After the Grizzly: A Century of Endangered Species in California and Beyond

In 1911 Monarch, “the last of the California grizzlies,” died in San Francisco after 22 years of captivity in Golden Gate Park. Within a year, conservationists launched the first campaign to protect California’s native wildlife. California has since become the site of some of the country’s most infamous battles over the protection of endangered species and their habitats. This talk will trace the turbulent political history of endangered species in California from the Progressive Era to the present. As we will see, debates about endangered species are also debates about who should have access to and control over lands and natural resources.
Peter Alagona is an environmental historian and historian of science with a joint appointment in the Department of History and Environmental Studies Program. His research focuses on the histories of land use, natural resource management, environmental politics, and ecological science in the North American West and beyond. Peter received his doctorate from UCLA in 2006 and worked as an Environmental Fellow at Harvard University from 2006 to 2008, and as a Visiting Assistant Professor at Stanford University from 2008 to 2009. Peter arrived at UCSB in September, and will be teaching his first courses in the winter of 2010.

The cost of the buffet luncheon is $20 (members) and $23 (non-members).

Attendees must make reservations by Nov. 30 by returning the bottom part of the flyer or phoning Sheila Lodge at the UCSB History Associates message center. The number is (805) 617-0998.

hm 11/1/09; 11/2