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About the History Committee

The History Committee

A composite with past presidents and the written text, esa history.
(formerly ESA’s Historical Records Committee)

Established in 1944, The Historical Records Committee (HRC) was originally charged with encouraging members to conserve documents and photos pertinent to the history of the Ecological Society of America and ecology, and with making such records available to members, historians, biographers, and the public through its website and other communications. In 2025, HRC changed its name to the History Committee, and compiled the following updated mission statement, which better expresses the Committee’s role.  Read more about the history of HRC. 

Mission of the History Committee:

The ESA History Committee of the Ecological Society of America (ESA) is dedicated to preserving and cataloging documents, photos, and artifacts that reflect the history of ESA and the development of the field of ecology in the United States. Our mission is to make these historical records accessible to ESA members, researchers, historians, and the public through our website and other communication channels. We aim to foster awareness among ESA members about the importance of understanding the rich history of ecology, its development over time, and the critical role the ESA and its members have played in shaping the field.

Highlights:

  • In 1990, committee members developed a symposium and display for the 75th anniversary of the Society.
  • Committee member Robert Peet and vice president Robert K. Colwell created ESA’s first web site, which included a section on History.
  • 2011-2014, the committee prepared a total of nine history-related sessions and promoted history at its booth at the annual meetings. Several of our posters are online. 
  • The committee took an active role at the Centennial meeting in Baltimore, Maryland, August 9-14, 2015, and continued to produce sessions in the following years. 

This website is intended to be the public face of the Committee and to provide ESA members and others direct access to the historical records and information available therein, as well as information on current projects and activities of the Committee.

Please use this form to contact us.