E.M. Griffith

Compiled by Emily Stanislawski, UWSP, 2022

Collection Summary

  1. M. Griffith was an early pioneer of conservation in Wisconsin and is most known for serving as the state’s first Chief Forester from 1905-1915.

Edward Merriam Griffith was born in 1872 in Brooklyn, New York. He started his studies at Yale in 1895, as an engineering student but in his senior year he went to Germany to pursue forestry; at the time there were no schools to study forestry in the United States. He returned to the U.S. after two years of study and in 1897 worked on the Biltmore Estate in North Carolina, under Dr. Carl Schenck. Dr. Schenck who was one of the first prominent foresters in the U.S. and Griffith gained much working under him.

In 1898, Griffith was hired by Gifford Pinchot, who was the Chief of the Division of Forestry in the Department of Agriculture. Under Pinchot, Griffith had many different assignments including in the Black Hills (SD), Hawaii, as well as outside of the U.S. in the Philippines, Japan, India, Austria, and Germany.

In 1903, Wisconsin created it first comprehensive forestry law. This law created the Department of State Forestry under the Board of State Forest Commissioners. The law prohibited the selling of state land (with some exceptions), and these lands became the state forest reserve. The law also allowed for the appointment of a State Forester. Griffith was appointed the first state forester on February 8, 1904. Building upon the 1903 forestry law, another law passed in 1905, which adjusted the responsibilities of the chief forester and increased the annual budget. As State Forester, Griffith created many different programs on a range of issues, including forest fire prevention, and expanding public reserve land. E.M. Griffith was responsible for the creation of the forestry headquarters and nursery at Trout Lake.

In 1911, Griffith recommended a tax increase, but it was not passed by the state legislature, and he ended up with less funds than he had requested. This marked a turning point in increasing opposition to Griffith’s efforts. Griffith also faced opposition from the public and business people over the expansion of forest reserves. Griffith advocated for more lands for reserves and faced especially strong pushback in Northern Wisconsin.

One local logging history article characterizes the success of those who opposed him say that “lumber businessmen and legislators from northern Wisconsin succeeded in shutting down all forestry programs other than fire prevention within the state.”[1] Griffith’s concerns about the way of forestry being unsustainable in WI were ultimately correct as lumber declined in Wisconsin in the early 1900s. Some of the later scholarship characterizes him as ahead of his time and progressive. He may have been correct, but portions of the public were not ready for his ideas.

These tensions culminated in a claim that the State Board of forestry’s land acquisition policies were not constitutional. This question ended up in the State Supreme Court and the Court ruled, on February 12, 1915, that due to a procedural error, the Forestry Boards’ actions were technically unconstitutional. This was a devastating blow for state forestry which reduced its budget and caused it to lose lands from the reserve. This was disappointment to Griffith and in 1915 he resigned. This was the end of Griffith’s career in Forestry and in Wisconsin.

In 1916, Griffith married Alice Dunne, in Connecticut. They had a son, Robert, who was born in 1921. Griffith died in 1939, at the age of 67.

In 1984, Griffith was inducted in the Forest History Hall of Fame. A plaque of him is located on the UWSP campus in the Trainer Natural Resource Building, along with all of the other inductees into the Forestry Hall of Fame. He was inducted in 1998 into the Wisconsin Conservation Hall of Fame.

The resources found here were compiled from the UWSP Archives collections from the Forest History Association of Wisconsin (Col. 104), and the Wisconsin Hall of Fame (Col. 381). Additional sources were found in newspaper and books found in and outside of the UWSP Archives, as well as online resources.

*Items that are available as digital file in the E. M. Griffith digital folder at UWSP Archives, all mentioned newspapers are located in the digital file

 

Griffith’s Life, Career & Legacy

E.M. Griffith and the Early Story of Wisconsin Forestry (1903-1915) By F. G. Wilson published by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources in Madison in 1982. This book can be found in the FHAW book collection (FHAW SD 144. W8 W53 1982) as well as in Box 37 (Col. 104). It may also be found in public libraries and is also available digitally from the FHAW. It was published in 1982 by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources in Madison. The author, Fred Wilson worked as a forester with Griffith. This book gives a biography of Griffith, and information on the programs he implemented. It discusses the programs that were successful and the challenges he faced. For any research on Griffith’s forestry work or the history of forestry in Wisconsin in the early twentieth century, this would be a great place to start. https://www.foresthistoryassociationwi.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Griffith-and-Wilson-Wi-Forestry.pdf

Biography from the Wisconsin Society of American Foresters https://www.wisaf.org/wisconsin-forestry-hall-of-fame/1984-e-m-griffith/

Additional Information & List of inductees to the WI Forestry Hall of Fame https://www.wisaf.org/wisconsin-forestry-hall-of-fame/

Biography from Wisconsin Conservation Hall of Fame https://wchf.org/edward-merriam-griffith/

“E.M. Griffith Legislative Citation” Certificate from state legislature on Griffith’s 1998 induction into the Wisconsin Conservation Hall of Fame https://wchf.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Griffith-legislative-citation.pdf

Biography pdf from WCHF website “E.M. Griffith Biography” (This biography is the same as the one found in the induction material folder) https://wchf.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/GriffithBio.pdf

*Griffith Forestry Hall of Fame Induction Materials- These materials are found in the UWSP Archives in the Wisconsin Hall of Fame Collection (381), in Box 3, “Griffith, Edward., 1984 Inductee.” This folder contains materials related to E.M. Griffith’s 1984 induction into the Forestry Hall Fame. There is a photo of him that was used to create his plaque, as well as biographies of his life.

Interview with Mildred Castle, 1954- This is an interview that was conducted in 1954, with Mildred Castle who was E.M. Griffith’s secretary. The recording and transcript are available from the Wisconsin Historical Society. The most mentions of Griffith are found in the first 30 minutes of this hour-long interview. https://content.wisconsinhistory.org/digital/collection/p15932coll11/id/143/rec/2

Interview with Mildred Castle, 1961- This is a second interview conducted with Mildred Castle who worked in Griffith’s office. She describes working for him and his projects. The recording and transcript are available from the Wisconsin Historical Society. https://content.wisconsinhistory.org/digital/collection/p15932coll11/id/122/rec/1

*“Wilson, Frederick G. Oral History Interview, 1974,” The transcript of this interview is found in FHAW (Col. 104) Box 8, folder #9. An interview was conducted in 1972, when Wilson was 87. F. G. Wilson wrote the above book on Griffith and in this interview describes his own career and talks significantly about Griffith. Griffith was mostly heavily mentioned in the first half of the interview. The first in-depth discussion is found on pages 7-10 and 14-15. The opposition Griffith faced, especially from Rhinelander, is highlighted and how the issue went to the State Supreme Court (17). Wilson provides insight into complicated court case and public opinion on conservation (17-19). Griffith and his influences are found throughout this interview with Wilson

*February 3, 1904,  Wisconsin State Journal, “Forestry Expert of Tour State” WSJ Feb 3, 1904 https://access.newspaperarchive.com/us/wisconsin/madison/madison-wisconsin-state-journal/1904/02-03/

 

Reports by E.M. Griffith

Note: As Chief Forrester Griffith published his first report in 1906 and his fourth and final one in 1913.

These four reports give great information into the programs and changes that took place under Griffith. A common theme throughout is the value Griffith places on reserves and his concerns about the long-term sustainability of forestry in WI. The beginning of the book lists the forestry board and the rangers. The final few pages have the state forestry laws. They are interesting, but very niche in their focus. All four are located in the UWSP FHAW book collection (FHAW SD12.W63) and the 3rd and 4th reports are digitized.

First Annual Report of the State Forester of Wisconsin, 1906, Democratic Printing Co., Madison WI, 1906. (FHAW SD12.W63 1906)

Second Annual Report of the State Forester of Wisconsin, For 1907 and 1908, Democratic Printing Co., Madison WI, 1908. (FHAW SD12.W63 1907-1908)

Report of the State Forester of Wisconsin, for 1909 and 1910, (third report) Democratic Printing Co., Madison WI, 1910 (FHAW SD12.W63 1909-10). There is a digital copy found from the Wisconsin conservation Hall of Fame website http://ppolinks.com/mwhistory/1909-10%20Report_of_the_State_Forester.pdf

Report of the State Forester of Wisconsin, for 1911 and 1912, (fourth report) Democratic Printing Co., Madison WI, 1913 (FHAW SD12.W63 1911-12). There is a digital copy found from the Wisconsin conservation Hall of Fame website http://ppolinks.com/mwhistory/1911-12%20Report_of_the_State_Forester.pdf

 

Forestry History (with a focus on Griffith)

One Hundred Years of Wisconsin Forestry, 1904-2004, from Trails Custom Publishing in Black Earth, WI.  This book is found in the FHAW books collection in the UWSP archives (SD144.W8 O64 2004), as well as in the UWSP library. It can also be found in many public libraries. This book was published in 2004 to celebrate 100 years of forestry. It provides a detailed explanation of forest history beginning in the late 1800s and defines the first era of history from 1904-1915, as the “Griffith Years” (Pg. 23-37). There is information on the appointment of Griffith and the policies he implemented. Griffith helped create the forestry headquarters at Trout Lake, and the Star Lake tree plantation. Later in his career, Griffith faced increasing political pushback for support of forestry programs. In 1911, Griffith’s requested tax amount was not met, and he was left underfunded by the state legislature. Griffith was also passionate about fire protection. In 1915, Wisconsin was the first state to use airplanes for fire spotting. Griffith also increased the size of the State Forest Reserve. Griffith faced pushback from those with economic interests in farming, railroad and other fields. Griffith was attacked by some Northern Wisconsin Newspapers. Questions arose about the constitutionality of the State Board of Forestry’s land acquisition policies and the issue landed itself in the Wisconsin Supreme Court. In 1915, the Court ruled the policies in violation, and it was huge setback for their efforts. Griffith left Wisconsin, and no longer worked as a forester. This book is full of great information describing the policies, programs and people involved. The information is detailed, there are footnotes for more information, as well as an index. This book cites many of the sources found on this aid, like the books by Carstensen and Kouba. It is a very beautiful book that is well worth checking out.

Farms of Forests: Evolution of a State Land Policy for Northern Wisconsin, 1850-1932, by Vernon Carstensen published by University of Wisconsin College of Agriculture in Madison, July 1958. There are several copies in the UWSP archives; it can be found in FHAW Book Collection (FHAW SD 144.W8 C3, there is a both the original 1958 version and the second edition). It is also located in FHAW (104) box 41, folder 2.  This book is a dive into the tension over land policy in Wisconsin. As the title suggests it discusses the debate between whether land should be “farms or forests.” This book covers a greater scope than just when Griffith was working in Wisconsin, but it is a deeper explanation into some of the opposition he faced. The commission that allowed for the creation of Griffith’s position is first mentioned on page 33 and the most mentions of Griffith can be found from there until page 90 (pages in 1958 edition, in 2nd edition pages 27-73).

Wisconsin’s Amazing Woods: Then and Now, by Theodore F. Kouba, in 1973 by Wisconsin House, LTD., in Madison. This book can be found in FHAW Books collection (SD144.W8 K6), as well as in the UWSP library. While less common, it can also be found in some public libraries. Kouba’s book provides information of the history of forestry in Wisconsin beginning with the first white settlers and ending by mention the action of the 1970s with the environmental movement.  Griffith’s appointment as State Forestry is mentioned on page 123 and several times over the next few pages. The chapter titled “Griffith – Born Twenty Years Too Soon,” begins on page 129 until 141; this chapter mentions the enthusiasm Griffith had about forestry and how he was ahead of his time. Griffith faced critiques on whether Northern Wisconsin cutover land should be sold to small farmers or turned into recreational destination (131) and his disagreement with the State Supreme Court (133). The second half of the chapter goes into programs that happened after Griffith left Wisconsin. The chapter concludes by saying his ideas were then “considered radical by an uniformed public” while today would be seen as “progressive” (141).

*“History of State Forestry in Wisconsin,” This document in located in the UWSP Archives FHAW collection (104) in Box 37, Folder 13: “Publication – “History of State Forestry in Wisconsin,” Original Manuscript, E.M. Griffith, 1917” This cover of this document attributes it to E.M. Griffith in 1917, however the final page says 1955. This is likely the correct date and it seem unlikely that Griffith was the true author since this was so many years after E.M. Griffith had left his forestry career in WI. Despite the discrepancies it is an interesting document that covers Wisconsin’s history of forestry, starting in 1634. E.M. Griffith is first mentioned on page 9 and his work is highlighted on several pages until his resignation is mentioned on page 14.  Note: This publication is the same one located in Box 7, Folder 18 titled “History of State Forestry in Wisconsin, Manuscript, Wisconsin Conservation Dept., 1955”

 

*“Conservations First Century in Wisconsin: Landmark Dates and People, by Walter Scott, 1967” This document in located in the UWSP Archives FHAW collection (104) in Box 7, Folder 4. This paper was written in 1967 for the Conservation Centennial Symposium by Walter E. Scott. This article has very specific information that may not be readily available on the internet and gives a run though of the entirety of conservation history from the late 1800s until 1967. Griffith being hired is mentioned on the bottom of pg. 6 and he is mentioned several times throughout. There is also a timeline of key events at the end and the list of both deceased and retired conservationist found on the last pages.

 

*The Wisconsin Logging Book: 1839-1939, by Malcolm Rosholt, published in 1980 by Rosholt House Publishing. This book contains a single mention of Griffith in a nice two-page section titled “The greening of Wisconsin” (pg. 282-283). This article provides a brief but informative descriptions of Griffith’s work and how tree planting efforts continued in the 1940s-1960s.

 

Reforestation: Trout Lake & Star Lake

FHAW Proceeding, 9th Annual Meeting in 1984: “Reclaiming Pine Land on a Northern Wisconsin Industrial Forrest” by M. K Benson & Wm. Hansel (pages 35-37 in paper copy; 341-343 in WHS scan). This article is on the timber inventory of the state, commercial tree planting and growing softwoods. There is a brief section “What’s been done to Date” that mentioned Griffith creating the nursery at Trout Lake. https://content.wisconsinhistory.org/digital/collection/tp/id/34248/rec/3

FHAW Proceeding, 17th Annual Meeting in 1992: “Early Wisconsin Forestry: The Trout Lake Nursery and Star Lake Plantation” by Don Bur (page 61-63 on paper; 390-293 in WHS scan) This article is focused on the efforts of Griffith. It describes the creation of the Trout Lake and Star Lake Nurseries. It also mentioned Griffith using plans for fire detection. https://content.wisconsinhistory.org/digital/collection/tp/id/34690/rec/1

FHAW Proceeding, 25th Annual Meeting in 2000: “Forest History Tour” from intro section (7-9; 241-243). There is a brief mention on page 8/242 of Griffith’s work with the trout lake nursery. https://content.wisconsinhistory.org/digital/collection/tp/id/33554/rec/2

More information on Trout Lake can be found in both the 3rd and 4th Report of the State Forester. Additional information of on Star Lake can be found in the 4th Report of the State Forester.

There are also pictures and information on both in One Hundred Years of Wisconsin Forestry, 1904-2004, mainly in chapter 2 but see index for full list of mentions.

Trout Lake, today, has a State Historical Marker titled “Forest Restoration: The beginning” https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Image/IM108079

September 13, 1913, Janesville Daily Gazette, “Have Young Trees to Stock Reserves” 1,000,000+ trees are being planted in cutover land and on areas that are reserves. It also mentions how the areas are divided into regions and each has a ranger in charge of it. It also mentions the Trout Lake Nursery. https://access.newspaperarchive.com/us/wisconsin/janesville/janesville-daily-gazette/1913/09-13/page-4/

“Mid-Wisconsin Outdoors Article about Griffith by George Rogers” Article on the Griffith mentioning the Griffith State Nursery and the opposition he faced with his innovative ideas from 1991. https://wchf.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Edward-Griffith-article-rogers.pdf

Photos of Trout Lake can be found on the WHS society website. If looking for a complete list searching for “Trout Lake” or “ranger station” or similar keywords https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records?&facets=CATEGORIES%3a%22Wisconsin+Historical+Images%22

“State Forest Reserve,” 1907 https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Image/IM150526

“Boat House: Wisconsin State Forest Reserve, Tout Lake,” 1911 https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Image/IM107599

“Main Bldg: Wisconsin State Forest Reserve, Trout Lake,” 1912 https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Image/IM107595

 

Fire Prevention (Including by air)

“Aviation, Past and Present” from Wisconsin Magazine of History, by T. K Jordan (17-20) There is paragraph on the first airplane used for forest fire patrol being in Wisconsin with pilot, Jake Vilas, and E.M. Griffith on page 18. https://content.wisconsinhistory.org/digital/collection/wmh/id/19788/rec/3

*July 24, 1912, Janesville Daily Gazette, “Dangers from the Fire Obviated by Rains” Foresters used the three lookout towers that they had built, and they spotted no fires but Griffith had concerns about August and September for fires. It also mentions that dozens of people are requesting to use northern land on lakes for small cabin campsites.

*June 26, 1915, La Crosse Tribune, “Wisconsin Appoints Aviator Ranger to Hunt Forest Fires”

“Vilas Flying Certificate” This is a certificate from 1915 given to Griffith from Jack Vilas attesting to the fact that he had flown with Vilas. Available from WHS https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Image/IM10500

Video Presentation from the FHAW YouTube Page “Wisconsin Forest History Conference – Wisconsin’s Fire Towers – 1911 to the Present Day” from Oct 7, 2020, Mentions Griffith a few times in the first 15 minutes. https://youtu.be/Qw0dKdMDvdY

“First Forest Patrol Flight” This is an image from the WHS, of the Historical Marker near Trout Lake commemorating the first ever fire patrol flight. The phot h=was taken after 1950. https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Image/IM107654

 

Forestry Education

15th Annual Meeting in 1990: “A History of Forestry Education at the University of Wisconsin–Madison” by Jeffrey C. Steir and Ronald L. Giese (pages 45-53 in paper copy; 246-254 in WHS scan). This article discusses the creation of forestry education in WI. Griffith gave 16 lectures from 1907-1908. A forest Products Laboratory was created, and Griffith mentioned in in his 4th annual report as State Forester. In his 1911-12 Report he proposed the creation of a forest ranger courses and a few years later that was created. The mentions are not very detailed but do tie Griffith to forestry education in the state. https://content.wisconsinhistory.org/digital/collection/tp/id/34546/rec/1

*March 8, 1906, Waukesha Freeman Newspaper, “What is Forestry” This is a longer piece on Griffith giving a presentation to the at Carroll College. Griffith explained the principles of forestry and the importance of forest reserves. He reiterated that he was not advocating for there to be no farmland but better management of land.

December 3, 1908. Oshkosh Daily Northwester, “Selects State University” The University of WI was selected to be the center of forestry experimental laboratories. The plan yet needed approval from the regents to allocate money for this program. (The next column on this paper also has another brief article on Griffith and fire prevention.)

December 11, 1908, The La Crosse Tribune, “Increase Reserve Urges Griffith” Griffith advocates for additional reserves and argues they will benefit the state. Griffith also mentions that there were no fires this summer and that the board of forestry will need more money in the future as their duties have grown.

*December 20, 1911, Eau Claire Leader, “Forest Reserves on the Increase” Griffith gave an address at Lawrence College. “Reserves increased from 40 to 423,000 acres” in 6 years and Griffith advocated for further expansion

Topic to note: Forest Products Laboratory (FPL)- Griffith was an advocate of creating a Forest Products Laboratory (FPL), with cooperation of the Univ. of WI. More on the FPL can be found on page 29 of the One Hundred Years of Wisconsin Forestry, 1904-2004, book.

Fifty Years of Forestry in the U.S.A from the Society of American Foresters. The original book was published in 1950, but in 1970 there was a reprint of it. A copy of this book is located in the UWSP archives (FHAW SD143. S616), as well as in the UWSP University library. It is also available digitally at the below link. The mentions of Griffith are brief on page 8 Griffith is mentioned as part of the first group of members of the Society of American Foresters. There is a chapter, “Education in Professional Forestry” that begins on page 299. Griffith is mentioned on page 303, with his work at the Biltmore Estate with Dr. Schenck; this was one of the first formal forestry education opportunities in the U.S. This book has other great information on forestry but the only mentions of Griffith are found in these two spots. https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/001959295

 

Public Opinion

Note: Griffith was a strong advocate for reserves and faced the strongest opposition to his efforts in Northern Wisconsin (seen here in the Rhinelander New North). The language used against him is quite negative, while other (more southern) accounts focus on how knowledgeable and hardworking, he is, so the bias it worth noting. Also, Griffith, himself, would have likely disagreed with the characterization that he was trying to “mislead” or “scheme.” There was also nuance to the northern feeling about forestry because the 1911 article “Forest Rangers are Now Active” seems to view the new rangers as a positive, but less than two years later the paper seemed skeptical of Griffith’s plans. The attitudes found in the New North should not be taken as representative of the state and public opinion was mixed on these issues.

There is also information on the public sentiment in Wilson’s book on Griffith in the chapter “the growing opposition (1912-1915)” pages 50-61, including newspaper and correspondence excerpts.

*Dec 30, 1904, “E.M. Griffith in Washington” Wisconsin State Journal, Griffith went to D.C to work on forestry policy. The article makes support for forestry and reserves seem broadly supported by the public.

*July 27, 1911, Rhinelander New North “Forest Rangers are Now Active” This article mentions how there are several rangers listed where they are from, many are from Northern Wisconsin cities like Rhinelander, Eagle River and Crandon. This article seems to view the rangers favorable and has nothing negative to say about Griffith.

*January 30, 1913, Rhinelander New North, “Mr. Griffith on Reforestation: State Forester Tells His Side of Story to Rhinelander People” The author of this piece has an over bias against Griffith and called his presentation “misleading” and accused him of using “smooth statements.” The authors saw Griffith’s plan to create tourism to turn Wisconsin into “one big summer resort for the idle rich.” It is an interesting piece that shows that while Griffith ideas today sound beneficial and practical at the time many in Northern Wisconsin were not in favor.

*March 6, 1913, Rhinelander New North, “Forest County Fall in Line,” A group is fighting against Griffith’s plan of “reforestation evil.” The state forest reserve was looking to add three townships in Hiles and Crandon and the locals were opposed to this and “will do all that they can to check the evil.”

*March 26, 1913, Grand Rapids Tribune, “Against Forest Reserves: Counties in Northern Wisconsin Do Not Like Reforestation.” This article points out how regional limited the opposition to reforestation is saying that those in South and Central Wisconsin support it but those “up north” do not. The article then directly quotes the Burnett Co. Journal that calls Griffith “money mad” and reforestation a “forestry reserve craze”

*April 17, 1913, Rhinelander New North, “Great Victory for Northern Counties,” The state assemble passes Stevens-Whiteside Bill to stop Forestry Department land purchases until 1915, “showing up the falseness of the Griffith policy.” This article presents Griffith as an enemy that they are celebrating that they defeated.

*November 27, 1913, Rhinelander New North, “To Check Scheme of Mr. Griffith: Anti-forestry Men Adopt Resolutions at Meeting in this city” A group gathered to plan and raise funds to stop Griffith’s plans and were going to “arrange to secure public speakers to enlighten the public on the true facts of Mr. Griffith’s scheme to convert these northern counties into one vast forest reserve.” The group, the Inter-County Committee on State Forests, passed several resolutions. They approved of national forests, but not state forests and approved plans to have meetings and members devoted to stopping Griffith’ plans.

*March 2, 1915, Janesville Daily Gazette, “Expects to Resign as State Forester” This is a brief piece but it mentions that Griffith will resign at the end of the legislative session.

*March 5, 1915, Door County Democrat, Untitled section in second column on Griffith & “State Policy on Forestry” that starts in 3rd column. The first section is on how Griffith will be resigning. It speaks of him favorably calling him “sincere” and hardworking. The second piece on changes after the supreme court decision and Griffith leaving.

 

Supreme Court Battle

Note: the best sources for understanding the details of the court case are the description provides by Frederick G. Wilson in *“Wilson, Frederick G. Oral History Interview, 1974” on page 18. More information on this source can be found be found in the first section of sources above. As well as the below  article from the Wisconsin Magazine of History also provides valuable details on the case.

“Two Decades of Wisconsin Forestry” from Wisconsin Magazine of History, by W. A Titus, Volume 30, December 1946, 187- 191. This article gives details on the Supreme Court case and how the decision was later undone in the 1920s. It is only 5 pages and the first few focus on the court case. The author, Titus, was elected to the WI senate in 1921 and wanted to do something about the lack of forestry programs and he introduced a resolution to resolve this. The State Constitution needed to be amended but after two resolutions   https://content.wisconsinhistory.org/digital/collection/wmh/id/15945/rec/300

*April 5, 1913, Wisconsin State Journal, “Supreme Court to decide on Forestry Fight” To push the issue of state forestry appropriations to the state supreme court, the Secretary of State refused to issue documents for refunds. There were doubts of the constitutionality due to a procedural error.

*March 2, 1915, Janesville Daily Gazette, “Expects to Resign as State Forester” This is a brief piece but it mentions that Griffith will resign at the end of the legislative session.

*March 5, 1915, Door County Democrat, Untitled section in second column on Griffith & “State Policy on Forestry” that starts in 3rd column. The first section is on how Griffith will be resigning. It speaks of him favorably calling him “sincere” and hardworking. The second piece on changes after the supreme court decision and Griffith leaving.

 

State Parks

*May 13, 1908, La Crosse Tribune Newspaper, “Millions are Saved in State Lands” A meeting was held in DC by Pres. Roosevelt to discuss public lands. The work done in Wisconsin is mentioned as well as Griffith. A State Park Board was created, and spots were being chosen for parks.

*September 5, 1913, Janesville Daily Gazette, “Extensive Work in Panned on Parks” This article is about land being improved for state parks in Door County and at St. Croix Dells. State parks fell under the state forestry board.

Related: This is a list of sources on tourism in Wisconsin, they may not have mentions of Griffith but are very interesting. Griffith’s policies on planting trees laid the groundwork for the beauty found in state forests and parks: https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/tp-034/

[1] “The Wausau Group: The Businessmen Who Revived Wausau’s Economy” https://wi101.wisc.edu/2018/06/15/wausau/#_ftn2