Margaret Murie
Encyclopedia
Margaret Thomas "Mardy" Murie (August 18, 1902 – October 19, 2003) was a naturalist, author, adventurer, and conservationist. Dubbed the "Grandmother of the Conservation Movement" by both the Sierra Club and the Wilderness Society, she helped in the passage of the Wilderness Act
, and was instrumental in creating the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
. She was the recipient of the Audubon Medal, the John Muir Award
, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom
—the highest civilian honor awarded by the United States.
, Murie moved to Fairbanks
, Alaska
with her family when she was five years old. She attended Simmons College (Massachusetts)
, then transferred to and became the first woman to be graduated from the Alaska Agricultural College and School of Mines, (now the University of Alaska Fairbanks
), with a degree in business administration. She met Olaus Murie
in Fairbanks, and they married in 1924 in Anvik, Alaska
. The couple spent their honeymoon traveling over the upper Koyukuk River
region by boat and dogsled, conducting caribou research. The couple were the inspiration for John Denver's ballad "A Song For All Lovers."
as co-author. A documentary, Arctic Dance was made about her life.
. The couple recruited U.S. Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas
to help persuade President Dwight Eisenhower to set aside 8000000 acres (32,374.9 km²) as the Arctic National Wildlife Range.
After her husband's death in 1963, Murie began writing and took over much of her husband's conservation work, writing letters and articles, traveling to hearings and making speeches. Murie returned to Alaska to survey potential wilderness areas for the National Park Service and worked on the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act that was signed by President Carter in 1980. That legislation set aside 104000000 acres (420,873.4 km²) of land in Alaska and doubled the size of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
. The Murie Residence
in Moose, Wyoming
was added to the National Register of Historic Places
in 1990, and as part of the Murie Ranch Historic District
was designated a National Historic Landmark
in 2006. It now houses a conservation institute named for Murie and her husband.
in 1983, and the Robert Marshall Conservation Award in 1986. She was made an Honorary Park Ranger by the National Park Service and received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from the University of Alaska.
In 1998 President Clinton awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom
. Just prior to her 100th birthday in 2002, Murie received the J.N. Ding Darling Conservationist of the Year Award, the National Wildlife Federation
's highest honor.
Murie died in Moose, Wyoming, on October 19, 2003, at the age of 101.
Wilderness Act
The Wilderness Act of 1964 was written by Howard Zahniser of The Wilderness Society. It created the legal definition of wilderness in the United States, and protected some 9 million acres of federal land. The result of a long effort to protect federal wilderness, the Wilderness Act was signed...
, and was instrumental in creating the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is a national wildlife refuge in northeastern Alaska, United States. It consists of in the Alaska North Slope region. It is the largest National Wildlife Refuge in the country, slightly larger than the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge...
. She was the recipient of the Audubon Medal, the John Muir Award
Sierra Club John Muir Award
The Sierra Club John Muir Award is awarded annually by the Sierra Club. It is the club's highest award. According to the Sierra Club, "it honors a distinguished record of leadership in national conservation causes, such as continuing John Muir's work of preservation and establishment of parks and...
, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom
Presidential Medal of Freedom
The Presidential Medal of Freedom is an award bestowed by the President of the United States and is—along with thecomparable Congressional Gold Medal bestowed by an act of U.S. Congress—the highest civilian award in the United States...
—the highest civilian honor awarded by the United States.
Early life
Born Margaret Thomas on August 28, 1902 in Seattle, WashingtonSeattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
, Murie moved to Fairbanks
Fairbanks
Fairbanks may refer to:Places in the United States*Fairbanks, Alaska, city*Fairbanks, California, unincorporated community in El Dorado County*Fairbanks, Mendocino County, California, former settlement*Fairbanks, Indiana, unincorporated community...
, Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
with her family when she was five years old. She attended Simmons College (Massachusetts)
Simmons College (Massachusetts)
Simmons College, established in 1899, is a private women's undergraduate college and private co-educational graduate school in Boston, Massachusetts.-History:Simmons was founded in 1899 with a bequest by John Simmons a wealthy clothing manufacturer in Boston...
, then transferred to and became the first woman to be graduated from the Alaska Agricultural College and School of Mines, (now the University of Alaska Fairbanks
University of Alaska Fairbanks
The University of Alaska Fairbanks, located in Fairbanks, Alaska, USA, is the flagship campus of the University of Alaska System, and is abbreviated as Alaska or UAF....
), with a degree in business administration. She met Olaus Murie
Olaus Murie
Olaus Murie , called the "father of modern elk management", was a naturalist, author, and wildlife biologist who did groundbreaking field research on a variety of large northern mammals. He also served as president of The Wilderness Society, The Wildlife Society, and as director of the Izaak Walton...
in Fairbanks, and they married in 1924 in Anvik, Alaska
Anvik, Alaska
Anvik is a city, home to the Deg Hit'an people, in the Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska, United States. The name Anvik, which became the common usage despite multiple names at the time, may have come from early Russian explorers. The native name in the Deg Xinag language is Deloy Ges...
. The couple spent their honeymoon traveling over the upper Koyukuk River
Koyukuk River
The Koyukuk River is a principal tributary of the Yukon River, approximately 500 mi long, in northern Alaska in the United States.It drains an area north of the Yukon on the southern side of the Brooks Range...
region by boat and dogsled, conducting caribou research. The couple were the inspiration for John Denver's ballad "A Song For All Lovers."
Books and articles
Two in the Far North, a memoir published in 1962, chronicles Murie’s early life in Alaska, marriage to Olaus Murie, and research expeditions in Alaska. Murie also wrote Island Between, published in 1977, and Wapiti Wilderness, published in 1966 with her husband Olaus MurieOlaus Murie
Olaus Murie , called the "father of modern elk management", was a naturalist, author, and wildlife biologist who did groundbreaking field research on a variety of large northern mammals. He also served as president of The Wilderness Society, The Wildlife Society, and as director of the Izaak Walton...
as co-author. A documentary, Arctic Dance was made about her life.
Work as naturalist
In 1956, Murie began a campaign with her husband to protect what is now the Arctic National Wildlife RefugeArctic National Wildlife Refuge
The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is a national wildlife refuge in northeastern Alaska, United States. It consists of in the Alaska North Slope region. It is the largest National Wildlife Refuge in the country, slightly larger than the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge...
. The couple recruited U.S. Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas
William O. Douglas
William Orville Douglas was an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court. With a term lasting 36 years and 209 days, he is the longest-serving justice in the history of the Supreme Court...
to help persuade President Dwight Eisenhower to set aside 8000000 acres (32,374.9 km²) as the Arctic National Wildlife Range.
After her husband's death in 1963, Murie began writing and took over much of her husband's conservation work, writing letters and articles, traveling to hearings and making speeches. Murie returned to Alaska to survey potential wilderness areas for the National Park Service and worked on the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act that was signed by President Carter in 1980. That legislation set aside 104000000 acres (420,873.4 km²) of land in Alaska and doubled the size of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is a national wildlife refuge in northeastern Alaska, United States. It consists of in the Alaska North Slope region. It is the largest National Wildlife Refuge in the country, slightly larger than the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge...
. The Murie Residence
Murie Residence
The Murie Residence was the home of naturalists and conservationists Olaus and Mardie Murie. Located near Moose, Wyoming in the southern end of Grand Teton National Park, the house and adjoining studio are now part of the Murie Ranch Historic District, a National Historic Landmark encompassing the...
in Moose, Wyoming
Moose, Wyoming
Moose is an unincorporated community in Teton County, Wyoming, United States, in the Jackson Hole valley. It has a US Post Office, with the zip code of 83012. The town is located within Grand Teton National Park along the banks of the Snake River...
was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1990, and as part of the Murie Ranch Historic District
Murie Ranch Historic District
The Murie Ranch Historic District, also known as the STS Dude Ranch and Stella Woodbury Summer Home is an inholding in Grand Teton National Park near Moose, Wyoming. The district is chiefly significant for its association with the conservationists Olaus Murie, his wife Margaret Murie and scientist...
was designated a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
in 2006. It now houses a conservation institute named for Murie and her husband.
Awards
Murie received the Audubon Medal in 1980, the John Muir AwardSierra Club John Muir Award
The Sierra Club John Muir Award is awarded annually by the Sierra Club. It is the club's highest award. According to the Sierra Club, "it honors a distinguished record of leadership in national conservation causes, such as continuing John Muir's work of preservation and establishment of parks and...
in 1983, and the Robert Marshall Conservation Award in 1986. She was made an Honorary Park Ranger by the National Park Service and received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from the University of Alaska.
In 1998 President Clinton awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom
Presidential Medal of Freedom
The Presidential Medal of Freedom is an award bestowed by the President of the United States and is—along with thecomparable Congressional Gold Medal bestowed by an act of U.S. Congress—the highest civilian award in the United States...
. Just prior to her 100th birthday in 2002, Murie received the J.N. Ding Darling Conservationist of the Year Award, the National Wildlife Federation
National Wildlife Federation
The National Wildlife Federation is the United States' largest private, nonprofit conservation education and advocacy organization, with over four million members and supporters, and 48 state and territorial affiliated organizations...
's highest honor.
Murie died in Moose, Wyoming, on October 19, 2003, at the age of 101.
Sources
- Two in the Far North ISBN 0-88240-489-X
- Waipiti Wilderness ISBN 0-87081-155-X
- Island Between ISBN 0-912006-04-8
External links
- Mardy Murie obituary
- Mardy Murie at Findagrave.com