Finding Aid for George Fell Papers, 1924-2005 | University of Illinois Archives

Title: George Fell Papers, 1924-2005

ID: 26/20/134

Primary Creator: Fell, George B. (1916-1994)

Extent: 70.1 cubic feet

Arrangement: By functional group.

Date Acquired: 01/13/2006

Subjects: Birds, Botany, Conservation, Endangered Species, Environmental Issues, Environmental Policy, Resource Conservation and Development Areas, Wildlife Research

Languages: English

Papers of George Fell (1916-1994), B.S. 1938, include biographical items, correspondence, publications, manuscripts, meeting minutes, memoranda, reports, and photographs relating to his student days (1924-1940); the Civilian Public Service (1941-45); the Soil Conservation Service (1948-49); the Ecological Society of America (1932-50); the Ecologists Union (1941-50); The Nature Conservancy (1947-93); The Nature Conservancy-Illinois Chapter (1949-85); the Natural Land Institute (1958-93); the Prairie Chicken Foundation of Illinois (1959-71); Citizens Committee for Nature Conservation (1960-82); Illinois Nature Preserves Commission (1961-92); the Illinois Endangered Species Report (1971-85); Natural Areas Association (1978-94). Significant correspondents include R. E. Coker, Paul Bruce Dowling, William Drake, Richard Goodwin, Robert Griggs, Ada Hayden, Paul Herbert, C. Juday, S. Charles Kendeigh, Richard Pough, Robert Schery, Victor Shelford, A. O. Weese, and Alvin Whitney. The collection also includes the papers (1945-59) of Egbert Fell, a diary (1959) of Olive Fell, the papers (1934-94) of Barbara Fell and reference files concerning other ecological associations, government agencies, and state/national parks.

Brief Timeline:

September 27, 1916- George Fell born in Elgin, Illinois to Olive Elizabeth and Egbert W. Fell.

1938- Received B.S. in botany from University of Illinois.

1940- Received M.S. in wildlife management from University of Michigan.

1940-41- Taught science at West High School, Rockford, Illinois.

1941-45- Assigned to Civilian Public Service.

1946-48- Worked as lab technician, Rockford Public Health Department.

1948- Marries Barbara Garst. 1948-49- Soil conservationist, U.S. Soil Conservation Service, Pekin, Illinois.

1949- Elected vice president of Ecologists Union.

1950- Sets up office in Washington. Ecologists Union changes name to The Nature Conservancy.

1951- The Nature Conservancy formally incorporated.

1951-53- Secretary, The Nature Conservancy.

1953-58- Executive Director, The Nature Conservancy.

1958- Returns to Rockford, Illinois, establishes Natural Land Institute.

1959- Treasurer, Prairie Chicken Foundation.

1960-62- Secretary, Illinois Chapter of The Nature Conservancy.

1961-69- Chairman, Citizens Committee for Nature Preservation.

1961-63- Co-authors and helps obtain passage of Illinois Conservation District Act and of the bill forming Illinois Nature Preserves Commission.

1964-69- Secretary, Illinois Nature Preserves Commission.

1969-82- Executive Secretary, Illinois Nature Preserves Commission.

1975-78- Natural Land Institute undertakes inventory of natural areas of Illinois.

1977-78- Natural Land Institute compiles Illinoisâ?? first endangered species list.

1978-90- Secretary and Executive Financial Officer, Natural Areas Association.

1994- Death.

Birds
Botany
Conservation
Endangered Species
Environmental Issues
Environmental Policy
Resource Conservation and Development Areas
Wildlife Research

Repository: University of Illinois Archives

Access Restrictions: None. Collection is open to the public.

Other Note: 67 pages.

URL: https://files.archon.library.illinois.edu/uasfa/2620134.pdf

PDF finding aid for George Fell Papers (26/20/134)