George Marshall (conservationist)
Encyclopedia
George Marshall was an American economist, political activist, and conservationist. He was an early leader both of The Wilderness Society (United States)
and later the Sierra Club
.
and Florence Lowenstein. He grew up with his sister Ruth, and brothers James and Bob in Manhattan. All four children attended Felix Adler's Ethical Culture School. George Marshall continued his education at Columbia University
, where he earned bachelor's and master's degrees. This was followed with doctoral studies and a PhD in economics from the Brookings Institution
, in 1930. His doctoral dissertation was entitled "The Machinists' Union: A Study in Institutional Development".
under Franklin D. Roosevelt
's New Deal
.
, a leading leftist group that was active early the United States civil rights movement
, providing leadership and funding; in the late 1940s and early 1950s he worked with Paul Robeson
, Dashiell Hammett
and William L. Patterson
on litigation protecting the rights of African-Americans and American communists. Marshall was called before the House Committee on Un-American Activities, where he was cited for Contempt of Congress
for refusing to turn over records from the National Federation for Constitutional Liberties. Convicted, he served three months in a federal prison in 1950.
. He spent his childhood summers at Knollwood
, his father's Great Camp on the shores of Lower Saranac Lake
; with his brother Bob Marshall
he climbed all 46 Adirondack
High Peaks (mountains taller than 4,000 feet), an accomplishment that made him a founding membership in the "46ers
".
After his brother's early death, Marshall became a trustee of the Robert Marshall Wilderness Fund, which supported conservation activities especially of The Wilderness Society
, founded by his brother.
George Marshall made major contributions to The Wilderness Society, and then the Sierra Club
, for more than 50 years. He edited The Wilderness Society's magazine, The Living Wilderness from 1957–61, and served as president of that organization from 1971-72. Marshall served on the board of directors of the Sierra Club from 1959–68, and later as "director, president, and vice chairman".
Another of George Marshall's contributions was to edit his brother, Bob's, notebooks on the Alaskan wilderness, published as Alaska Wilderness: Exploring the Central Brooks Range, now in its third edition.
, NY.
The Wilderness Society (United States)
The Wilderness Society is an American organization that is dedicated to protecting America's wilderness. It was formed in 1935 and currently has over 300,000 members and supporters.-Founding:The society was incorporated on January 21, 1935...
and later the Sierra Club
Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is the oldest, largest, and most influential grassroots environmental organization in the United States. It was founded on May 28, 1892, in San Francisco, California, by the conservationist and preservationist John Muir, who became its first president...
.
Early life and education
Marshall was the son of Louis Marshall, noted constitutional lawyer and co-founder of the American Jewish CommitteeAmerican Jewish Committee
The American Jewish Committee was "founded in 1906 with the aim of rallying all sections of American Jewry to defend the rights of Jews all over the world...
and Florence Lowenstein. He grew up with his sister Ruth, and brothers James and Bob in Manhattan. All four children attended Felix Adler's Ethical Culture School. George Marshall continued his education at Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
, where he earned bachelor's and master's degrees. This was followed with doctoral studies and a PhD in economics from the Brookings Institution
Brookings Institution
The Brookings Institution is a nonprofit public policy organization based in Washington, D.C., in the United States. One of Washington's oldest think tanks, Brookings conducts research and education in the social sciences, primarily in economics, metropolitan policy, governance, foreign policy, and...
, in 1930. His doctoral dissertation was entitled "The Machinists' Union: A Study in Institutional Development".
Career
From 1934-37, Marshall worked as an economist for the consumer division of the National Recovery AdministrationNational Recovery Administration
The National Recovery Administration was the primary New Deal agency established by U.S. president Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1933. The goal was to eliminate "cut-throat competition" by bringing industry, labor and government together to create codes of "fair practices" and set prices...
under Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
's New Deal
New Deal
The New Deal was a series of economic programs implemented in the United States between 1933 and 1936. They were passed by the U.S. Congress during the first term of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The programs were Roosevelt's responses to the Great Depression, and focused on what historians call...
.
Political activist
He served as chairman of the National Federation for Constitutional Liberties and the Civil Rights CongressCivil Rights Congress
The Civil Rights Congress was a civil rights organization formed in 1946 by a merger of the International Labor Defense and the National Federation for Constitutional Liberties. It became known for involvement in civil rights cases such as the Trenton Six and justice for Isaiah Nixon. The CRC...
, a leading leftist group that was active early the United States civil rights movement
Civil rights movement
The civil rights movement was a worldwide political movement for equality before the law occurring between approximately 1950 and 1980. In many situations it took the form of campaigns of civil resistance aimed at achieving change by nonviolent forms of resistance. In some situations it was...
, providing leadership and funding; in the late 1940s and early 1950s he worked with Paul Robeson
Paul Robeson
Paul Leroy Robeson was an American concert singer , recording artist, actor, athlete, scholar who was an advocate for the Civil Rights Movement in the first half of the twentieth century...
, Dashiell Hammett
Dashiell Hammett
Samuel Dashiell Hammett was an American author of hard-boiled detective novels and short stories, and political activist. Among the enduring characters he created are Sam Spade , Nick and Nora Charles , and the Continental Op .In addition to the significant influence his novels and stories had on...
and William L. Patterson
William L. Patterson
William L. Patterson was a leader in the Communist Party USA and head of the International Labor Defense, a group that offered legal representation to communists, trade unionists, and African-Americans in cases involving issues of political or racial persecution...
on litigation protecting the rights of African-Americans and American communists. Marshall was called before the House Committee on Un-American Activities, where he was cited for Contempt of Congress
Contempt of Congress
Contempt of Congress is the act of obstructing the work of the United States Congress or one of its committees. Historically the bribery of a senator or representative was considered contempt of Congress...
for refusing to turn over records from the National Federation for Constitutional Liberties. Convicted, he served three months in a federal prison in 1950.
Conservationist
Marshall had a lifelong dedication to conservationismConservationist
Conservationists are proponents or advocates of conservation. They advocate for the protection of all the species in an ecosystem with a strong focus on the natural environment...
. He spent his childhood summers at Knollwood
Knollwood Club
Knollwood Club is an Adirondack Great Camp on Shingle Bay, Lower Saranac Lake, near the village of Saranac Lake, New York. It was built in 1899–1900 by William L. Coulter, who had previously created a major addition to Alfred G. Vanderbilt's Sagamore Camp...
, his father's Great Camp on the shores of Lower Saranac Lake
Lower Saranac Lake
Lower Saranac Lake is one of three connected lakes, part of the Saranac River, near the village of Saranac Lake in the Adirondacks in northern New York. With Middle Saranac Lake and Upper Saranac Lake, a paddle with only one portage is possible. The Saranac Lake Islands Public Campground provides...
; with his brother Bob Marshall
Bob Marshall (wilderness activist)
Robert "Bob" Marshall was an American forester, writer and wilderness activist. The son of wealthy constitutional lawyer and conservationist Louis Marshall, Bob Marshall developed a love for the outdoors as a young child...
he climbed all 46 Adirondack
Adirondack Mountains
The Adirondack Mountains are a mountain range located in the northeastern part of New York, that runs through Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Hamilton, Herkimer, Lewis, Saint Lawrence, Saratoga, Warren, and Washington counties....
High Peaks (mountains taller than 4,000 feet), an accomplishment that made him a founding membership in the "46ers
Adirondack Forty-Sixers
The Adirondack Forty-Sixers are an organization of hikers who have climbed all forty-six of the traditionally recognized High Peaks of the Adirondack Mountains. They are often referred to just as 46ers.- Origins :...
".
After his brother's early death, Marshall became a trustee of the Robert Marshall Wilderness Fund, which supported conservation activities especially of The Wilderness Society
The Wilderness Society (United States)
The Wilderness Society is an American organization that is dedicated to protecting America's wilderness. It was formed in 1935 and currently has over 300,000 members and supporters.-Founding:The society was incorporated on January 21, 1935...
, founded by his brother.
George Marshall made major contributions to The Wilderness Society, and then the Sierra Club
Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is the oldest, largest, and most influential grassroots environmental organization in the United States. It was founded on May 28, 1892, in San Francisco, California, by the conservationist and preservationist John Muir, who became its first president...
, for more than 50 years. He edited The Wilderness Society's magazine, The Living Wilderness from 1957–61, and served as president of that organization from 1971-72. Marshall served on the board of directors of the Sierra Club from 1959–68, and later as "director, president, and vice chairman".
Another of George Marshall's contributions was to edit his brother, Bob's, notebooks on the Alaskan wilderness, published as Alaska Wilderness: Exploring the Central Brooks Range, now in its third edition.
Later life
Marshall moved to London until late in his life. He returned to New York in 1993, following the death of his wife, Elisabeth Dublin. He died at age 96 on May 15, 2000, in NyackNyack
Nyack may refer to:*Nyack, New York, a village*Nyack College, located in the village*USS Nyack, the name of two U.S. Navy vessels...
, NY.