Best Wishes for 1919 by Ernest Thompson Seton
Several years ago, I mentioned five categories of major life accomplishments of Ernest Thompson Seton. His consciousness raising about the consciousness of animals would have been an extraordinary achievement even had there been no others. His additional contributions: to wildlife conservation, the environmental movement and biological sciences, Scouting and Woodcraft, wildlife art, and literature (as a best-selling author) rank him among the most successful creators and cultural influencers of his time.
Born in 1860, in South Shields, England, he was one of eleven children—ten of whom survived to adulthood, a major deed for that time.
Survivor, Environmental Edition
One might imagine that the Seton resume would make him one of the best-known historical figures of our time. Seton fans will know this is not the case. Restoring him to his rightful place is the mission of this web site. A convergence of changing tastes in art, writing, and politics (and certain choices on Seton’s part) contributed to his fading reputation.
Almost all contemporary writers who reference the beginnings of the modern environmental movement mention the same limited roster of names, leaving out not only Seton, but many others, equally important. (John Burroughs and the awful William Temple Hornaday ring any historical bells for you?) No one is exempt from being edited out. Even the wildly important John Muir, has been borked off the stage in the same of identity politics.
Nonetheless, Happy Birthday
Based on his writing, Seton might grant us his blessing, suggesting that we make an effort to overcome our differences, to reunite those on the political left and political right, and thus united, celebrate nature in all its beauty, recognize its teachings, working all of us together, towards making a better world for all the peoples with their many cultures and languages, whether they be human, animal, plant, or denizens of the microscopic world.
(All image rights to Seton artwork reserved by the Academy for the Love of Learning.)