Project Chronicles Roots of Modern Environmentalist Movement
by Chris Davis Cina
Elizabeth "Betsy" Pugh, Scenic Hudson board member, and Frances "Franny" Reese, chair emeritus, are working with Marist College archivist John Ansley on an ambitious effort to catalogue and preserve the thoughts, ideas, actions and images of early advocates who saved Storm King Mountain and founded Scenic Hudson.
The Scenic Hudson History Project chronicles the 17-year battle that changed the course of environmental history by establishing a citizens right to legal standing in an environmental dispute. The Scenic Hudson Decision, as it is known in law books, is credited with launching the modern environmental movement.
"In the very beginning it was just a group of friends with no title or grand vision," said Mrs. Pugh. "They thought they would win or lose the struggle to save Storm King, but they never expected more than that."
Collection Housed at Marist
The project got a boost when Mr. Ansley offered to sort, index and cross-reference the documentation as well as house the collection at Marist's James A. Cannavino Library in the Town of Poughkeepsie in Dutchess County.
Mrs. Reese, one of the original advocates for saving Storm King Mountain, said this initiative has been on her mind for years and that she recently sent a truckload of memorabilia to Marist. She and Mrs. Pugh have been contacting individuals whose early participation was essential to the Scenic Hudson Decision, requesting correspondence and other materials. They also are making an effort to record oral histories from early supporters who are interested in telling their stories.
"This information is so very valuable," said Mrs. Reese. "This is 'the' environmental case, even internationally, and all its pieces are important to study. It shows what people who are motivated can do individually and collectively."
Mr. Ansley, rapidly becoming an expert on Scenic Hudson history and the environmental movement, said this subject has always interested him and that he finds the work fascinating. With a grant from the New York State Documentary Heritage Program, he is preparing a companion Web site. It is slated to launch later this year.
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| TIP: If you have valuable documents to contribute, please contact John Ansley at (845) 575-5217 or e-mail john.ansley@marist.edu. |
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| Scenic Hudson board member Betsy Pugh, pictured left, looks over archive materials with Chair Emeritus Franny Reese. |
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