from the editor

THIS ISSUE BEGINS the tithe year of the partnership of the American Society for Environmental History and the Forest History Society in publishing Environmental History. by dint of any standard, the journal has been a succes from the start. As I wrote in my first editor's note in January 2002 the members of the one and the other societies owe many thanks to the journal's inaugural editor, Hal Rothman.

I decided to mark the tenth-year milestone through publishing a special section about the futurity of environmental history. The section has an introduction, for a like reason you'll have to turn to page 30 for details. I faith that you will want to turn back to this section again and again!

The lead article in this issue is through Donald Worster, who was honored by the agency of the ASEH last year for lifetime scholarly achievement. The article draw nears from Worster's biography-in-progress of John Muir. Worster also spoke upon this topic as the 3004 Lynn W Day Distinguished Lecturer in Forest and Conservation History-the lectureship is sponsored by means of the Forest History Society, in collaboration with the Nicholas gymnasium of the Environment and the Department of History at Duke University. I am thrilled to be able to give this discourse a bigger audience.

Though Muir is the subdue of countless books and articles, Worster's work will change your view of Muir's career. Worster tenders wonderful new insight into the political lower parts of Muir's passion for nature. on the contrary I suspect that most readers will be struck especially by means of Worster's analysis of the differences between the young Muir and the of advanced age To a greater extent than scholars have acknowledged, Worster argues, Muir's "feelings for nature narrowed and became more conservative and more compromised above time." The implications of that narrowing advance far beyond a reassessment of single man's life.

Nancy Langston's essay upon teaching a course in world forest history also is marvellous The course allowed Langston to mirror on the strengths and weaknesses of forest history. on the other hand Langston's essay does not simply analyze the works she taught. She believes that history should help create a better subsequent time so her essay ultimately is a reflection upon what would make forest history more useful to tribe concerned about the fate of the world's forests.

Tom Dunlap's "Gallery" essay considers the early history of bird guides. Because guides now are thus familiar, few people have considered by what mode their form shapes our perception of bird life. by the agency of exploring the similarities and differences among six guide works published between 1889 and 1906 Dunlap makes clear that their form was not given: Each author had to fix upon how to present birds upon the printed page.

I am not positive why the circus poster upon the cover is so striking. on the contrary the poster reminded me of a film by dint of Errol Morris, "Fast, Cheap and on the outside of Control," which is individual of the most compelling documentaries I've seen Focusing upon a wild animal trainer, a topiary gardener, a designer of mole-rat exhibits for museums, and a robot designer, the Morris film raises abysmal questions about the human press on to control the environment. As the broadside and film both suggest, that drive is complex.

WITH THIS ISSUE, the journal's editorial transition also begins. Mark Cioc now is editor-elect. In that capacity, Mark takes above the responsibility for deciding what to do with fresh manuscript submissions. Though readers will not diocese Mark's work until next January, Mark already is beginning to recruit fresh manuscripts for the journal. If you have an idea about a potential article, you should contact Mark at cioc@ucsc.edu. You also might gaze for Mark at the ASEH meeting in Houston in March.

I still am responsible for the remaining issues in 2005 I don't promise any fireworks. on the contrary I am excited about the articles we will publish in the nearest issues, and I hope you will be too. Of course, I continue to welcome any make notess from readers. My e-mail address is axr26@psu.edu.

ADAM ROME

Copyright Environmental History Jan 2005

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