My Role ModelMy Role Model

Mardy MurieMardy MurieAugust 18, 1902 - October 19, 2003August 18, 1902 - October 19, 2003

“Grandmother of the Conservation “Grandmother of the Conservation Movement”Movement”

-Barry Lopez-Barry Lopez

AlaskaAlaska

And her husband,And her husband, Olaus Murie Olaus Murie

• 1889: Olaus 1889: Olaus MurieMurie is born March 1 in is born March 1 in Moorhead, Minn., to Norwegian Moorhead, Minn., to Norwegian immigrants. immigrants.

• 1902: 1902: MardyMardy ( (MardyMardy) Thomas is born ) Thomas is born Aug. 18 in Seattle, but spends most of Aug. 18 in Seattle, but spends most of her her

youth in Fairbanks, Alaska. Fairbanksyouth in Fairbanks, Alaska. Fairbanks was a booming gold rush town.was a booming gold rush town. The two of them were truly a team!The two of them were truly a team!

Mardy and Olaus Mardy and Olaus begin their adult lives!begin their adult lives!

• OlausOlaus

• 1912: Olaus graduates from Pacific 1912: Olaus graduates from Pacific University in Oregon, where he studied University in Oregon, where he studied zoology and wildlife biology. zoology and wildlife biology.

• 1912: Olaus works as a conservation 1912: Olaus works as a conservation officer for the state of Oregon. officer for the state of Oregon.

• 1914-1917: Olaus participates in 1914-1917: Olaus participates in scientific explorations of Hudson Bay scientific explorations of Hudson Bay and Labrador, financed by the Carnegie and Labrador, financed by the Carnegie Museum of Pittsburgh. Museum of Pittsburgh.

• 1920: Olaus begins working for the U.S. 1920: Olaus begins working for the U.S. Bureau of Biological Survey (now the Bureau of Biological Survey (now the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service), studying U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service), studying Alaskan caribou. Alaskan caribou.

• MardyMardy• 1921: Olaus and 1921: Olaus and MardyMardy are are

introduced to each other by a family introduced to each other by a family friend in the summer. friend in the summer.

• 1924: 1924: MardyMardy is is the first womanthe first woman and second person to graduate from and second person to graduate from the University of Alaska at Fairbanks. the University of Alaska at Fairbanks.

• 1924: Olaus and 1924: Olaus and MardyMardy marry on marry on Aug. 19 in a log church in the small Aug. 19 in a log church in the small Alaskan village of Anvik. Alaskan village of Anvik.

• 1925: First child, Martin, is born 1925: First child, Martin, is born • July 12,1926: The couple moves to July 12,1926: The couple moves to

Jackson Hole, because Olaus is Jackson Hole, because Olaus is assigned to study the Jackson Hole assigned to study the Jackson Hole elk herd. elk herd.

• 1927: Second child, Joanne, is born 1927: Second child, Joanne, is born May 21. May 21.

• 1931: Third child, Donald, is born 1931: Third child, Donald, is born Dec. 16.Dec. 16.

The Wilderness SocietyThe Wilderness Society

• 1937: Olaus and Mardy, founding 1937: Olaus and Mardy, founding member of the newly created member of the newly created Wilderness Society, takes a seat on Wilderness Society, takes a seat on the council, along with their friend the council, along with their friend and colleague Aldo Leoplold.and colleague Aldo Leoplold.

• 1945: Olaus resigns from the 1945: Olaus resigns from the Biological Survey to become Biological Survey to become director of the Wilderness Society. director of the Wilderness Society.

• When Olaus became The Wilderness Society director, Mardy spent countless When Olaus became The Wilderness Society director, Mardy spent countless hours working with him to protect our nation’s wild lands; by giving lectures, hours working with him to protect our nation’s wild lands; by giving lectures, promoting legislation, and even leading a group through the Brooks Range in promoting legislation, and even leading a group through the Brooks Range in 1956.1956.

• These efforts paid off because in 1960, The Artic Wildlife Range was designated These efforts paid off because in 1960, The Artic Wildlife Range was designated the Arctic Wildlife Refuge. Mardy describes this moment as one of the few times the Arctic Wildlife Refuge. Mardy describes this moment as one of the few times she ever saw her husband cry during their 39 year marriage.she ever saw her husband cry during their 39 year marriage.

Their History in WritingTheir History in Writing1951: Elk of North America, by Olaus, is published.

1954: A Field Guide to Animal Tracks, by Olaus, is published.

1960: Balance of Nature, illustrated by Olaus, is published.

1962: Two In the Far North, written by Mardy and illustrated by Olaus, is

published.

Writing and Making Writing and Making History ContinuesHistory Continues• 1963: Olaus dies on Oct. 21.1963: Olaus dies on Oct. 21. • 1964: 1964: MardyMardy attends the signing of the Wilderness Act by attends the signing of the Wilderness Act by

President Lyndon Johnson at the White House. President Lyndon Johnson at the White House.

• 1966: 1966: Wapiti WildernessWapiti Wilderness, a book by , a book by MardyMardy and Olaus, is and Olaus, is published. published.

• 1973: 1973: Journeys to the Far NorthJourneys to the Far North, by Olaus, is posthumously , by Olaus, is posthumously published. published.

• 1973: The Endangered Species Act is passed.1973: The Endangered Species Act is passed.

• 1977: 1977: Island BetweenIsland Between, a fiction book by , a fiction book by MardyMardy, is published., is published.

The Work ContinuesThe Work Continues

• After Olaus’s death Mardy continued withAfter Olaus’s death Mardy continued with their life's work. In 1964, President,their life's work. In 1964, President,Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Wilderness ActLyndon B. Johnson signed the Wilderness Act and presented it to Mardy and Alice Zahniser.and presented it to Mardy and Alice Zahniser.

1968, Oil was discovered under Alaska’s Prudhoe Bay. This had great 1968, Oil was discovered under Alaska’s Prudhoe Bay. This had great implications for the Alaskan Wilderness, much like to Gold Rush at the turn implications for the Alaskan Wilderness, much like to Gold Rush at the turn of the century had. Mardy continued her work with The Sierra Club and in of the century had. Mardy continued her work with The Sierra Club and in 1975 was invited to be the key note speaker for a National Park Service 1975 was invited to be the key note speaker for a National Park Service Conference in Alaska. She was also to act as a special consultant and her Conference in Alaska. She was also to act as a special consultant and her task was to fly around the state to evaluate areas to be included in the task was to fly around the state to evaluate areas to be included in the proposed Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act. Mardy’s report proposed Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act. Mardy’s report and recommendations went into the congressional battle to protect Alaska.and recommendations went into the congressional battle to protect Alaska.

1980, December 21980, December 2ndnd the ANILCA bill or Alaska Lands Act was passed. the ANILCA bill or Alaska Lands Act was passed.

““The Grandmother of the The Grandmother of the American Conservation American Conservation

Movement”Movement”• 1980 by the late 80’s Mardy was recognized for the 1980 by the late 80’s Mardy was recognized for the

depth and perseverance of commitment to the land. depth and perseverance of commitment to the land. Others had done much to preserve wilderness, but Others had done much to preserve wilderness, but few approached her lifelong, constant, personal few approached her lifelong, constant, personal commitment. And although she shunned the spot commitment. And although she shunned the spot light,light,

she was awarded the Audubon Medal, the Sierra she was awarded the Audubon Medal, the Sierra Club’s John Muir Award, and The Wilderness Society's Club’s John Muir Award, and The Wilderness Society's Bob Marshall Award, among many others. She was Bob Marshall Award, among many others. She was also the subject of countless interviews and TV, also the subject of countless interviews and TV, including pieces by Charles Kuralt, and National including pieces by Charles Kuralt, and National Geographic.Geographic.

The Presidential Medal of The Presidential Medal of FreedomFreedom

• In January of 1998 she In January of 1998 she

• was honored by was honored by PresidentPresident

• Clinton for being, “An Clinton for being, “An

• ordinary American that ordinary American that

• had done extraordinaryhad done extraordinary

• things.”things.”

The Conservation Community The Conservation Community mourned Mardy Muriemourned Mardy Murie

• Mardy Murie died on October 19, 2003 at Mardy Murie died on October 19, 2003 at

her home in Moose, Wyoming.her home in Moose, Wyoming.

• Her story lives on in a book and PBS SpecialHer story lives on in a book and PBS Special

Arctic DanceArctic Dance first aired on PBS in 2006 first aired on PBS in 2006