1899-1901
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Spoke in support of wise use of forest resources, including managing with a scientific basis | Gifford Pinchot | Eventually lead to better protection of the State's forests and a better public understanding of conservation |
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1899-1901
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1899-1901 Spoke for the protection of wild birds animals and flowers | Lead to an increased public awareness of preservation of species | |
President of the United States
Theodore Roosevelt was elected vice-president to William McKinley in 1901. A mere six months later he became 
President when McKinley was assassinated. Theodore Roosevelt took office at a time when the natural resources of the nation were in dire straits. Half of the timber had been cut, topsoil was being lost through poor management, nonrenewable minerals were being wasted, many species of animals, including the passenger pigeon and bison, were threatened with extinction. Roosevelt's administration played a key role in stopping the train of destruction and began the repair of the nation's resources.
Thorough executive action Roosevelt brought conservation into American thinking. He united the three agencies, the General Land Office, the US Geological Survey, and the Bureau of Forestry to form the US Forest Service. This coalition allowed better management of the forest resources. Roosevelt also continually stressed the importance of conservation for the sake of future generations. This dogged determination to bring conservation to the forefront of the political arena educated the general public
about the problems facing the nation.
When approached by the National Audubon Society, among others, to protect a major breeding area for birds, Roosevelt asked" Is there any law that will prevent me from declaring Pelican Island a Federal Bird Reservation. When assured that there was no such law Roosevelt stated "Very well, then I so declare it." Thus was the creation of the nation's first wildlife refuge. During his Tenure Roosevelt also created 5 National Parks, doubling the number present at the time, 18 National Monuments, including the Grand Canyon and 50 wildlife refuges.
Toward the end of his presidency Roosevelt organized a meeting between the Governors of the States, later called the Governor's Conference. It was during this meeting that the National Conservation Commission was formed. The Conservation Commission was chaired with assessing 
the state of the Nation's resources and making recommendation for their continued use. A year later in 1909 the commission reported back and the recommendations of the committee were supported by the President and accepted by Congress. The national Conservation Commission lasted until 1923. The recommendations set forth by this commission were the major turning point in conservation legislation.
As President of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt was able to make his greatest contributions to conservation. In his first address to the nation he began a series of efforts that led to wiser use of resources, forest and wildlife protection, and better oversight of management practices nationwide. Besides directing legislation, Roosevelt significantly raised public interest and awareness in conservation by constantly speaking about conservation issues. Roosevelt was the main driving force behind preserving the forests and wildlife that we enjoy today. During his time in office set aside close to 150 million acres of timberlands into reserves.
Legislation and Actions by Theodore Roosevelt while president of the US |
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| Year Enacted | Legislation and Actions | Others Involved | Significance |
| 1902 | Reclamation Act | Francis Newland | A federal initiative of dam building allowing for the conversion of non-arable land and allowing settlement in the Western United States |
| 1903 | Creation of Pelican Island Federal Bird Reservation | Frank Chapman | The first federal wildlife refuge |
| 1904 | Consolidation of the General Land Office, US Geological Survey and Bureau of Forestry | Allowed for an increase of staff and resources to oversee forest management nationwide | |
| 1906 | Antiquities Act | Allowed the President by public proclamation to establish National Monuments | |
| 1907 | Establishment of Inland Waterways Commission | Oversaw the development of waterways and preservation of clean water | |
| 1908 | Conference of Governors | A conference of governmental leaders that considered the nation's use of natural resources, formed the National Conservation Commission | |
| 1909 | National Conservation Commission | The first inventory of national resources, the report from this commission raised awareness of the fast depletion of natural resources. |
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After the Presidency
Roosevelt's love of the natural world continued to sustain him well after the presidency. He continued to explore new places, traveling to Africa, meeting with the leaders in scientific studies, as well as continued to write. Theodore Roosevelt died in his sleep on January 5, 1919. He was involved in the natural world right up the the end of his life, having written a book review on William Beebe's "Monograph of the Pheasants" on that same day. The effect of Roosevelt on the history of conservation in the United States was probably best summed up by Gifford Pinchot, "The greatest work that Theodore Roosevelt did for the United States, the great fact which will give his influence vitality and power long after we shall all have gone to our reward, is … that he changed the attitude of the American people toward conserving the natural resources."
