Calendar

Past Activity

Waldo Archives Visit

  • Start date: 02/15/2019

  • Start time: 12:00 AM

  • End date: 02/15/2019

  • End time: 11:59 PM

Description:

Meet at Cafe Roma (825 E 13th Ave) by 1:15 pm to talk about Waldo's life and his legacy. We will walk over to the Archives at 1:45, our appointment is at 2, by 3 pm we should be finished.

This is a hands-on encounter with Judge John B. Waldo's letters, journals, and photographs. This trip is fixed at 6 participants due to space limitations at the archive.

Judge John Breckenridge Waldo is often referred to as Oregon's John Muir or even another Henry David Thoreau. While his impact on conservation was substantial he was not a prolific writer like his contemporaries, also his works were lost for decades.

Waldo spent much of his childhood in the mid-1800s visiting the Cascades where he gained a deep appreciation for the region. Early on he publicly proposed a massive greenspace straddling Oregon's Cascades from California to Washington. Later, he served in the Oregon House of Representatives and as the 13th Chief Justice on Oregon's Supreme Court. For decades, he used his political connections and understanding of the law to help protect Oregon's natural beauty. He passed in 1907. For almost 70 years his notes and journals were thought lost until they were rediscovered. His works now reside in the UO Archives.

Today, Obsidians can enjoy numerous national forests, Crater Lake National Park, and wilderness areas from California to the Columbia Gorge because of his vision.

  • Event Leader: Mark Hougardy

  • Event Leader Phone: 541-206-9532

  • Event Leader Email: hougardy@gmail.com

  • Assistant Leader:

  • Event category: Trips

  • Area Type: Urban

  • Departure Location: See Trip Description

  • Rating: Easy

  • Roundtrip total drive miles:

  • Season: 2019

  • Permits Required:

  • Event Status: Passed

  • Supplies and Equipment Required: Bring a government form of identification (driver license is OK) to access the archive.

  • participant prerequisites:

  • Conditions:

  • Total Distance: 1

  • Member Fees: 1

  • Elevation Gain:

  • Non-Member Fees: 2

  • Committee: Trips

  • Junior member fees: —

Trip Report

Judge John B. Waldo is often associated with John Muir and Henry David Thoreau. While his impact was substantial he is not as well known as other conservationists of the day. In the late 1800’s he proposed a greenspace straddling the crest of Oregon. For decades he traveled extensively documenting the area’s unique topography and natural beauty. He worked hard to pass legislation preventing special interest from monopolizing the area’s resources. Today, numerous national forests, a national park, and wilderness areas between the border with California clear to the Columbia Gorge exist because of his vision. Our visit to the UO Archives was an introduction to his original writings and photographs. We even saw some founding documents for Crater Lake National Park.