Roosevelt Wild Life Experiment Station records

Biographical History

In 1919,the New York State Legislature and the Roosevelt family established the Roosevelt Wild Life Station at the New York State College of Forestry at Syracuse University, predecessor to the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF). Work began on establishing the station in 1916, with the support of President Theodore Roosevelt, for whom the station was named. Roosevelt had a long time interest in nature and had been a long time supporter of conservation. However, when the United States entered into World War I, plans for the station were set aside and not revisited until the end of the war. With the death of Roosevelt, the station became a memorial project supported by both the state government and the Roosevelt family. The station was established to maintain the records of experiments, investigations, and other research work on forest wildlife. A library was also established to support the work of the station and for the public’s use. The station supported research on birds, fish, game, fur bearing animals, and forest management. Research was conducted in areas throughout New York State, including the Adirondack Mountains and Oneida Lake. The station was overseen by an honorary advisory council and operated by a staff of research scientists and assistants. The station also maintained field camps throughout the United States and produced regular publications including itsBulletinandAnnals. As of 2005, the Roosevelt Wild Life Program oversees the development of a series of multifaceted, long–term research and outreach programs. The program’s focus is on predicting the impact of regional and global economic forces on New York’s natural resources, communicating this information to the people of New York, and facilitating public policy based on the conservation of these resources.