Aldo Leopold's Birthplace and Childhood Homes in Burlington, Iowa are owned by the Leopold Landscape Alliance (101 & 111 Clay Street).  This re-unites the original Starker-Leopold Compound for education and researcher/writer/artist-in-residence programs.  In addition to using the Leopold family homes for interpretation, the Alliance works on landscape scale conservation in the Iowa/Illinois Mississippi River region. 

LLA Loses A Friend:  Estella Bergere Leopold, Youngest of the Leopold Siblings, Passes at 97.

 LLA is saddened to report the passing of our beloved friend and mentor, Estella Leopold.  Estella served in an honorary capacity on our Board of Directors and was a great sounding board for our goals and activities.  She was especially interested in hearing about the Burlington family history that predated her father and was pleased that we continue her emphasis on youth conservation education at the Leopold Houses.  

Estella was a noted paleobotanist who was instrumental in establishing the Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument.  Then after the Mt. St. Helens eruption, Estella was one of the first to suggest that the mountain should not be reseeded to all fast-growing Douglas Fir, but should be left alone to regenerate naturally and that it would happen more quickly than anyone imagined.  She was right--creating a living laboratory that led to the creation of the Mt. St. Helens National Monument.  

We will greatly miss our friend.  Below is Estella's obituary, written by her good friend Dr. Susan Flader. If you wish to honor Estella, we can't think of a better way than donating to carry on our programs for Leopold education and children's activities at the barn.  We have a $65,000 matching fund for this-a project close to Estella's heart.

Estella Bergere Leopold (1927–2024)

Estella Bergere Leopold, paleoecologist and conservationist, passed away late on February 25th, 2024 at the age of 97. Estella combined a distinguished scientific career with a lifelong commitment to the land ethic philosophy of her father, renowned ecologist and writer Aldo Leopold. Her work led her to leadership roles in the establishment of Florissant Fossil Beds and Mount St. Helens national monuments. Elected in 1974 to the National Academy of Sciences, she was honored in 2010 in Osaka, Japan, with the International Cosmos Prize.

Born January 8, 1927, in Madison, Wisconsin, Estella was the youngest of Estella and Aldo Leopold’s five children. She was only eight when her father bought the derelict farm along the Wisconsin River with its chicken coop shack that he would immortalize in A Sand County Almanac (1949).

When her father asked her one day what she wanted to be when she grew up, she thought awhile before replying, “a bugologist, because everything else is taken.” Her oldest brother, Starker, was a wildlife ecologist; Luna was an engineer and geologist who became a noted hydrologist; Nina studied geography; and Carl became a plant physiologist.

After earning her undergraduate degree at University of Madison - Wisconsin, and a master’s at U.C. Berkeley, she earned her doctorate in botany from Yale in 1955 where she studied with noted ecologists Paul B. Sears, G. Evelyn Hutchinson, and Edward S. Deevey.

Leopold then spent two decades at the U.S.Geological Survey in Denver, studying pollen from around the world to reconstruct changing plant assemblages in response to mountain building, volcanism, and climate change over the past 65 million years. Her research on coral atolls helped confirm Charles Darwin’s hypothesis on how the vegetation evolved.

While in Colorado, Leopold came to appreciate the incredible fossils preserved some 34 million years ago in the Florissant Valley, southwest of Denver, and began leading field trips in the 1960s with ecologist Bettie Willard of Boulder to show people the area. To save the fossil beds, Leopold and her colleagues in 1969 formed Defenders of Florissant, and with the services of charismatic New York attorney Victor Yannacone and future Colorado Governor Richard Lamm, who won one of the nation’s first explicitly environmental lawsuits, they sought a restraining order in federal court, ultimately leading to the establishment of the Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument.

When she was elected in 1974 at age 48 to the National Academy of Sciences, she joined her brothers Starker and Luna there, still the only time in the history of the academy that three siblings have achieved that signal honor. Then in 1976, she became director of the Quaternary Research Center (QRC) at the University of Washington, in Seattle, shifting part of her research agenda to the past two million years (the Quaternary) and to the Puget lowlands and China. Through her research, she helped document what is now known as the Seattle fault zone running through the city.

When Mount St. Helens, on the Gifford Pinchot National Forest in Washington, erupted in 1980, Leopold and her colleagues made a case for a national monument to study the processes by which an ecosystem responds to traumatic disturbance. As a result, the 110,000-acre Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument was established in 1982.

Later in 1982, Estella joined with her siblings to establish the Aldo Leopold Foundation and was particularly devoted to its development and effectiveness, serving for numerous years as president and board chair, and contributing a portion of her Cosmos award to build the Aldo Leopold Legacy Center and extend the foundation's reach.

In her 80s, she began writing for a more general audience. In her first book, Saved in Time (2012), she told the geologic and biologic history of the Florissant Valley and the story of advocacy that ultimately protected it. Her 2016 book Stories from the Leopold Shack provides insights into the backstories of some of the essays in her father's A Sand County Almanac as she recounts the family enterprise restoring the land at their now-iconic shack on the Wisconsin River.

Wanting to share the family's unique heritage with her nieces, nephews, cousins—grands and great grands—and having come to a greater appreciation of the centrality of her mother's role in the family, Estella turned to a book about her mother, Aldo's Wife, Estella Bergere; My Remarkable Mother.

Many family and friends were able to gather with Estella last January to celebrate both the release of her latest book and her 96th birthday. As a result of this recent celebration, no gathering is planned at this time, 

This obituary was adapted by the Aldo Leopold Foundation from a biographical portrait prepared by Dr. Susan Flader, professor emerita of western and environmental history at the University of Missouri-Columbia.

 

LLA Announces the Kenneth J Branch Memorial Fund for College Classes

375904492_318103600770185_846852351583012992_n.jpg375858107_318103927436819_3880025485486974652_n.jpg

LLA is proud to announce the Ken Branch Memorial Fund for College Classes at the Leopold Houses and Aldo's "tramping" sites.  Ken was a great friend and advisor to LLA and he will be sorely missed.  This wonderful memorial fund supports college class studies in the natural sciences, conservation and history in Burlington, Iowa where Leopold was born and raised.  It will help to defray the costs of their stay at the Leopold Compound.

 Rev. Dr. Kenneth J. Branch (PhD in sociology) was a "student" of Aldo Leopold and taught at Midland Univ. in NE and Bethany Lutheran College in KS. While his subjects were sociology and anthropology, Ken always managed to work in Leopold's Land Ethic.  Ken loved his visits to the Leopold Compound with his wife, Linda, a Burlington native. And he enjoyed experiencing all the Leopold tramping sites. Ken initiated the Leopold Exchange Program with Bethany Lutheran biology & English classes.

376245071_318104280770117_1343034836331050140_n.jpg        375051025_318109607436251_3671857188677449805_n.jpg

 College classes have an opportunity for a variety of activities and experiencing some of Aldo's favorite "wild" places in the Burlington area.

 Ken's family and friends are pleased that through his Memorial's financial support, college classes will be able to overnight at the Leopold Compound and "share a moment" with Aldo.  Many thanks to Linda and all who made this memorial possible.

 

 

1-Viking-Miss.-Logo.jpg   2-1st-Viking-@-Bur-(5).jpg

LLA is on Viking Cruise Lines!

Last year was Viking’s first year on the Mississippi with a brand-new boat, and we were pleased to be contacted to provide on-board programs as a part of their enrichment activities.  Viking had discovered Leopold, but most passengers had not.  So, it was an interesting challenge to explain the Land Ethic and the importance of his childhood in a short program, but it went well.

 Some guest responses--from a Texas lawyer:   “I have no background in conservation or nature, but I’m going to get that book because his philosophy sounds so interesting.”

 From a California accountant – “We’ll certainly see the National Parks with new eyes on future visits.  We’ll be looking for the ‘motive force’ and be more appreciative of open dry landscapes.”

 This year LLA is providing 12 programs for Viking.  It makes for a busy summer!

 

The Leopold Landscape Alliance

To honor LeGoldfinch-&-Coreopsis-Seed-.jpgopold's background here, we have created a non-profit organization to help private landowners with "land health" concepts and habitat restoration in the bi-state region of Iowa and Illinois.

While we rely on Aldo's legacy to guide our  projects, we also celebrate the conservation legacy of his siblings, parents, and the Starker grandparents.  Connecting the humanities to nature and aesthetics was a core part of the Starker-Leopold home ground education. 

Our Vision:

To see the Burlington area become a center for the celebration of Leopold’s ideas—connecting working landscapes and wild land recovery.

Our Mission:

1.  To support Aldo Leopold's "Land Ethic" by drawing attention to the Leopold childhood homes and natural areas in IA and IL that contributed to the development of his early years and later philosophy.

2.  To enhance, restore or acquire land for conservation projects within the watersheds of IA and IL along Pools 18 and 19 of the Mississippi River.

 

Our first step was to acquire Aldo Leopold's boyhood homes where he lived when he was first exposed to the natural world and encouraged by his family to explore the nearby wild lands. The Leopold Houses projected uses include facilities for 1) guest residence for Leopold researchers, artists and Leopold family visiting Burlington.  2)  interpreting Leopold family conservation history.  3) collection point for conservationists to gather natural science information for the region.

The Burlington area could become a center, along with Wisconsin and the Southwest, for the celebration of Leopold's philosophy--connecting working landscapes and wild land recovery.

Celebrating Leopold in the Iowa-Illinois bi-state region will have long range benefits for economic development and tourism. Conservationists from around the world are interested in Leopold's writings and seek out places where his experience and values continue to be relevant in today's changing culture and increasing need for environmental awareness.

 

 

Leopold-Hs.-sized.jpg 

The Leopold House Mortgage is retired!! 

Let's say that again--The mortgage on the Leopold Childhood Home (111 Clay Street) is paid in full!  We couldn't have done it without the support of our wonderful volunteers and donors.  Thanks to everyone who has worked so hard to make this project a reality.   What a great way to go into the new year!

Now the winter fund-raising campaign can target special projects funds and paying down the mortgage on the Starker-Leopold House (101 Clay).   More details to come.   

 


Leopold Compound Map - November 2019.jpg

spiral-maple.jpgLeopold-Hs-(4).jpg

The Leopold Compound

Our thanks to all our generous donors who made the property purchases a reality, and to previous homeowners, Carl & Billie Hays and Mary Shier, for being supporters.    Many individuals and foundations have insured that the 'Leopold Park' neighborhood where Aldo grew up will continue to tell the story of the Starker-Leopold family's conservation legacy and interpret the roots of Aldo's 'Land Ethic'.

Now we begin the second phase of fund-raising. Our aim is to raise $750,000 toward retiring the mortgage on 101 Clay St. and creating a maintenance fund for the 'Compound', while continuing the development of our active programs such as the Children's Nature Library and Landscape Management Program for private landowners.

To protect the historic environment of Aldo's youth we are focusing on conservation education programs for small groups.  This allows visitors to enjoy a "moment" where Aldo started on his life's journey.   

 Uses for the properties include:                                                                                

1.  An Environmental Studies and Researcher/Writer/Artist-in-Residence Program--studying the natural sciences and the humanities, utilizing Leopold's writings to investigate the relationship between humans and nature in today's society.  The residency program will be open to individuals, colleges, agencies and non-governmental organizations. 

2.  Conservation education and activities for children and their families.

3.  Interpretation of the Starker-Leopold family conservation legacy on the home grounds and in the region where Leopold began to realize the importance of the biotic community to include people. 

4.  A collection center for information and conservation help for private land owners in the region.

The Compound will serve as a hub that can further conservation projects in Leopold's home ground of Iowa and Illinois.   Conservationists from across the country recognize the significance of Leopold's Burlington roots and are enthusiastic about the project.

Leopold is especially relevant to this region because it is our landscape that set him on the path to his "Land Ethic."  The changing culture for todays' children needs the same stabilizing force of nature that kept Aldo grounded during the rapid cultural change at the turn of the last century.

Surprises in nature and discovering the feeling of freedom in the outdoors leads to a renewal of the human spirit.  Throughout Aldo's career he drew strength from memories of his childhood tramps and continued to seek out new adventures, using these reflections to stay invigorated.

The Historic Leopold Houses fund-raising project is not so much about the past, as it is understanding the sources of Aldo's success.  Leopold's life can help guide us and our children to a better and more balanced future.  The Starker-Leopold home compound provides an important opportunity for more detailed interpretation of Aldo's "Ethics and Esthetics" approach to humans as a part of the biotic communities.

The Starker-Leopold values evident at the family compound give conservationists and environmental historians a direct connection with the beginnings of the new conservation era Leopold helped develop in the early 20th century. Buying the Leopold boyhood homes is the first step toward larger landscape scale conservation projects.

 

 

 Aldo Leopold, Burlington's Native Son

Aldo Leopold, world renowned conservationist was born and raised in Burlington, Iowa where he developed a love of the outdoors.  He is widely known as the author of A Sand County Almanac (1949).  This collection of observations and essays has become a conservation classic and is still in print with over three million copies sold.  Leopold is most famous for his expression of the idea he called a "Land Ethic." 

Much of the bCarl-&-Aldo-smaill.jpgasis for his concern about wild places and human values grew from childhood discoveries in the Burlington area--the bluffs, rocky ravines, islands, bottomlands on both sides of the Mississippi and the sand prairie-black jack oak savannah of Illinois.   Leopold's extraordinary family grounded him in the humanities and connected these arts to nature.  For a discussion on how Leopold's early sources of family and wild places stimulated his imagination, contact the Alliance for a program on Leopold' s Burlington years.  (Visit the Contact Us page.)

We hope the Burlington Leopold story will add another layer to your study of conservation.  Perhaps knowing more about Leopold's childhood will open new doors of understanding and help explain the need for nature in our lives.

Aldo and Father Carl at Crystal Lake

For more information on Leopold's career visit our friends at the Aldo Leopold Foundation in Baraboo, WI or check out the Leopold documentary at  www.GreenFireMovie.com.

                                   

"The Land Ethic was the end result of a long process of experience and reflection.  In many ways it was the culmination of his life journey."   -- Curt Meine, Green Fire

  

Our 2020 spring conference, Leopold & Habitat Restoration, was postponed due to Covid-19.     We will reschedule when the time is right.