Pittsburgh, PA

“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.” -Rachel Carson

As a quick reminder, instead of highlighting the events going on around the city for Women’s History month, I’ve decided to feature the bios of local women I admire all this week. First up on the list is Rachel Carson, a woman I have admired since I learned of her in elementary school. She was born in Springdale, which is a town very close to where I grew up, so she’s sort of a local celebrity despite a lot of people misunderstanding her work or not knowing who she is, which is sad.

Rachel Carson was born May 27, 1907 in Springdale, PA in a simple farmhouse. As a child, she was very curious about nature and was even published in a children’s magazine at age 10. She went on to pursue her studies in writing and later, biology at the Pennsylvania College for Women, which would later turn into Chatham College and eventually Chatham University. During a summer fellowship she was to visit the ocean for the first time, which would result in many things, namely her decision to become a marine biologist. At the end of her undegraduate studies, she was awarded a scholarship by John Hopkins University to finish her education, which was a major achievement for a woman during this era.

After completing her education, Carson began her career working for the U.S. Bureau of Fisheries in Maryland, where she wrote radio segments and articles to local newspapers urging them to regulate “the forces of destruction” and other problems she encountered working for the Bureau. After 15 years of working for them, she became chief editor of all publications published by the Bureau.

She continued to write poetry and articles on her own; her most famous piece of work being Silent Spring, a book which is thought to be the catalyst for the environmental movement. In her book she outlined the dangers of chemical pesticides and other environmental issues. Her work encouraged the passing of certain legislation, which is still being used today.

Rachel Carson died April 14, 1964 in her home in Silver Spring, MD. She posthumously received the Presidential Medal Freedom, the highest civilian award a person can receive from the nation. You can learn how to visit the Rachel Carson Homestead by going to their website here.

For more information on Rachel Carson check out the following books and websites:

The Life and Legacy of Rachel Carson

Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge

Women in History: Rachel Carson

Silent Spring by Rachel Carson

The Edge of the Sea by Rachel Carson

Lost Woods: The Discovered Writing of Rachel Carson by Rachel Carson and Linda Lear

Above picture courtesy of Lear/Carson Collection, Connecticut College, found here. All biography information was taken from the above mentioned websites.

Please read yesterday’s post for more information on this series. If anyone would like to recommend any famous Pittsburgh women, please let me know!

Pittsburgh, Women’s History Month, Rachel Carson, environmentalism