“The Noble Peaks…” C. Hart Merriam, Florence Merriam, and Vernon Bailey at Flagstaff, San Francisco Mountain, and the Grand Canyon

Presented by Roy May. C. Hart Merriam, his sister Florence, and her husband Vernon Bailey composed a formidable family of scientists that deeply influenced ecology, mammology, and ornithology from the late 19^th into the early 20^th centuries. Although Hart and Florence were from upstate New York and Vernon was from Minnesota, their illustrious careers were launched at Flagstaff, on San Francisco Mountain – “the noble peaks,” according to Florence, and the Grand Canyon. This talk reviews their times in the region and its importance for their contributions to natural history.

Presenter bio: Roy May is a theologian, philosopher, and historian who specializes in environmental thought and history.  His academic degrees are from Southern Methodist University (BA in History) and MTh (Theology).  His PhD is a dual-major in the departments of economics and theology granted by the VU University in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.  He lives in Flagstaff, Arizona.