Pinchot author to speak at the Columns Museum

MILFORD — In 1937, as the Great Depression loosened its grip on America, Gifford Pinchot sat down at an old wooden desk to write a letter to the first class of professional American foresters.
Pinchot, the first Chief of the U.S. Forest Service, called these more than 200 men and several women, whom had trained between 1905 and 1909, the “Old Timers.” He asked each of them, most of whom he knew by name, to share their stories working in the service.
At 72 years old, the “Old Chief,” himself a passionate archivist and a student of history, knew that the day would come when their stories would be lost.
In her new book, "Gifford Pinchot and the First Foresters: The Untold Story of the Brave Men and Women Who Launched the American Conversation Movement," Bibi Gaston offers a heartfelt narrative for challenging times. She will give a talk and sign books, as part of the Columns Museum "Lunch and Learn" series, at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 18, at the museum, located at 608 Broad Street in Milford.
Reserve a place by Dec. 15 by calling 670-296-8126. Tickets are $25 and include lunch, dessert and coffee.
Gaston is the great-grandniece of Gifford Pinchot, whom Teddy Roosevelt appointed to lead the U.S. Forest Service in 1905. Her new book, published by Baked Apple Productions, is based on letters she unearthed from the Library of Congress and carried with her for seven years. She is a landscape architect whose first book, "The Loveliest Woman in America: A Tragic Actress, Her Lost Diaries and Her Granddaughter’s Search for Home," was published by William Morrow in hardback and Harper Perennial in paperback. She has appeared on are NBC, FOX Long Island Public Radio, and the nationally syndicated Contact Talk Radio Network.
History points the way on land conflictsIn her new book Gaston chronicles the early days of the American conservation movement while suggesting a service-based approach to environmental issues similar to the one created 100 years ago when her great-granduncle was appointed to run the newly created U.S. Forest Service.
Through 5,000 pages of previously unpublished letter, Gaston unmasks the significant challenges the early forest officers faced in tackling environmental problems while preserving and protecting public resources to, as Pinchot said, serve the “greatest good for the greatest number in the long run.”
“In the letters, we find that environmental issues were addressed through organization, careful listening, planning, education, and negotiation," said Gaston. "That was the job of Pinchot’s forest officers, and it was no easy job.
“Kindness, courtesy, and listening to one another went a long way, for example, in dealing with problems and conditions on the range, water conservation and wildfire suppression. Forest officers went above and beyond the call of duty to make peace, as did Pinchot, whose presence at various cattleman’s meetings was said to have turned rancor to understanding.”
Gaston said it's important to turn to history to resolve conflicts between public and private land ownership.
“In the past, we resolved disputes without delay, and without resorting to violence or rancor," she said. "How did we do it? We find answers when we need to, through caring and listening. Things were difficult, but more often than not, the parties walked away from the table as friends. Today, boundless energy and esprit de corps are the essential elements for resolving what appear to be intractable environmental problems. Mother Nature requires that we listen to her and to each other."