Allen Dieterich-Ward, director of The Graduate School at Shippensburg University, professor of history and accomplished environmental historian, has released a new book, “Cradle of Conservation: An Environmental History of Pennsylvania.” This publication examines the state’s relationship with its natural resources, highlighting its impact from the Industrial Revolution to sustainability and climate change debates.
“Pennsylvania’s environmental history is not just about the past, it’s a blueprint for understanding how communities can adapt to ecological and economic challenges,” Dieterich-Ward said. “The state has been at the center of some of the most significant environmental battles in American history, shaping policies and public attitudes.”
His book examines each era within Pennsylvania’s environmental history and the different challenges that each region of the state has faced and continues to cope with today. The publication discusses Pennsylvania’s natural resources, explaining how they were once seen as limitless, which led Pennsylvania to become a major industrial state. From coal and oil to timber and iron, the extraction of these resources powered the state’s economy and fueled the nation, although this also led to environmental concerns. Dieterich-Ward connects these historical trends to present-day issues, such as balancing economic development with the dire need for sustainability practices.
The narrative also highlights Pennsylvania’s contributions to the modern conservation movement. The state was one of the first in the nation to prioritize protecting natural spaces for public use. Dieterich-Ward examines the creation of state parks, the establishment of wildlife protections and the influence of organizations such as the Pennsylvania Forestry Association.
“Pennsylvania was an incubator for some of the most important ideas in conservation,” Dieterich-Ward said. “Many of the strategies and policies that emerged here set a precedent for environmental action across the country.”
Reflecting on years of in-depth research, Dieterich-Ward offers a glimpse into how communities have had to navigate the tension between industrial progress and environmental preservation. He emphasizes the resilience and adaptability of Pennsylvanians who have been faced with these challenges, and how Native Americans, such as the Haudenosaunee tribe of the Susquehanna Valley helped to shape environmental conservation and the hardships that they faced.
Exploring how Pennsylvania’s environmental history intersects with broader social and economic issues, including labor rights and community development, Ward argues that it is crucial to understand these challenges and how environmental policies affect people’s everyday lives.
“Environmental history is never just about the environment,” he said. “It’s about people, communities, and the choices they make in the face of complex challenges.”
He highlighted important figures in Pennsylvania’s environmental history, such as Gifford Pinchot, Ralph Brock and Mira Lloyd Dock. Pinchot, often referred to as “the father of American conservation”, was the first chief of the U.S. Forest Service and a two-time governor of Pennsylvania. Brock was the first African American trained forester, who helped launch Pennsylvania’s forestry movement, throughout his career faced significant racial discrimination. Dock, the first woman to hold state office in Pennsylvania, led the City Beautiful movement in Harrisburg, creating Riverfront Park and improving landscapes within the city. She eventually became the first woman ever to be appointed to a forestry commission.
The publication addresses how Pennsylvania’s environmental history is interconnected with its “working landscapes”. Every single tree in our state forests was cut down at some time or another, oftentimes multiple times,” said Ward.
The state’s forests and parks, including Caledonia and Pine Grove Furnace, were once sites of iron production, where trees were used for charcoal. These histories reveal industrial and natural landscapes shaped by agriculture, industry, and public policy.
“Cradle of Conservation: An Environmental History of Pennsylvania,” encompasses a variety of topics concerning the history and future of preserving the state’s natural spaces. One overarching message that Dieterich-Ward hopes readers take away from his book, is that there is no better time than now to become an active member of the community and advocate for the protection of natural resources and spaces.
“By looking at the choices people made in the past, we can better understand how to tackle today’s environmental challenges,” Dieterich-Ward said. “This isn’t just a history book, it’s a call to action for anyone interested in building a sustainable future.”
This is just a small look into the many compelling topics explored in Ward’s environmental history series. To read more about Pennsylvania’s environmental history, Cradle of Conservation is available at the Pennsylvania Parks and Forest Foundation, Also, check out Dieterich-Ward’s other publications, such as “Beyond the Rust: Metropolitan Pittsburgh and the Fate of Industrial America.”
