Roger Tory Peterson
(1908-1996)

America's preeminent naturalist of the 20th century,
"Inventor of the modern field guide"
1971 Audubon Medal
1980 Presidential Medal of Freedom
1987 National Conservation Achievement Award

birthdate: August 28
birthplace: Jamestown , New York

Bio | Quotes | Links | ColorMe Pix | Hero Pix

Roger Tory Peterson's love of nature helped set the stage for the environmental movement. In 1934 his book, Guide to the Birds, was published; it was the first modern field guide and it allowed ordinary people to have the tools to study birds that previously only scientists possessed. Through the years, more than 50 field guides were published as part of the Peterson Field Guide series on topics ranging from insects, to reptiles to rocks and minerals. Roger Peterson's fascination with nature began at an early age, but when his seventh grade teacher enrolled her class in the Junior Audubon Society and regularly brought her class to a nearby woods to study nature, his love for birds "took over" and helped shape the rest of his life. Through his guides, Roger Peterson helped bring a deeper understanding and appreciation of nature into mainstream consciousness, which has inspired countless environmentalists to protect and conserve natural habitats and wildlife.