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Richard Cellarius papers

 Collection
Identifier: PP-26

Scope and Contents

Collection contains three series: teaching materials of programs from 1972 to 1999, and evaluations of Cellarius by student and colleagues; governance documents relating to the planning and establishment of the MES program, disapearing task forces, and other committees Cellarius was involved in; and personal documents with general correspondence, correspondence regarding tree removal of The Evergreen State College organic farm, broad planning notes, work with local/federal governments for environmental policy and impacts for construction development and his work with the Sierra Club.

Dates

  • Creation: Majority of material found within 1971-1999

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open to the public and must be viewed in The Evergreen State College Archives and Special Collections reading room.

Conditions Governing Use

Copyright in the collection materials may not lie with The Evergreen State College. All requests for permission to publish or quote from materials in this collection must be submitted in writing to the Archivist. Permission for publication is given on behalf of The Evergreen State College Archives and Special Collections as the owner of the physical items and does not extend to any copyright holders in the materials. Researchers are solely responsible for clearing any necessary copyright permissions.

Biographical / Historical

Richard Cellarius was former faculty at The Evergreen State College from 1972 to his retirement in 1999, where he was given the title Emeritus Member of the Faculty by the Board of Trustees. His academic interests include photosynthesis, tree physiology, forest ecology and management, and environmental history, philosophy and policy.

Before jointing the Evergreen faculty, Cellarius was an Assistant Professor of Botany at The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor and was later promoted to Associate Professor.

Cellarius received his B.A. from Reed College, Portland, Oregon, in 1958 - majoring in physics. He then received his Ph.D. in Biological Science from The Rockefeller University, New York, New York in 1965. His Postdoctoral Study in biophysics was through The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, and The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan between 1965-66.

Cellarius assisted in deisgning the Graduate Program in Environmental Studies (MES) program, teaching the first Case Studies class with Carolyn Dobbs. He taught two full years of MES core in 1990-92 and returned to MES and served as director from 1995 to 1999.

After retirement, he continued interim teaching in Prescott College's nonresident Master of Arts Program (MAP) and Ph.D. Program in Sustainability Education, and was the (interim) Chair of the MAP degree Program in Environmental Studies in 2007-2008 and 2008-2009.

In addition to his teaching, Cellarius was an active volunteer in the Sierra Club - ultimately serving as President of Sierra Club from 1988-1990. He served as a Director for 16 years altogether and traveled regularly to Sierra Club meetings during his retirment. Cellarius chaired the Club's Publications and International Committees, and was Vice President for Research for two years. In 2001, he was elected as an Honorary Vice President of the Club by the Board of Directors.

Cellarius eventually served as International Vice President—Organizational Relations for the Sierra Club, with a primary focus on membership in the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). In IUCN, I am now the Finance Office of IUCN's Commission on Environmental, Economic and Social Policy (CEESP). He also served as a Trustee of The Sierra Club Foundation, an independent tax deductable ("501(c)(3)") organization that supports the educational and charitable projects of the Sierra Club from 1988—1996 and 1997-2003, and served as its Treasurer and member of the Executive Committee.

Cellarius participated in environmental campaigns and policy development on such topics as NEPA, renewable energy, and forest protection, including presenting testimony at Congressional hearings, while also serving an active role in political campaigns for candidates with strong environmental protection platforms.

Extent

5.16 Cubic Feet (12 large letter containers)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

This collection documents the archival material produced and collected by Evergreen faculty member and environmentalist Richard Cellarius, materials date from 1972-1999.

Title
Guide to the Richard Cellarius Papers
Author
Nichole Czajkowski
Date
2024
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Revision Statements

  • 9/4/2025: Reprocessed by Nichole Czajkowski

Repository Details

Part of the The Evergreen State College Archives and Special Collections Repository

Contact:
http://www.evergreen.edu/archives
2700 Evergreen Parkway NW
Olympia WA 98505 USA