A Book Review of Darrin Lunde's The Naturalist Theodore Roosevelt

The Growth of
Theodore Roosevelt and Natural History

Understanding
Conservation and Preservation

Aaron Lipe, M.S.

Michael J. Bradley, Ph.D.

Red Dirt LLC

The Naturalist Theodore Roosevelt, A
Lifetime of Exploring, and the Triumph of American Natural History (The
Naturalist) by Darrin Lunde is about the history of naturalists told through
the life of Theodore Roosevelt.  The
Naturalist reflects on the contributions of naturalists as it pertains to the
understanding of the natural world through the study and collection of
specimens.  The Smithsonian and the
American Museum of Natural History have their roots in the collection of mounts
and study skins provided by numerous naturalists.  Historically, naturalists believed that
understanding of biological diversity comes through the observation and
collection, the shooting and trapping of numerous specimens.  Declining numbers, and declining diversity, of
species caused by the urbanization of rural areas fueled the need for naturalists.  Throughout Roosevelt’s life, the guiding
principles of naturalists evolved but the main tasks of naturalists were
detailed observation, hunting, and preservation of skins and mounts.  To fulfill this role, naturalists needed to
collect as many specimens of each animal as possible while taking meticulous
notes about behavior and appearance. 
Roosevelt’s passion for the natural world was spurred through popular
books from his childhood, and by the physical and emotional rewards of
exploring remote areas.  Being a naturalist
was not a lucrative business for most; but the excitement of exploration, the
thrill of hunting, and the want to expand the understanding of the natural
world lead to an enticing profession.  The Naturalist provides insight to the growth
of Natural History and the creation of conservation and preservation ideas through
the experiences of Theodore Roosevelt.

            The Naturalist provides readers with
the sequential growth of a sickly childhood Roosevelt who later turns courageous
outdoorsman naturalist, and the growth of naturalism from a new way to
interpret the natural world to a scientific craze of the early 1900s.  The Naturalist is an easy to read story that,
on the surface, tells the history of Roosevelt’s life from childhood to post
Presidency.  Theodore Roosevelt was a
child that suffered from severe asthma, and the effects of this condition
shaped his entire future.  Roosevelt's childhood
life revolved around reading books in his father’s library, trips to the
country to get fresh air and exercise, and the pursuit of self-perfection.  At the age of ten, Roosevelt happened upon a
dead seal on display in town.  The
ability to touch and examine the dead seal captured Roosevelt’s imagination,
and the experience brought to life the books from his father’s library (Lunde,
2016, p. 14, para. 5).  At the age of twelve,
Roosevelt’s father talked with him about the need to push one’s body, and this
conversation encouraged Roosevelt to change from weak to strong (Lunde, 2016,
p. 37, para. 2).  From that point onward,
Roosevelt’s life would be spent testing his strength in the wilderness, chasing
the pursuit of knowledge about creatures, and trying to prove self-worth to his
father.  Lunde presents Theodore’s growth
in strength, and in naturalism, as a seamless history while spanning almost
every major life event that Theodore experienced.  Almost as thorough as the telling of
Roosevelt’s life, is Lunde’s ability to cover the establishment of
naturalism.  The Naturalist provides
examples of naturalism growing from a small group of “naturalists” wanting to
gain knowledge about animals and animal diversity, to the establishment of museums
and displays with a focus on preservation for public viewing, to a science that
focused on species identification and the preservation of species/species
knowledge for future generations.         

The Naturalist is a book about the history
of Roosevelt, the history of naturalists, and communicates Roosevelt’s key
beliefs on conservation and preservation. 
Roosevelt's beliefs towards conservations can be summed up in the
objectives he created for the Boone and Crocket Club,

“1) to promote
manly sport with the rifle. 2) to promote travel and exploration in                  the wild and unknown or but
partially known portions of the country. 3) to work for the preservation of the
large game of this country, and, so far as possible, to further legislation for
the purpose, and to assist in enforcing the existing laws. 4) to promote
inquiry into and to record observations on the habits and natural history of
the various wild animals. 5) to bring about among the members the interchange
of opinions and ideas on hunting, travel, and exploration, on the various kinds
of hunting-rifles, on the haunts of game, animals, etc (Lunde, 2016, p. 139, para.
1).

Roosevelt’s
ideas of conservation were as much driven by the enjoyment received from
hunting, as it was driven by his understanding of the natural world.  Roosevelt understood the natural life cycle,
as Lunde describes it, “the giving and taking of life” (2016, p. 255, para. 3).  The natural world is in constant flux between
prey and predators, and people play an active role in the survival or depletion
of species.  Convinced of the impacts caused
by hunting without morals, Roosevelt fought for and believed in the “Faire
Chase” laws (Lunde, 2016, p. 167, para. 2). 
The hunter should be ethical and purposeful in deed.  Lastly, Lunde uses The Naturalist as way to
promote Roosevelt’s belief in personal action in natural history.  Lunde states that Roosevelt believed, “too
few naturalists get out in the field, and too few hunters described the things
that they saw” (2016, p. 142, para. 3).  The
key to understanding or appreciating the natural world involves study and
experience.  If a person is not active in
the study of nature, or is not active in the physical examination of nature, the
abilities of that person to be a proper naturalist and/or conservationist must
be questioned. Without true naturalists, the preservation of species and
species knowledge is uncertain.           

The Naturalist provides examples of how
the American landscape and conservation efforts were shaped by the actions of naturalists.  Museums still employ naturalists, and the
duties of a museum naturalist still revolve around recording and collecting
samples.  However, society has reinvented
the role of a naturalist and the act of hunting and collecting specimens are no
longer acknowledged.  Misconceptions
about naturalists, fueled by fewer people having direct contact with nature,
has created a belief that viewing the natural world is the same as
understanding the natural world.  Lunde
addresses the modern view about naturalists when he says, “today, we are so
conditioned not to disturb nature that the mere thought of actually collecting
a specimen seems taboo” (2016, p. 254, para 4). 
Despite society’s changing ideas on specimen collection, the physical
study of specimens is still necessary for understanding and preserving modern
species.  Roosevelt felt so strongly
about science-based naturalism that he wrote, “We abhor deliberate and reckless
untruth in this study of natural history…we feel that a grave wrong is
committed by all who…encourage such untruth” (Lunde, 2016, p. 176, para. 2).  Science-based study of natural history is
important to a truthful understanding of nature.  With the absence of understanding, comes the
increased risk of ineffective and improper conservation measures.  With Lunde’s retelling of Roosevelt’s life, the
reader becomes aware of two necessary actions needed to understand the natural
world: 1. society needs access to truthful and scientific information regarding
natural history, 2) naturalists and conservationists need hands-on experience
with nature.  Today, society’s access to
information has increased to unheard of levels, however, access to physical
interactions with nature are on a decline. 
In order to promote a Roosevelt style understanding of natural history, professionals
in the outdoor recreation field must find ways to increase user/visitor
interactions with nature. 

At its core, The Naturalist highlights the
importance of personal connection between natural resources and the ideologies
that govern them.  Roosevelt believed
that hands on experience with animals through hunting led to better
understanding of the natural world and built stronger beliefs in
preservation.  Roosevelt also believed
that a true understanding of the natural world involved an understanding gained
through observation, intimate knowledge, and physical contact.  As natural areas diminish, and the urban
lifestyle dominates the American landscape, the general public has less opportunities
to fully experience nature in the ways that Roosevelt had.  This unmet connection to the natural world,
creates a gap between knowledge and preservation methods.  Natural history museums, nature preserves, and
zoological attractions help fill this void of personal connection, however, the
need for modern outdoorsmen and outdoorswomen cannot be replaced.  Hands on experience and personal interaction with
the natural world are necessary for a society that values and understands
conservation.  Without these connections
to the natural world, modern conservation movements are likely to change to
unnatural and unsustainable ideologies.  This
means that outdoor educators and recreation professionals must find ways to
increase visitor interaction beyond viewing and studying.  By creating nature programs that reflect
Roosevelt's appreciation for scientific study, close observations, and physical
contact; visitors will have increased understanding and connection to the
resources they visit.  In this process of
creating a visitor base that has a greater understanding of the natural world,
parks and wildlands will have a more educated and active base to support
protection.  By applying the beliefs and
knowledge of historical naturalists to modern conservation goals, professionals
can better form programs that serve and protect future resources. 

            

References

Lunde,
Darrin. (2016). The naturalist Theodore
Roosevelt, a lifetime of exploration, and the             triumph
of American natural history. NY: Broadway Books

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