Peterson, Russell W. (Russell Wilbur), 1916-2011

Governor of Delaware and environmentalist.

From the description of Russell W. Peterson papers, 1917-2004 (bulk 1973-2002). (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 71073519

Conservationist.

From the description of Reminiscences of Russell W. Peterson : oral history, 1985. (Columbia University In the City of New York). WorldCat record id: 309726014

Biographical Note

• 1916, Oct. 3: Born, Portage, Wis.
• 1937: Married Lillian Turner (died 1994)
• 1938: B.S., University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wis.
• 1942: Ph.D., University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wis.
• 1942 - 1968 : Held positions from research chemist to director of Research and Development Division, Development Department, E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Co.; led research on Dacron polyester fiber and set up first Dacron plant in Kinston, N.C.
• 1969 - 1973 : Governor of Delaware
• 1973 - 1974 : Member, Commission on Critical Choices for Americans
• 1973 - 1976 : Chairman, Council on Environmental Quality
• 1976 - 1977 : President, New Directions
• 1978 - 1979 : Director, United States Congress Office of Technology Assessment
• 1979: Member, President's Commission on the Accident at Three Mile Island
• 1979 - 1985 : President, National Audubon Society
• 1981 - 1991 : Chairman, Global Tomorrow Coalition
• 1982 - 1990 : President, International Council for Bird Preservation
• 1984 - 1988 : Vice president, International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (now IUCN - The World Conservation Union)
• 1985 - 1990 : Founding vice-chairman, Better World Society; president 1985-1987
• 1985: Visiting professor, Dartmouth College, Hanover, N.H.
• 1986: Visiting professor, Carleton College, Northfield, Minn.
• 1987: Visiting professor, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wis.
• 1995: Married June B. Jenkins
• 1996: Changed party affiliation from Republican to Democrat
• 1999: Published Rebel with a Conscience. Newark, Del.: University of Delaware Press
• 2003: Published Patriots, Stand Up!: This Land is Our Land, Fight to Take It Back. Wilmington, Del.: Cedar Tree Books
• 2011, Feb. 21: Died, Centreville, Del.

From the guide to the Russell W. Peterson Papers, 1917-2004, (bulk 1973-2002), (Manuscript Division Library of Congress)