The volunteers at the Cradle of Forestry are given a book about the founder of the first school of Forestry in America and it happens to be an autobiography. The following is a precis of the book with footnotes which I wrote as time allowed:
Carl Alwin Schenck, PhD
Founder, Biltmore Forest School
Carl Alwin Schenck, “unquestionably one of the most individualistic, distinctive and colorful personalities that has thus far appeared on the leadership scene of American Forestry,”[1] was born in Darmstadt, Germany[2] on March 25,1868,[3] “the sickliest of five boys.”[4] During his adolescence, Schenck chose a career in forestry and his family encouraged it, thinking it would improve his lung condition.[5]
At age 18, he was graduated from the Darmstadt Institute of Technology. In the spring of 1887, he began attending forestry school at the University of Tübingen,[6] but a near drowning incident cut that short. His next move in 1888 was forestry school at the University of Giessen, where one of his physics teachers was Wilhelm Konrad Roentgen, discoverer of the X-ray.[7] He also studied law at Giessen and “barely” passed the state exam.[8] Early in 1895, at age 26, Schenck obtained his Ph.D. degree from the University of Giessen.[9]
Not long thereafter, while vacationing with his uncle on the French Riviera, Schenck received a cable from George W. Vanderbilt, reading, “Are you willing to come to America and to take charge of my forestry interests in western North Carolina?”[10]
Schenck arrived in New York on April 5, 1895[11] and took a train to the Bilmore.[12] In due time he met Mr. Vanderbilt[13] at dinner in his temporary residence while Biltmore House was under construction and “not for a moment was forestry discussed.”[14] Such discussion was saved for the business meeting at 10 a.m. the next day.[15]
“Vanderbilt was most kind,” Schenck wrote. “My annual salary was to be $2,500. I would be provided with two saddle horses and their feed. I would have the fine old country place theretofore occupied by Baron d’Allinge. I would be allowed a leave of absence for three months in 1896 and thereafter two months every second year in order that I might complete my military duties as a lieutenant in the German army.”[16]
With George Vanderbilt’s permission, the Biltmore Forest School, the first such in America, was opened in the fall of 1898.[17] There were daily lectures from 9:30 to 11:30, followed by trips to the field in the afternoon.[18]
Dr. Schenck wrote: “When the school was founded, I voluntarily promised Vanderbilt that, since my salary was paid for by him, I would turn over to him half of any surplus receipts that I might obtain from the school or any other work done by me outside the estate. The latter work contemplated expert advice in forestry, expert services at courts of law, or services as an agent of forestry with the federal Division of Forestry...”[19
When he left Biltmore at age 41, Dr. Schenk summarized his accomplishments during his 14-year employment:
· “established the first school of forestry in America.
· “established in Biltmore Forest the first private forestry in America.
· “protected the 100,000 acres of Pisgah Forest and grew it in value.
· “proved that forestry and lumbering are inseperable.
· “wrote a number of books on forestry, including textbooks.[20]
· “secured for North Carolina laws favorable to forestry.”[21]
Dr. Schenk took the Biltmore Forest School with him to Darmstadt where he immediately obtained an assistant professor position at Darmstadt Tech.[22] He continued to operate the Biltmore Forest School until the fall of 1913 when Dr. Schenck returned to the German army to serve on the eastern front.[23]
In 14 years, 300 of Dr. Schenck’s students completed the course work of the Biltmore Forest School and more than half went into forestry work. “His contribution to the fledgling profession of forestry was undeniable,” wrote Steven Anderson, president of the Forest History Society.[24]
After WWI he continued traveling the USA and Europe until he was forced to return home again in 1939 with the onslaught of WWII. He resumed his work and travels in the 1940's and was appointed by the U.S. military government as chief forester of the new American state of Hessen. He died on May 17 1955 at age 87. He is regarded as one of the foremost pioneers of forestry in the USA and Europe.[25]
The information for this biosketch was excerpted mainly from Dr. Schenck’s autobiography, entitled “The Cradle of Forestry in America” (1998:Forest History Society, Durham NC).
FOOTNOTES
[1] p. vii, Joseph Illick, SUNY @ Syracuse
[2] p. 2
[3] p. 3, & UNC @ Asheville, Schenck Award Bio
[4] p. 2
[5] p. 3
[6] p. 2
[7] p. 3
[8] p. 4
[9] p. 16
[10] p. 17
[11] p.18
[12] p. 23
[13] p.31
[14] p.32
[15] p.33
[16] p.33
[17] p. 77
[18] p. 78
[19] p. 78
[20] p. 175
[21] p. 176, selected Schenck bibliogrpahy is on p. 211.
[22] p. 178
[23] p. v
[24] p. ii
[25] UNC @ Asheville, Schenck Award Bio
Carl Alwin Schenck, PhD
Founder, Biltmore Forest School
Carl Alwin Schenck, “unquestionably one of the most individualistic, distinctive and colorful personalities that has thus far appeared on the leadership scene of American Forestry,”[1] was born in Darmstadt, Germany[2] on March 25,1868,[3] “the sickliest of five boys.”[4] During his adolescence, Schenck chose a career in forestry and his family encouraged it, thinking it would improve his lung condition.[5]
At age 18, he was graduated from the Darmstadt Institute of Technology. In the spring of 1887, he began attending forestry school at the University of Tübingen,[6] but a near drowning incident cut that short. His next move in 1888 was forestry school at the University of Giessen, where one of his physics teachers was Wilhelm Konrad Roentgen, discoverer of the X-ray.[7] He also studied law at Giessen and “barely” passed the state exam.[8] Early in 1895, at age 26, Schenck obtained his Ph.D. degree from the University of Giessen.[9]
Not long thereafter, while vacationing with his uncle on the French Riviera, Schenck received a cable from George W. Vanderbilt, reading, “Are you willing to come to America and to take charge of my forestry interests in western North Carolina?”[10]
Schenck arrived in New York on April 5, 1895[11] and took a train to the Bilmore.[12] In due time he met Mr. Vanderbilt[13] at dinner in his temporary residence while Biltmore House was under construction and “not for a moment was forestry discussed.”[14] Such discussion was saved for the business meeting at 10 a.m. the next day.[15]
“Vanderbilt was most kind,” Schenck wrote. “My annual salary was to be $2,500. I would be provided with two saddle horses and their feed. I would have the fine old country place theretofore occupied by Baron d’Allinge. I would be allowed a leave of absence for three months in 1896 and thereafter two months every second year in order that I might complete my military duties as a lieutenant in the German army.”[16]
With George Vanderbilt’s permission, the Biltmore Forest School, the first such in America, was opened in the fall of 1898.[17] There were daily lectures from 9:30 to 11:30, followed by trips to the field in the afternoon.[18]
Dr. Schenck wrote: “When the school was founded, I voluntarily promised Vanderbilt that, since my salary was paid for by him, I would turn over to him half of any surplus receipts that I might obtain from the school or any other work done by me outside the estate. The latter work contemplated expert advice in forestry, expert services at courts of law, or services as an agent of forestry with the federal Division of Forestry...”[19
When he left Biltmore at age 41, Dr. Schenk summarized his accomplishments during his 14-year employment:
· “established the first school of forestry in America.
· “established in Biltmore Forest the first private forestry in America.
· “protected the 100,000 acres of Pisgah Forest and grew it in value.
· “proved that forestry and lumbering are inseperable.
· “wrote a number of books on forestry, including textbooks.[20]
· “secured for North Carolina laws favorable to forestry.”[21]
Dr. Schenk took the Biltmore Forest School with him to Darmstadt where he immediately obtained an assistant professor position at Darmstadt Tech.[22] He continued to operate the Biltmore Forest School until the fall of 1913 when Dr. Schenck returned to the German army to serve on the eastern front.[23]
In 14 years, 300 of Dr. Schenck’s students completed the course work of the Biltmore Forest School and more than half went into forestry work. “His contribution to the fledgling profession of forestry was undeniable,” wrote Steven Anderson, president of the Forest History Society.[24]
After WWI he continued traveling the USA and Europe until he was forced to return home again in 1939 with the onslaught of WWII. He resumed his work and travels in the 1940's and was appointed by the U.S. military government as chief forester of the new American state of Hessen. He died on May 17 1955 at age 87. He is regarded as one of the foremost pioneers of forestry in the USA and Europe.[25]
The information for this biosketch was excerpted mainly from Dr. Schenck’s autobiography, entitled “The Cradle of Forestry in America” (1998:Forest History Society, Durham NC).
FOOTNOTES
[1] p. vii, Joseph Illick, SUNY @ Syracuse
[2] p. 2
[3] p. 3, & UNC @ Asheville, Schenck Award Bio
[4] p. 2
[5] p. 3
[6] p. 2
[7] p. 3
[8] p. 4
[9] p. 16
[10] p. 17
[11] p.18
[12] p. 23
[13] p.31
[14] p.32
[15] p.33
[16] p.33
[17] p. 77
[18] p. 78
[19] p. 78
[20] p. 175
[21] p. 176, selected Schenck bibliogrpahy is on p. 211.
[22] p. 178
[23] p. v
[24] p. ii
[25] UNC @ Asheville, Schenck Award Bio
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