In an age where so many elected and appointed office holders have, shall we say, less than a sufficient knowledge of the relevant subjects – or in some cases much of anything else for that matter – necessary for them to do their respective jobs well, it is difficult to imagine a time when not only were such positions held by people who were not merely competent, they were genuine polymaths, well-versed in matters spanning a range so as to make their modern counterparts seem veritable cartoon characters by comparison.
Of such historical figures, Gifford Pinchot stands particularly tall. Not just well educated but genuinely intellectually curious, Pinchot was the founding chief of the U.S. Forest Service and twice governor of Pennsylvania. While he is particularly well known for his work and writings in the areas of conservation, forestry, and land use, he also wrote eloquently about a range of topics that included public health, women’s rights, and eduction.
Edited and annotated by Dr. Char Miller, W. M. Keck Professor of Environmental Analysis at Pomona College, the recently published Gifford Pinchot; Selected Writings
