American Forestry Association’s 100th Birthday

In 1873, a Cincinnati physician and well-known horticulturist, Dr. John Aston Warder traveled to Vienna as United States Commissioner to that city’s International Exhibition. When he returned home, Dr. Warder brought with him an unusual seed; one that had long flourished in Europe, but which was an unknown exotic in the United States.

Dr. Warder was determined to plant that seed in this country. To assist him, he called together some of the country’s leading horticulturists, nurserymen, and botanists. They gathered in the Grand Pacific Hotel inChicagoon September 10, 1875, to found The American Forestry Association, and to plant the new seed of forestry in the fertile American soil.

Dr. Warder’s seed was no magic bean. It did not become, overnight, a towering beanstalk into the promised land of forest conservation. But take root it did, and grow it did, until now, a century later no country in the world can rival the U n ited States i n the scope and depth of forest conservation and scientific forestry.

During this past century of growth, as forestry has come into its own in the United States, it has put forth a variety of strong and sturdy branches; a system of national forests and dedicated Federal agency to protect and manage them; a vigorous forestry industry, no longer pursuing a cut-out-and-get-out philosophy, but pledged to maintaining the forests as a never ending source of economic and environmental stability; a system of professional forestry schools staffed by experts in all phases of forest management; state forestry agencies throughout the country; and an ever-increasing group of citizens dedicated to the ideals of Dr. Warder and his associates. Playing a leading role in these developments have been the men and women, now numbering almost 80,000, of The American Forestry Association.

The American Forestry Association will commemorate its first century with a Centennial Meeting and Sixth American Forest Congress at the Statler Hilton Hotel in Washington, D.C., October 5-8, 1975. Following a tradition set by President Theodore Roosevelt, who opened the Second Forest Congress in 1905, and President Dwight Eisenhower, who opened the Fourth Forest Congress in 1953, President Gerald Ford has been invited to open this historic meeting with a major forest policy address on Monday, October 6.

Dr. John Warder and his horticulturist friends would feel right at home at the Congress, for the main order of business will be to develop a comprehensive statement of forest policy to serve as guidelines to AFA’s second century of citizen conservation leadership. Many of the people involved in this effort will be professional foresters, but most will be the type of people who Dr. Warder called together in Chicago to help him plant the seed of forestry; private citizens from all walks of life who value the living heritage of our forests and who are dedicated to the wise and fruitful use of this resource.

Among the special events planned at the Congress are a commemorative tree planting in Farragut Square opposite the site where AFA headquarters stood from 1936 to 1971. Two luncheons featuring cabinet level guests and speakers and a Centennial banquet will also be featured.

In addition, a colorful pageant depicting the first hundred years of AFA will highlight the opening day ceremonies.

We believe that Dr. Warder would be pleased with the plant that has grown from the seed he planted back in 1875. As the good doctor foresaw, AFA has remained the citizen voice for forest conservation. Through publication of its monthly magazine, American Forests, AFA continues to tell the story of forestry and tree care in layman’s terms in articles written for the person who loves trees and forests as a part of his life.

Membership in The American Forestry Association is open to all who believe in these goals of sound forest conservation and use, and all, be they members or not, are invited to attend the AFA Centennial Meeting and Sixth American Forest Congress. For details write to The American Forestry Association, 1319 - 18th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036.