Environmental Defense Fund Archive Collection 232
Record Group 1: Founders' Papers Sub-group I: Dennis Puleston Papers
Collection Description: Correspondence, memos, meeting minutes, articles, and clippings, 1967-1999. 3.6 linear feet. Donated by the family of Dennis Puleston in 2002. Processed by Meredith Bouchard, 2003. Updated in August 2009.
Biographical Note Scope and Content Note Series Descriptions Box and Container Listing
Biographical Note
Dennis Puleston was born in Leigh-on-Sea, a fishing village in southeast England.
Growing up near the waterfront imbued Dennis with a passion for sailing and nature.
After studying biology and naval architecture at London University, he and a fellow
shipmate set sail around the world. The voyage spanned 6 years and recounted in his
memoir, Blue Water Vagabond, published in 1939.
By 1941, Puleston settled with his wife and family in Brookhaven Long Island. He
spent the war years aiding the design of the DUKW, an amphibious craft used by the
U.S. Army and Marines for transporting supplies. He also took the responsibility of
training of the troops in its operation. In 1948, President Truman awarded Dennis
the Medal of Freedom for his contributions to the war effort. During this time he
was employed by Brookhaven National Laboratory and continued to observe and record
wildlife.
Mr. Puleston began observing the habits of the ospreys at Gardiner’s Island in 1948.
His observations of the decline of the osprey population would be one of the threads
that led to the ultimate creation of Environmental Defense Fund.
In 1966, Puleston and a number of scientists on the Brookhaven Town Natural Resources
Committee testified in a class action suit initiated by Victor Yannacone, Jr. to ban
the use of DDT in Suffolk County, NY. Dennis provided evidence by drawing food chain
charts to illustrate how DDT affected the environment. Although the case was dismissed,
DDT was banned in Suffolk County in 1967, New York in 1970 and nationwide in 1972.
Because of the unique approach to environmental issues, several of key players in
the DDT litigation decided to incorporate as The Environmental Defense Fund in 1967.
Mr. Puleston was appointed the first Chairman of the Board.
After his retirement from Brookhaven National Laboratory, Puleston remained active
in conservation projects and was a member of several committees, was an Honorary Trustee
of Environmental Defense Fund, and continued his interest in studying the natural
environment.
Published works include: Blue Water Vagabond: Six Years Adventure at Sea; published by Doubleday in 1939; A Nature Journal: A Naturalist’s Year on Long Island, illustrated by the author, and published by Norton in 1992.
Sources:
Puleston, Dennis. Blue Water Vagabond (New York: Doubleday, 1939).
Rogers, Marion Lane. Acorn Days (New York: Environmental Defense Fund, 1990) 23-29.
Environmental Defense newsletter. "Dennis Puleston: 1905-2001 He Left the World a
Better Place" September 2001, p. 3.
Lewis, Paul. "Dennis Puleston, 95, Environmental Leader." New York Times, June 16, 2001, Section B, p. 9, Col. 4.
Scope and Content Note
The papers of Dennis Puleston span the years 1967-1999 (bulk 1970s). The collection
is composed of correspondence, memos, meeting minutes, articles, and clippings. The
papers are professional in nature and cover EDF’s Executive Committee and Board of
Trustees meetings and discussions, some of which document EDF’s evolution and policy
making. Puleston’s interests outside of the realm of EDF are included, such as the
marine environment of Long Island, ospreys, and the conservation efforts to save Long
Island’s natural resources. The papers are arranged into three series: EDF Documents; Long Island Water Management;
and General Subject files.
Series Descriptions
Series 1: Environmental Defense Fund Documents 1966-1999 [2.24 linear ft] Arrangement: Sub-divided into correspondence & memoranda; meeting minutes & subject
files
The EDF Document series consists of correspondence and memoranda, minutes and agenda
of the Executive Committee and the Board of Trustees, the EDF Letter, case files and
subject files. The material spans the organization’s inception in 1966-67 to the late
1990s. Correspondence, memos and minutes are the most common formats found in the
collection.
Correspondence and memos are kept in the original date order. Most items are copies
of correspondence in which Puleston was sent for informational purposes. Topics include:
memos regarding EDF and its structure, finances and personnel; discussion about nuclear
power plants (April 1972); ED and proposed programming (1972) and wildlife (1973).
Subject files are composed of correspondence, clippings, and other material. The arrangement
is alphabetical. The subject files reflect many of the litigation files found in
the NY office files.
The Board of Trustees memos range in topic from EDF structural and personnel policies,
EDF’s niche in the environmental movement, to publicity strategies, and fundraising.
Executive Committee memos concern EDF’s programs, personnel, organizational structure,
and case approval requests.
Series 2: Long Island Environment 1972-1977[1.3 linear ft.] Arrangement: Sub-divided into Nassau Suffolk Regional Planning Board; Regional Marine
Resources Council and Brookhaven Town
Series 2 is composed of minutes and correspondence of committees designated to conserve
and protect the marine environment of Long Island. Represented in the collection are:
The Nassau Suffolk Regional Planning Board, the Regional Marine Resource Council,
Brookhaven Town Natural Resources Committee, and the Brookhaven Town Project Advisory
Committee.
Box and Container Listing
SERIES 1: Environmental Defense Fund Documents
Box 1
Correspondence, incoming and outgoing, 1968-1969 Correspondence, incoming and outgoing, 1969 Correspondence, incoming and outgoing, 1974-1975 Correspondence, incoming and outgoing, 1976 Correspondence, incoming and outgoing, 1978 Correspondence, incoming and outgoing, 1984-1989 Correspondence, incoming and outgoing, 1990-1995 Memoranda, Board of Trustees, 1974 Memoranda, Board of Trustees, 1976-1978 Memoranda, Executive Committee, 1971-1972 Memoranda, Executive Committee, January 1973-June 1973 Memoranda, Executive Committee, July 1973-August 1973 Memoranda, Executive Committee, October 1973 Memoranda, Executive Committee, 1974 Memoranda, Executive Committee, 1975-1978
Box 2
Meeting Minutes--Board of Trustees: 1970-1975 September 1987 February 1992 February 1993 September 1993 January 1996
Box 3
Meeting minutes—Board of Trustees: September 1996 January 1998 April 1998 September 1998
Box 4
Meeting minutes—Board of Trustees: January 1999
Meeting minutes--Executive Committee: February-June 1970 July-December 1970 January-June 1971 June-December 1971 January-June 1972 July-December 1972 January-July 1973 August-December 1973 1974-1975 January-November 1977, October 1978 January 1988
Box 5
Subject Files Antarctica, 1988-1991 Antartica, papers, 1980, 1988, 1990 California water projects, 1972 Coral reefs, 1989-1992 DDT, 1966-1967 DDT, 1968-1969 DDT, 1970 DDT, 1971-1973, 1976, undated EDF, early history [Acorn Days compilation], 1986-1989 Gypsy moths, 1971 Gypsy moths, 1973
Box 6
Subject Files: Porpoise-tuna, 1972-1974 Tellico Dam Project, 1974 Tennessee Tombigbee Waterway, 1971
SERIES 2: Long Island Environment
Box 7
Nassau Suffolk Regional Planning Board: Meeting minutes, 1975-77 Citizens Advisory Committee on wastewater management [ms], 1977 Coastal zone management plan [ms], 1973 Marine Pollution [report], ca. 1972
Sea Grant Association--newsletters, nd Reports of the New York Ocean Science Laboratory (2), 1974
Regional Marine Resources Council: Report of activities to the Nassau-Suffolk Regional Planning Bd, 1967, 1969 Meeting minutes, October 1972-March 1973 Meeting minutes, April-December 1973
Box 8
Regional Marine Resources Council meeting minutes: January-April 1974 June-August 1974 1975 January-November 1976 January-October 1977
Regional Marine Resources Council: Proceedings: Seminar on wetlands management, 1972 Seminar on dredging and dredge spoil disposal, 1974 Seminar on energy alternatives, 1974
Box 9
Hard clam industry of Long Island, 1973, undated Marine fisheries management, 1977 "Guidelines for Marine Resources Planning and Policy on Long Island, March 1973" Brookhaven Town Project Advisory Committee, 1972-1973 Brookhaven Town Natural Resources Committee Conservation, 1969-1970 Carmens River conservation, 1973-1974 (2 folders) Conservation, Connetquot River, 1973-1975 Gardiners Island, 1972 Gardiners Island, wildlife notes and correspondence, 1971-1973 Gardiners Island, correspondence, 1973-1974, 1994 Gardiners Island, clippings (2 folders)
Box 10
Brookhaven Town Subject Files: Long Island Conserver [newspaper], 1976 Ospreys--reports, correspondence, surveys, 1969-90
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