A Half Century with Trees and their Friends

Early History

Since this is our Golden Anniversary, perhaps we should review briefly our beginning, take a look at our growth and brag some about our accomplishments during the 50-year lifetime of the Conference. I do not mean to infer that my association with the Conference covers the past 50 years. My first meeting was in Cleveland in 1930 and I attended all of the meetings regularly from 1938 through 1966. Since then my attendance has been irregular but my interests have continued to be with you.

Dr. Rush Marshall gave a history of the National Shade Tree Conference up to 1934 which is published in the 10th Proceedings. Norman Armstrong presented a comprehensive history up to 1946 at a meeting in Boston. This is published in the proceedings of the 22nd Conference. And Past President Freeman Parr gave a brief resume of the Conference’s early history, published in the magazine, Weeds, Trees and Turf, August 1968.

Since these early reports are not available to many of our present members, a brief review of what Armstrong calls “The Formative Period” will be given.

The first Shade Tree Conference was a result of conversations held early in 1924 between Mr. F. A. Bartlett, of the Bartlett Tree Expert Company, and the members of the Connecticut Tree Protection Examining Board composed of Mr. W. O. Filley, Dr. W. E. Britton and Dr. G. P. Clinton. Dr. Haven Metcalf, Division Forest Pathology, U.S.D.A., was also consulted. As a result of these conversations, the C.T.P.E. Board sent out invitations to a conference at Stamford, Conn., on August 24 and 25, 1924. Total attendance at this, the first Shade Tree Conference was 33. Six states and the District of Columbia were represented. Sixteen of those who came were tree experts representing five concerns - Bartlett, Davey, Frost, Meader, and Millane; 14 were scientists and the other 3 were not classified.

The two-day program consisted largely of discussions of cavity work and tours to inspect cavity jobs.

Those attending this meeting had no idea of starting an annual affair with a permanent organization. Apparently the commercial tree men of that period were very suspicious of each other and the scientists considered most of the commercial operators to be fakers. Those in attendance, however, did decide to call another meeting the following year.

A second Conference was held at Boston, August 21 and 22, 1925, with Dr. Haven Metcalf as chairman. Forty-two men from seven states and the District of Columbia were present. Ten tree service companies were represented. There was again much discussion of cavities - a paper was given on open cavities. There were talks about tree fertilization, soil renovation, pruning, moving of big trees, white pine blister rust, need of case histories, patents, tree repair work and power spraying. There was a demonstration of climbing trees without spurs or ladders. In the record of the meeting it is stated: “By means of 150 feet of rope, all parts of a tree 60 feet high were reached with great efficiency and safety. While the demonstrator was undoubtedly a born climber, the method might be used to advantage by less skilled men.”

The third Conference was held in Philadelphia August 27 and 28, 1926, with an attendance of 66. The meeting this year presented a rugged program which consisted of one 125mile trip by bus each day with numerous stops to inspect trees. The group returned to Philadelphia at the end of the first day and sat through a long session of papers and discussions. The second day’s bus trip ended at Trenton, N.J., where more papers were given in the evening.

A committee on recommendations suggested that “a committee of five report at the next meeting on the formation of a permanent organization and that the meeting be held in Washington, D.C.”

Regardless of the original intent to keep the Conference small and attendance to be regulated by invitation, the size of the meetings had increased each year. The news would get out and uninvited tree men would “crash” the meeting.

For some reason not recorded, the 1927 meeting was not held. It was believed by some that this was an effort to check the rapid increase in attendance. Others thought that, perhaps, the planners had not recovered from the bus trips and night sessions at Philadelphia the previous year.

The Fourth Conference was held in Washington, D.C., March 22 and 23, 1928. Dr. E. Porter Felt, Director, Bartlett Tree Research Laboratories, Stamford, Connecticut, served as general chairman and Dr. W. O. Filley, Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, as Secretary. The meeting was well attended; 60 were present and a fine program covering many phases of tree care was presented. Oddly enough there was no speech on cavity work.

Articles of Organization

What was most important was the report of the committee on a permanent organization. Articles of Organization and a recommendation for their adoption were proposed and unanimously adopted on March 23, 1928. The following fourteen men representing nine tree service organizations approved the Articles and pledged financial support of the organization represented by them for a Fifth National Shade Tree Conference:

H. S. Clopper, Arborist, Baltimore, Md.

F. A. Bartlett, The F. A. Bartlett Tree Expert Co., Stamford, Conn.

A. W. Dodge, The F. A. Bartlett Tree Expert Co., Boston, Mass.

C. M. Codding, The F. A. Bartlett Tree Expert Co., Mt. Vernon, N.Y.

R. D. Lowden, The F. A. Bartlett Tree Expert Co., Needham, Mass.

H. M. Van Wormer, Arborist, Richmond, Va.

M. W. French, Arborist, Baltimore, Md.

W. H. Underwood, Underwood Bros., Richmond, Va.

O. W. Spicer, F. A. Bartlett Tree Expert Co., Stamford, Conn.

W. O. Hollister, The Davey Tree Expert Co., Kent, Ohio

H. L. Jacobs, The Davey Tree Expert Co., Kent, Ohio

Chas. F. Irish, Chas. F. Irish Co., Cleveland, Ohio

C. C. Lawrence, The F. A. Bartlett Tree Expert Co., Stamford, Conn.

Lewis H. Meader, Jr., Providence, R.I.

The Articles of Organization read in part as follows: “Purpose: To stimulate greater interest in the study of shade trees.

“Organization: The Conference shall be composed of commercial tree experts, plant pathologists, entomologists, horticulturists, foresters and others engaged in scientific or regulatory work who have shown particular interest in shade tree problems. It shall not be the purpose to build up a large organization but to limit by invitation those who may attend all the sessions.

“Officers: No one engaged in commercial work to be eligible for office.

“Finances: The commercial tree companies and individuals principally engaged in commercial tree work shall finance the Conference. Each company or individual engaged in commercial tree work shall deposit with the secretary-treasurer, one month in advance of the Conference, $25.00 for each delegate or representative attending such conference.” *(lt is reported that dues to the 4th Conference were $50 and that most concerns represented voluntarily donated an extra $50 each to pay off a deficit.)

The Fifth Shade Tree Conference was held in Brooklyn, N.Y. in February 1929. Attendance was greater than at any previous meeting and it appeared that a foundation had now been laid on which a structure of a continuing organization could be erected. A fine program was presented and for the first time the printed proceedings of the meeting were published.

Rapid Growth and Expansion

The Sixth Conference held at Cleveland, Ohio, in August 1930, began to take on the character of a national organization. The meetings extended over three days. There were commercial exhibits of arborist’s supplies and equipmerit. Many city foresters and park superintendents attended. The membership, as defined in the Articles of Organization increased to 24 but the attendance was 167. Norman Armstrong wrote, “The uncontrollable interest of arborists in this movement to benefit the profession overcame conservatism and the Conference was open to all.”

The first elm tree found to be infected with the Dutch elm disease in the United States was located in Cleveland a few weeks before the meeting. This was of considerable interest and a special trip was made to the site so that all could view the tree.

The Proceedings of the Sixth Conference covered 134 printed pages and contained 15 formal papers. Some of the subjects concerned insect and disease control problems, oil sprays, spray injury, fertilization of shade trees, Dutch elm disease, tree moving, ethics, desirable varieties of trees and landscape values of trees.

At the business meeting there was discussion of setting up an Associate membership for those not eligible as members, but it was decided this could not be done under the Articles of Organization. Amending the Articles was suggested but was deferred for a later meeting. However, there was a strong feeling that some revisions should be made that would permit growth. The advisability of keeping the organization small and select was being questioned.

Constitution and By-laws

A National Shade Tree Conference Constitution and By-laws were presented and adopted at the eleventh meeting in 1935, providing for the following classes of membership: Active, Associate, Scientific and Commercial. The officers were to be chosen from the Scientific membership. While there were faults with the Constitution, it was a great improvement in that it made further expansion possible and greatly increased the usefulness and benefits of the organization.

In 1941 the Constitution was again revised and the organizational structure provided at that time was essentially the same as that which the Conference operates under today. Only two classes of membership were provided for: Active and Honorary. Active members all pay the same dues. A Board of Governors was established and the operation of the Conference was placed mostly with this Board and the Executive Committee. A number of Standing Committees were specified. Six regional areas within the United States were established and provision was made for the formation of Chapters within the regions.

Later amendments changed the name from the National to the International Shade Tree Conference and provided for Region VII - Canada.

Services and Accomplishments

From a very small beginning 50 years ago with a membership in the thirties, the International Shade Tree Conference has a membership today of over 2500 located in the United States, 7 Canadian Provinces, Australia, Denmark, England, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Puerto Rico and West Germany. We have truly become The International Shade Tree Conference. How and why has this come about? What has this organization done to deserve such growth?

Our constitution states that the purposes of the Conference shall be:

1. To improve the practice of tree preservation.

2. To stimulate a greater interest in the planting and preservation of shade and ornamental trees.

3. To cooperate in the conservation of trees and in the beautification of the countryside.

4. To initiate and foster scientific investigation into the various problems encountered in the practice of tree preservation, and to publish, or sponsor the publication of the results of such investigation.

5. To sponsor an annual meeting devoted to the exchange and preservation of information that will aid in the improvement of the practice of tree preservation.

6. To afford the manufacturers of materials an opportunity to introduce and demonstrate their products to practicing arborists.

No doubt we have been more successful in meeting some of these purposes than others. But the fact is that the Conference has met and continues to meet the purposes for which it was organized, otherwise it would not have made such phenominal growth. A need existed fifty years ago to preserve our shade trees. The same need exists today. The Conference has and is helping meet that need and that is the reason for its great success.

A hurried look through your program will show there is something at this 50th annual convention for those engaged in all branches of arboriculture: commercial, utility, municipal, consulting, manufacturers of tools and equipment, etc., etc. There are field demonstrations of equipment. There is entertainment for the ladies and young folks and good fellowship among people with a common interest - the preservation of shade trees. When you go home you will be glad you attended this Conference. You will take a lot of information with you that you didn’t have when you came. While here you will meet old friends and make new acquaintances. Being at this Conference will give you a lift. You will go away feeling that your job - tree preservation - is more important and more interesting. You will try harder to do your job well. These are some of the things the annual meetings have been doing for its members during the past 50 years.

The Conference has served as a cover for a number of satellite organizations that have taken the information back to local areas. The seven Chapters are such satellites. The Southern, Western and Midwestern Conferences, which preceeded the formation of Chapters, were all strengthened by the mother Conference and in turn were of great help in creating interest in the National Conference.

The American Society of Arborists, an organization of commercial tree service companies, organized in 1932 at the 8th Conference, was short-lived but did play an important role in aiding the national organization to survive the depression of the thirties. Armstrong, in his paper in the 22nd Proceedings, wrote, “This group, partly because it was ahead of its time, did not go far, but just as certain men created the Conference and carried it through the formative period, this group saved the Conference and carried it through the formative period, this group saved the Conference and carried it through the depression. The membership dues of the American Society of Arborists - $25.00 annually for each member - were given to the National Shade Tree Conference and of course each member continued paying an equal amount as a member of the Conference.” (The American Society of Arborists was the forerunner of The National Arborist Association formed in 1938 during the 14th Conference held in St. Louis.)

The simple and true reason for the phenomenal growth of the Conference is that there was and still is a real need for the services it can give. Some of the most important services are: the assembling and distribution of information on shade trees and their care, sponsoring and encouraging research on tree problems, encouraging helpful legislation at state and national levels, and the promotion of good public relations not only for trees but also for those who work to preserve them. The ISTC has been very helpful to the commercial arborist. It has brought to him scientific tree-care information in a form he can understand and use. It has helped him attain an identity - a stature, if you please, among his fellow men, especially in his local community as a professional that he has not always had.

From its very beginning the Shade Tree Conference realized the importance of scientific research to the preservation of shade trees. In 1947 a Research Fund was established in the accounts of the Conference. Profits from the 1947 Convention held in Boston amounting to $1,827 were supplemented from the general funds to make a total of $2,000 and turned over to the Research Fund.

A Memorial Research Committee was formed for the purpose of arranging with colleges and universities for graduate student assistantships. The student’s research was to deal with a shade tree problem. The assistantships were to be set up as money was available in the Research Fund.

In the past 25 years the Conference has cooperated in such projects located at Ohio State University, The University of Maryland, U.S.D.A. Horticultural Crops Research Branch at Beltsville, Duke University, The University of Wisconsin and the University of California. The research of all of these assistantships has been a valuable contribution to our knowledge of shade trees.

The limiting factor in the number of projects and what can be done has been the lack of funds. Money has come from the Conference treasury, from Chapters, individuals, leasors of the Chas. F. Irish Aero-fertil equipment and other sources. However, research today is very, very expensive but continues to be necessary if we are to progress. I am sure that just how to raise the funds for the continuing support of productive research on shade trees is an unsolved problem for our Conference.

The I.S.T.C. is an organization of people. It is the result of 50 years of work by a great many dedicated people who have put foundations under what was only a dream in the beginning.

The People

Who are these people? They are you - the present members as well as the many dedicated members who are no longer with us. To find out just who we are I have tried to classify the present membership as to their specific interest in shade trees and arrived at the following approximate percentages:

14% connected with government - city foresters or city arborists, shade tree commissioners, national, state and local park services;

62% Owners and employees of commercial tree service companies;

8% Employees of institutions, mostly state and federal in research, teaching and extension;

9% Salesmen, suppliers, groundskeepers, consultants, writers, etc.;

2% Others.

That, my friends, is our ISTC, over 2500 of us, all vitally interested in the preservation of shade trees. I believe it is unusual that in addition to being affectionate friends of trees, we practically all make our livelihood by working in one way or another for their preservation.

Leadership

No organization can function long and well without good leadership. It gives me a great deal of pleasure to look down the list of past presidents. I have known personally all past presidents except three: Dr. Britton, Dr. Burgess and Dr. Filley. Our past presidents were all, or are all, very fine men and capable in their fields - plant pathology, entomology, forestry, horticulture, municipal arboriculture, owners or employees of tree service companies, utility arborists, etc.

Although a very interesting book could be written about any one of these men, I could not select one of greater importance than the others with respect to his devotion to the Conference during the year or more that he was president. The very fact that the ISTC survived two world wars, major depressions and other less difficult times during the past 50 years speaks well for its leadership.

Only six men have served the Conference as Secretary-Treasurer. All of these gentlemen served faithfully, however one deserves special honors for long and distinguished service. After one year as Editor, Dr. L. C. Chadwick was elected to the office of Secretary-Treasurer in 1937. After 26 years in that office and some changes in the Constitution, Chad became Executive Director, an office held by him until 1969. He now holds the title of Executive Director Emeritus and, while this is an honorary title, Chad’s interest in the Conference continues. He has served as Executive-Secretary of the Ohio Chapter from its beginning. It is a safe assumption that he will continue in this capacity for many years to come. In Ohio we could not get along without him.

Publications

The ISTC publications have been important, not only in disseminating information, but have helped hold the widely separated parts of the Conference together. The Proceedings of the annual meetings, the Arborists’ News and special ISTC publications are, without doubt, the most complete collection of printed information on shade trees available today. The Proceedings have a total of nearly 10,000 pages.

The Arborists’ News has been published on a monthly basis starting in November 1935. Dr. Richard P. White, who then was plant pathologist at the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station and was serving as Secretary-Treasurer of the NSTC was responsible for initiating the Arborists’ News. This small monthly magazine, which began as a 4-page leaflet, now has published over 2,000 pages.

Special bulletins have been issued from time to time that have been useful to the members and have had wide acceptance by other professional tree and landscape groups and the public. I refer to the following publications:

Arboricultural Code of the National Shade Tree Conference, 15 pages, 1946.

A Standard City Ordinance Regulating the Removal, Planting and Maintenance of Shade Trees in Public Areas and Standard Arboricultural Specifications and Standard Practices, prepared by the Standard Practices Ordinances Committee of the National Shade Tree Conference, 13 pages, 1954.

Transplanting of Trees and Shrubs in Northeastern and North Central United States, 73 pages, prepared and published jointly by the National Shade Tree Conference and the National Arborist Association in 1943 and again in a revised edition in 1956.

Model Arborists Licensing Law, 15 pages, 1963.

Shade Tree Evaluation, Prepared by a joint committee from the ISTC and the NAA in 1957. Revised and republished as a 29-page booklet in 1965.

Tree Booklet Publications Report - ISTC, 24 pages, 1966.

The Editors of the Conference, under the guidance of the Executive Committee, have been responsible for the publication of the Proceedings, Arborists’ News and special bulletins. During the past half century there have been six different editors. It was my privilege to serve the National and later the International Shade Tree Conference from 1938 to 1967, a period of 29 years, in this capacity.

In closing, I am sure that all 2500 of us who today are members of the International Shade Tree Conference are proud to be associated with such a useful organization: an organization that for the past 50 years has played such an important role in the preservation of shade trees in many different countries of the world.