Posted February 27, 2024
March is Women’s History Month – a time to commemorate the vital role of women in American history. While there were many influential people in the environmental movement, this March we wanted to acknowledge one woman’s efforts in particular: Rachel Carson.
Rachel Carson (1907-1964) is most known for her book Silent Spring published in 1962, which describes the harmful effects of the chemical DDT on nature and humans. The book was considered controversial and was criticized by agricultural chemical companies, but it eventually led to the banning of DDT and ultimately the recovery of many bird species whose eggs were being impacted by the chemical. When Silent Spring was published, fewer than 500 nesting pairs of bald eagles remained in the continental U.S.; today, thanks to the DDT ban and other conservation efforts, there are approximately 10,000 pairs. The book also influenced many new policies and committees to protect land, natural resources, and the health of humans and animals. Some of these policies and committees even helped to contribute to the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency.
Rachel Carson’s love of nature started as a child with nature walks with her mother. She also started writing at a young age and was published in St. Nicholas Magazine, a monthly children’s magazine, at the age of 11. Rachel continued to read nature articles and to submit her own to St. Nicholas Magazine, further growing her interest in the natural world and expanding her writing skills.
Rachel majored in Biology in college and after college was employed by the Fish and Wildlife Service. Rachel chose to perform most of her research in the living environment instead of the lab. She continued to pursue writing. Prior to publication of Silent Spring, she published three books pertaining to life in the ocean that were praised for their beautiful writing that was understandable to the general audience despite her strong biological and ecological background.
Carson’s career also included time with the Audubon Naturalist Society researching the subject of pesticides prior to publishing Silent Spring. Rachel also worked with The Nature Conservancy and helped to establish the Maine Chapter of The Nature Conservancy due to her strong interest in preserving coastal Maine.
Rachel demonstrates her belief in conservation by writing in the book Silent Spring, “The more clearly we can focus our attention on the wonders and realities of the universe about us, the less taste we shall have for destruction.”
Written by Jill Lemieux, WLT Advisor