John Muir's Birthplace

news - about - search - email - home dunbar - djma - muir - jmbt - donate walks - events - newsletters - membership - office - links DJMA Newsletter #9

Content updated Mon, 22 Apr 2002 08:46:33 GMT

DJMA Newsletters... [home]

DJMA Newsletter #8

DJMA Newsletter #9

DJMA Newsletter #10

Newsletter No. 9
Spring 1998

Scottish Charity No 022857

Contents

1. Editorial
2. From the Convener
   1. Millennium Fund Application
   2. Change of Council
   3. John Muir's Birthplace Trust
   4. DJMA input to John Muir Birthplace proposals
   5. Town Trail Launch
   6. Blue Circle Cement Works
   7. Future Events
   8. Summary of Current Activity
      1. Members' Action Plan
3. Public Launch of the John Muir Birthplace Appeal
   1. Text of the John Muir Birthplace Trust Appeal Leaflet
      1. Visionary: The Message Today
      2. Inspiration: Investing in Our Future
      3. Conservation: A Partnership Project
      4. Becoming a Founding Sponsor
4. Public Launch of New Edition of John Muir's Dunbar
5. Public Consultation Exercise about the John Muir Birthplace
   1. A Report on a Public Consultation Exercise about the John Muir Birthplace
      1. Further Details
      2. Building
      3. Audiences
      4. Exhibitions/Education
      5. Fund-Raising
      6. Networking/Marketing
      7. What next?
6. Trawling the 'Net
   1. E-mailed Feedback on the Consultation Exercise
   2. New Stamp In Honor of John Muir
   3. California adopts 'Muir' Tartan
   4. John Muir Essay & Poster Contest in Napa County
7. Working at John Muir House Museum
8. Membership News
9. Stop Press

Editorial

It has been some time since Newsletter No. 8. This should not be taken as a sign that little has been happening - quite the reverse in fact. Ian Parsons, our new DJMA Convener, outlines most of what has been happening in his 'From the Convener' column. Naturally, the biggest item of news is the Public Launch of the John Muir Birthplace Trust Fund-raising Appeal. Followed closely by the Public Launch of the revised edition of the John Muir's Dunbar town trail complete with bronze plaque way-markers at major points of interest around the town.

Regrettably, this will be my ninth, and final, newsletter as Editor. Family, and work, commitments coupled with the increasing demands placed on my time by DJMA's internet presence, especially with the imminent launch of the new JMBT fund-raising appeal and the involvement of local schools, mean that I can no longer do justice to the important task of compiling, editing, publication and distrib-ution of a quarterly newsletter. This is a prime opportunity for someone to rise to the challenge set by the Convener in his Members' Action Plan [see later].

It is just over four years ago that the seeds of DJMA were sown. Much has happened since then and despite the bitter disappointment of failing to secure a Millennium Fund grant for the John Muir Centre, DJMA remain as firmly committed as ever to the concept of such a centre in Dunbar. Helping to secure the John Muir House is a very worthy stepping stone towards this ultimate goal. Another major milestone is the establishment of a dedicated web-site, with its own internet 'address': http://www.djma.org.uk details of which are given in the Trawling the 'Net column. Those with web access can also check out all issues of the DJMA Newsletters at http://www.djma.org.uk/djma/newsletters/

From the Convener

Events are moving rapidly for DJMA and this Newsletter takes the form of a report of the major activities of the Council and a request for the involvement of all members to bring these initiatives to fruition.

Millennium Fund Application

By June of 1997 the DJMA Millennium Fund proposal had been placed on the 'reserve' list and had thus, effectively, been turned down for Millennium funding. This was a disappointment for the Council as preparation of the submission required a vast amount of work, to very tight deadlines, however, in the long run a better scheme may emerge. Confidential negotiations continue in partnership with LEEL and ELC; who see the need for a John Muir Centre. Even though the Millennium Fund application failed, DJMA demonstrated a level of commitment to the project and professionalism which has established a basis of mutual respect with LEEL and ELC.

Change of Council

In August 1997 Fred Last retired as President and Winifred Sillitto retired as Convener. In addition to an inspiring degree of commitment Fred and Winifred had demonstrated three important principles for DJMA to follow:

• Scientific accuracy and objectivity must guide any action of the Association.
• Involvement of local people, particularly through schools, is essential.
• DJMA must be a respected partner with other bodies to achieve it's aims.

Alastair Mackie resigned as Treasurer having organised the book-keeping system and established a sound financial base.

Dan Cairney and Ian Parsons became President and Convener of DJMA respectively. Will Collins was elected to the post of Hon. Treasurer.

John Muir's Birthplace Trust

In December 1997 John Muir's Birthplace (128 High Street, Dunbar) had effectively been for sale for three years and it became apparent that sale to a private buyer was imminent. Such a sale would preclude any greater public use of the building than is available at present. Dan Cairney, as President of DJMA, initiated a meeting with Lothian and Edinburgh Enterprise Limited (LEEL), East Lothian Council (ELC), and the John Muir Trust (JMT) to coordinate urgent action to fund the purchase of 128 High Street, Dunbar. Details of the subsequent negotiations are confidential but the following points can be reported:

• A purchase price has been agreed.
• ELC's Economic Development Unit will lease the building for a period of 6 months to allow funds to be raised.
• ELC and LEEL will assist in the preparation of the fund-raising literature and the organisation of events.
• JMT as a charity cannot use any of their existing funds for the purchase of 128 High Street, but are very actively supporting the proposal for public purchase and will use their considerable fund-raising ability to raise money specifically for this purchase.
• JMT has considerable experience in setting up trusts for conservation activities. The new John Muir Birthplace Trust has been established to own and manage John Muir's birthplace. Trustees, entitled to nominate representatives to form the management committee are ELC, JMT, DJMA and Dunbar Community Council.
• A charity has indicated its intention, subject to final agreement of details of the Trust, to donate £100,000 to the project. Due to provisions in the constitution of this particular charity these funds cannot be used for the actual purchase of the property, but will be available for activities, changes and future management of the property.
• LEEL will contribute to the fund-raising exercise.
• The Fund-raising Appeal will be officially launched at the John Muir Birthplace on Tuesday, 21st April 1998 - the 160th anniversary of Muir's birth. All members are invited to attend. All partners in the Trust will use the same appeal literature. The Appeal is to raise money for the purchase of the property and then for proposed improvements and display material to bring the entire property into use as the John Muir Birthplace.
• It is anticipated that with vigorous effort from all the Trustees funds to purchase the property will have been raised by the end of summer 1998 and then plans for improvements and alterations to the property can be considered.

Dan Cairney has been heavily committed in negotiations and must now reduce his involvement. Herbert Coutts has also been involved in working with the Trust Partners.

I note with sadness that Frank Tindall died in March after a very full life. As County Planning Officer for East Lothian, Frank was instrumental in establishing the existing second floor exhibition flat in the John Muir House and in creating the John Muir Park. In his support for the JMT and as the first ever life member of DJMA, Frank did as much as anyone to increase awareness of John Muir in Scotland. He would be pleased that the John Muir Birthplace Trust is now a reality.

DJMA input to John Muir Birthplace proposals

Council member Ross McPhail suggested that DJMA should hold a brainstorming session to imagine the possibilities for 128 High Street. A well attended Public Consultation Exercise took place on Saturday 7th March and a report on this has been forwarded to the Project Partners [and is reproduced later in this newsletter. Ed.]

One consensus was that on the ground floor of the building any exhibition should highlight the life of Muir. Who was he and what was he like? Another vital aspect would be his childhood in Dunbar; how did this influence his entire life? These two ideas, among others, are to be explored in the subsequent exhibition design.

It was emphasised that the John Muir Birthplace (JMB) is not an alternative to a John Muir Centre and will demonstrate the need for this larger centre. The JMB, when operational, will result in the creation of some full and part-time employment. A number of volunteers will also be required to assist in the running of what will be a very exciting project.

Town Trail Launch

Council member Liz McLean has organised the casting of superb bronze plaques to be sited on buildings around Dunbar. Liz has prepared the maps which will be combined with text by David Anderson in the new edition of John Muir's Dunbar town trail booklet.

The public launch of this latest edition of the booklet will take place on Sunday, 26th April at 2.30pm at the John Muir House, 128 High Street, Dunbar, followed by a tour of the trail led by Jim Thompson whose knowledge and enthusiasm develops with every trail.

Jim is now retired and can conduct tours at most time given reasonable notice. Parties of up to 25 people are welcome. The tour is recommended as an enjoyable way of understanding the parts of Dunbar which had particular significance in the life of the young John Muir.

Blue Circle Cement Works

It has been suggested that DJMA should lead the protest against the burning of waste liquid fuels and car tyres at the Blue Circle Cement works. DJMA Council are concerned about this issue and have decided to gather all information available on the subject. It is not the role of DJMA to be directly involved in every local issue, particularly where other groups and organisations have a direct monitoring responsibility.

Future Events

DJMA Council will be heavily involved in fund-raising for the JMBT for some months. The last trip to Bass Rock was so successful that something like it should be attempted this year. Any suggestions? Ideas and offers to contribute and to help with the 1999 Burns' Supper would also be welcome.

Summary of Current Activity

DJMA is now very active and the result of four years work is within our grasp. Active support is now required from our members. You can all contribute to, and influence, the outcome of our work. Many different skills and levels of commitment are now required.

Members' Action Plan

• Pay your subscription and send a donation to help the JMBT fund-raising effort.
• Each find ten new members who might be interested in learning more about John Muir and helping to make the project work.
• If you have any spare time, send a note of your skills and interests and how you would like to help.
• Come to the John Muir Birthplace Trust launch
• Come to the John Muir's Dunbar launch
• Come to DJMA Council meetings, on the first Thursday of each Month in Dunbar Library at 7:45pm to tell us of your interests. If you are not on Council you may have to leave before confidential matters come under discussion.

I look forward to meeting you at the above events and in coordinating offers of help to ensure the rapid success of the fund-raising operation.

Yours sincerely,

Public Launch of the John Muir Birthplace Appeal

The launch of the fund-raising appeal for funds to purchase the John Muir House property - 128 High Street - takes place on the 160th anniversary of Muir's birth: 21st April 1998. Primarily a media event with local and national press, and television, coverage it is planned that the event will involve pupils from Dunbar Primary School. Children from the school will be the first to post leaflets about the appeal to Muir contacts throughout the world. They will use the post box immediately adjacent to John Muir House in Dunbar's High Street. [Ed. note: Details of the final programme were still being ironed out as this Newsletter went to press. To find out more about the event please phone Jill Mackay of ELC Corporate Communications, tel: 01620 827743. Or check out the web site where details will be published as soon as they become available.]

The appeal leaflet has been prepared by the Museum Service of East Lothian Council and many thousands will be distributed worldwide. Unfortunately, they too were not off the press in time to be included with the newsletter but here is the draft text of the leaflet:

John Muir Birthplace Trust

I would like to become a Founding Sponsor of the John Muir Birthplace
Trust.

Please find enclosed a cheque payable to John Muir Birthplace Trust for

[ ] £10
[ ] £25
[ ] £50
[ ] £100
[ ] Other (please state amount)

[ ]	I am interested in paying by covenant or gift aid and would like
    information on this.

Name:
Address:




Tel:
email:

Please return to:

Birthplace Appeal
John Muir Birthplace Trust
128 High Street
Dunbar
East Lothian
Scotland
EH42 1JJ

Further details of the John Muir Birthplace Appeal are on the web at:
http://www.djma.org.uk

Public Launch of New Edition of John Muir's Dunbar

The public launch of the second edition of the John Muir's Dunbar guidebook will take place on Sunday, 26th April at 2.30pm at the John Muir House, 128 High Street, Dunbar, followed by a tour of the trail led by Jim Thompson.

DJMA are grateful for the financial support of LEEL and ELC for this project. Several thousand guidebooks are being printed in anticipation of demand over the next year or two. A web version of John Muir's Dunbar can also be found at: http://www.djma.org.uk/jmd/

Public Consultation Exercise about the John Muir Birthplace

Members of DJMA and representatives from the local community were invited to a Public Consultation Exercise on Saturday, 7th March. The three-hour brainstorming session generated a lot of ideas and these have been distilled into the following report:

A Report on a Public Consultation Exercise about the John Muir Birthplace

This is a summary report of the consultation session hosted by Dunbar's John Muir Association on Saturday, 7th March 1998. This was predominantly a brain-storming session rather than an attempt to draw up definitive plans for the John Muir Birthplace (JMB). However, the general consensus that arose by the end of the event was that the JMB must, above all, advance the education of the public in environmental issues and the role that Muir played, and continues to play through the legacy of his life's work, in this. This principle can be summarised by the following statements that encompass the general themes identified by the focus group:

• As the birthplace of John Muir the house is a unique focal point for expounding the life and work of a man who has been acclaimed as the 'Father of Conservation'.
• The JMB should emphasise the influence that a childhood in Dunbar had on Muir and how a boy from humble beginnings could become a personal friend and conservation adviser to at least three American Pres-idents, particularly Teddy Roosevelt, and how his passion for the preservation of the world gave rise to his legacy that lives on in the US National Parks, John Muir Trust, DJMA, etc.
• The exhibits and educational resources of the JMB must highly motivate visitors, particularly children and their parents, to 'think globally, and act locally' with respect to the preservation of the environ-ment and, wherever feasible, these educational resources to be made as widely available as possible.
• That the JMB be established as major visitor attraction and that it must cater for overseas, local and 'virtual' visitors. Just as importantly, these visitors should be encouraged to explore and experience the environs of Dunbar.

Further Details

The participants in this open session included representatives from the partner organisations involved in the John Muir Birthplace Trust and, as the event was open to the public, ordinary members of the local community including members of DJMA. A wealth of talent, knowledge, and expertise about (i) Muir, (ii) environmental education, (iii) architecture/building/planning, and (iv) local history and community was brought to bear. The following themes were identified as worthy of detailed discussion:

• Building
• Audiences
• Exhibits/Education
• Fund-Raising
• Networking/Marketing
• What next?

Building

Here the emphasis should be on 'birthplace'. The real constraints of access, space, fire & building regulations, finance, were acknowledged. A vital aspect of the configuration of the JMB was that an exhibit housed on the ground floor must get across the importance of Muir and his work in as direct and as influential a way as possible. Whilst various proposals for the use of the remaining floors were mooted the only unequivocal recommendation made was that an in-depth study of the house be undertaken to further explore issues such as re-creation versus restoration, interpretation versus fact, Muir's childhood versus Muir's adulthood, Dunbar town versus Dunbar countryside, etc. A crucial point is that the JMB should not be seen as an alternative to the John Muir Centre (JMC). The JMB is complementary and could prove immensely useful as a reinvigorator for the concept of the JMC. A focus for future awareness and fund-raising campaigns.

Audiences

A diverse range of audiences should be catered for by the JMB. The emphasis on interpreting the Muir story so that it is accessible to children, coupled with regular updates to the exhibits, should (re)attract local visitors and day-trippers. Core exhibits/resources should attract tourists from overseas as well as Muir enthusiasts worldwide. Educa-tional resources should attract and support school parties and JM Award participants. Other forms of resource should encourage local community involvement. Staffing exchanges should be fostered. Funding may be leverage by catering for a diverse range of audience and by targeting the overseas/tourist market.

Exhibitions/Education

The consensus of the meeting was that many of the exhibits should cater for the young generation and that the education of the public about Muir and his work should be a prime directive. Perhaps there is scope for the JMB to become the focal point for the JM Awards. It is too early to say what form the exhibits should take. In addition to the exhibits in the JMB, visitors should be encouraged to participate in practical conservation projects and to experience the local environment. The JMB would, of course, be incorporated into the John Muir's Dunbar Town Trail.

Fund-Raising

A number of suggestions were made about possible sources of funding. These included: land-fill tax revenues, local businesses, Historic Scotland and the Heritage Lottery Fund (and, perhaps, the Millennium promotion fund), local community, Sierra Club Found-ation, major businesses, charitable trusts, local/EU development funds, and, of course, public appeal.

Networking/Marketing

Networking is used in its widest sense here: establishing and maintaining contacts with the local community, sister organisations, other museums, twin-towns, schools, universities, etc. Naturally, the phenomenon that is the Internet/WWW will be used to its fullest extent and access facilities should be incorporated into the JMB infrastructure.

What next?

The final deliberations of the group concentrated on what should happen next? It was agreed that DJMA should provide feedback to JMBT, and vice-versa, about this exercise and that DJMA would, and should, continue to make an important contribution to the plans for the JMBH. A number of comments were made about how the project could be progressed. The comments included: DJMA to mount a recruitment drive; need for a timetable for the fund-raising effort; drafting a 'mission statement' to JMBT; arranging a follow-up meeting to this one; need for a business plan and coordinator; need for a concerted PR effort for the public launch of the fund-raising appeal; and, above all, the need to follow up on this meeting.

Trawling the 'Net

The first major item of news is that DJMA has registered, on behalf of the John Muir Birthplace Trust, the unique internet web 'address': http://www.muir-birthplace.org - now superceded by http://www.jmbt.org.uk and http://www.djma.org.uk

The process of setting up such a presence was outlined in Newsletter No. 6. The actual web server is hosted by scotnet.co.uk and they have handled the registration of the domain name on our behalf. All in all it took less than 24 hours to get this all set up and running and by Thursday morning (9th April 1998) http://www.muir-birthplace.org came into existence.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Department of Computer Science at Strathclyde University for hosting the DJMA web-site for the past four years. The conditions of use of the British Universities Internet infrastructure prohibits the hosting of fund-raising and/or commercial ventures not directly associated with Higher Education and so the time had come to establish our own web presence unfettered by these restrictions. I am in the process of transferring across the web pages from http://www.cs.strath.ac.uk/Contrib/JMC/ to http://www.muir-birthplace.org (now http://www.djma.org.uk) and I am taking this opportunity to undertake a much needed restructuring of the web pages that developed 'organically' over the space of four years. Comments about the new web-site are welcome but please bear in mind that this is a voluntary effort undertaken in my spare(?) time and that it will take several weeks to fully complete the transition.

So on with the news...

E-mailed Feedback on the Consultation Exercise

[Ed. note: An e-mail copy of the invitation about the consultation exercise was sent to subscribers of the jmcci-pilot@mailbase.ac.uk list plus other contacts. As a result of this, a number of replies were received some of which are included below.]

Thank you very much for the information regarding your planning event just completed. I trust that it was all you hoped for and will help you in arriving at your goals. I particularly enjoyed the link to the John Muir Town Trail, so much that our next trip to the U.K. would probably include a visit to Dunbar. The chair of our organization, Scott Cameron, is presently on a trip in Western Canada so I thought that I would take the opportunity to say "thanks" for the invitation. I'm sure that he will respond in a week or so when he arrives back here to his Meaford home. The work of our little organization continues apace and we are looking forward to June 13, 1998; the day when the John Muir Trail will be inaugurated here and his sojourn in the Meaford area will be discussed and commemorated.

Best of luck!
Wm. Overton

Hello Duncan,
Bill Overton sent me a copy of your information regarding your plans for the John Muir House. Bill, Scott Cameron and I are working with several other John Muir enthusiasts to plan and prepare a John Muir Celebration in Meaford on June 13, 1998. Our group is known as "The Canadian Friends of John Muir" and our purpose is to raise the awareness in our community of John Muir and his great contributions in conservation. As you may know he spent two years in Meaford from 1864 to 1866 and continued to correspond with his friends here after his departure. About two years ago five of his letters to these friends were given to our museum and have inspired several of us to organize a special event in Meaford.

We have a full day planned, starting with a 6 kilometer hike along the Big Head River past the site of the Trout Mill where Muir lived and worked , and ending at the Meaford Harbour, where the Museum will have a John Muir exhibit including the five letters. In the afternoon, Professor Jim Butler from the University of Alberta will make a presentation in the Meaford Opera house on his research about Muir's days in Canada and his forthcoming book on this subject. My wife and I are coming to the U.K. in April and would like to attend your celebrations on April 21, if that is acceptable ... Scott Cameron is also planning to be in Dunbar on April 21st.

With best regards,
Fred Young

Subject: John Muir in Canada
John Muir lived near Meaford, Ontario, Canada from 1864 until 1866. A "Celebration of Conservation" will take place on June 13, 1998. If you would like more information please visit: http://www.meaford.com/town/muir.htm

Dear Duncan:
Thank you for your message. I am a College Instructor in California USA. I teach a 6 week course on John Muir. We will be traveling to his home in Martinez California and visiting Yosemite. If there is any information I could assist you with...please drop me a line. I will tell my students about you folks are doing for Muir's birthplace. Best of Luck!

Jim Canaday
American River College

Dear Duncan,
Thanks for the information. Please keep us informed. We can publicize your efforts at fund-raising here. Our next public event is May 16 when we will hold the Kickoff Reception at the Site. We'll have a tent, local governmental officials, and a few hundred people to celebrate the public campaign to raise the 2.2 million dollars for the new Visitor and Education Center. We have about 300k committed so far. I'm sure we can raise some funds here for you. We will need some specifics as to the plans, who to make checks payable to, etc.

Regards, Steve Pauly

Dear Friends of John Muir,
Congratulations on your attempts to meet and discuss the importance of preserving Muir's birthplace. Besides the obvious need to keep intact the home to act as a link between us and Muir's time and youth, it will continue to be an attraction drawing friends of Muir to Dunbar. While you no doubt are not familiar with my research, I have edited three books on Muir and my interest in his life continues. I have traveled to Alaska, to his beloved Sierra Nevada, and to his Wisconsin homes. The one place I have yet to visit is Dunbar, and I certainly hope that when I do the birthplace home will be intact and available for visitation.

Best wishes,
Robert Engberg (San Diego, California.)

I enjoyed visiting the John Muir site and I look forward to being able to visit Dunbar and meet members personally. I have conducted research on John Muir's travels outside of the US for the past 10 years or so and I would look forward to an opportunity to talk to the group about my work at some stage. Given that I have a visiting professorship at Sheffield Hallam for the next 3 years I am sure that I will be able to visit in the not too distant future!

best wishes
michael
Centre for Tourism, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand

Ed. note: I am indebted to DJMA founder member Harold Wood < hwood@lightspeed.net > for continuing to supply snippets of news from the USA. The next three articles are courtesy of Harold's John Muir Education Discussion list < CE-EE-JOHN-MUIR-EDUCATION@LISTS.SIERRACLUB.ORG > Harold, in conjunction with Harvey Chinn, another founder member, is also responsible for the John Muir Exhibit web-site at: http://www.sierraclub.org/john_muir_exhibit/

New Stamp In Honor of John Muir

Grandsons attend unveiling at preservationist's Martinez home
by Michael Hytha, Chronicle Staff Writer.
MARTINEZ: January 8, 1998

A new postal stamp picturing conservationist John Muir at the gateway of his beloved Yosemite Valley won hearty praise from his descendants at its unveiling yesterday.

"That's his trademark," beamed 75-year-old Ross Hanna, accompanied by his brother John, two of Muir's three living grandsons. They all joined the festivities at the John Muir National Historic Site in Martinez.

The 32-cent stamp, portraying the stalwart hiker against the towering granite backdrop of El Capitan and Half Dome, will be issued February 3 at the Martinez post office, which is next to the Victorian mansion where Muir wrote many of his 10 books and more than 300 magazine articles. Those writings popularized a wilderness ethic and, during the 1890s, spurred the creation of several national parks, including Yosemite.

The stamp makes Muir one of the few people to appear on two U.S. postage stamps. A 1964 5-cent stamp superimposed a forbidding portrait of the naturalist over a grove of redwood trees.

Grandson Walter Muir, 82, preferred the new stamp's depiction of a pleasant- looking Muir amid Yosemite's best-known landmarks.

"It's wonderful," Walter Muir said. "I was so pleased when I saw it."

Walter Muir regularly attends functions honoring his grandfather for his success in preserving wilderness. Yesterday, he was joined by more than 200 park rangers, postal officials, politicians and environmental leaders sheltered from the drizzle under a tent erected in the Muir home's parking lot.

The ceremony featured fourth-graders at the John Muir Elementary School in Martinez who extolled Muir's accomplish-ments and eccentricities in poetry and song.

The Scottish immigrant's fondness for strapping himself high in a tree to view winter storms blowing snow horizontally from Sierra peaks established his reputation for unconventional behavior before his death at 76 in 1914.

"He climbed the tree, to see the storm," the students recited. "Inside his heart, he was warm."

U.S. Representative George Miller, D-Martinez, who grew up near Muir's Martinez ranch, lauded Muir's advocacy for the country's national parks as a model for other nations. Miller, a longtime environmentalist, called for the protection of the parks and public lands created at Muir's behest.

"The legacy that he left us is a legacy that is challenged every day in Congress, the state legislatures and county board of supervisors," Miller said.

The Muir stamp is one of 150 stamps to be included in the Postal Service's "Celebrate the Century" series. The stamps will commemorate historical figures, events and trends from each decade of the 20th century.

The Postal Service has already selected the subjects for the first half of the century. But beginning in February with the 1950s, those who care enough to pick up a ballot at a post office and mail it will be able to select the most noteworthy topics in five categories: people and events, arts and entertainment, sports, science and technology, and lifestyle.

You can find a photo of the new John Muir Postage Stamp on the U.S. Postal Service website at this address: http://www.usps.gov/images/stamps/98/jmuir.jpg

California adopts 'Muir' Tartan

[Ed. note: There is some controversy surrounding the bill to recognise the Muir tartan as the official state tartan. Further details at http://www.djma.org.uk/muir/tartan.html
Harold reports:
"It appears that the proposal to adopt the "Muir tartan" is on its way to passage in the California legislature. Interestingly, this appears to be a newly designed tartan based on Muir's character, rather than an attempt to use a strictly traditional Scottish tartan."]

John Muir Essay & Poster Contest in Napa County

[from the Sierra Club Redwood chapter newsletter]

Hundreds of Napa County students in grades K-12 will participate in the eighth annual John Muir Essay Contest in celebration of John Muir's birthday and Earth Day. Six hundred dollars in prizes will be awarded.

The ever popular event raises awareness that many of our surrounding Oak woodlands are threatened with being bulldozed and replaced with vineyards and home sites and that native species are being pushed back to increasingly smaller enclaves.

Under the supervision of their teachers, students in grades K-6 will create a poster of their vision of "Our Beautiful Napa Hillsides." Any medium may be used. Middle and high school students will write a 400 word (maximum) essay "What Is Nature."

At the presentation ceremony on May first, a City Official will congratulate students and award the checks. Beaming Sierra Club members and proud parents and grandparents will be on hand to make this an event the students will remember for years.

Working at John Muir House Museum

Last year I was fortunate enough to be chosen as one of the two seasonal museum assistants that work every year at the John Muir House Museum in Dunbar's High Street. The museum is run by the Museum Service of the local authority, East Lothian Council, and is open every day 11am to 1pm and 2pm to 5pm during the months of June, July, August, and September.

In the former sitting room there is an audio-visual display of John Muir's life as well as a number of exhibition panels. The other rooms in the flat are a bedroom and a kitchen with an old coal-fired kitchen range.

The Museum Service has produced a leaflet on the flat and one on John Muir himself. Other leaflets are on the local John Muir Park, JMT and its Award Scheme, and DJMA. As an assistant, you can hand out quite a lot of material!

It is interesting to meet the people who visit. They come from all over the world, particularly from the United States of America. Others are local, some bringing their children who want inform-ation because of the projects that they are doing at school. Others are tourists who have heard of John Muir or are interested in "things environmental". Many British visitors had never heard of John Muir. Americans, on the other hand, know a lot about him and for some it is an emotional moment when they step into the building where the great man was born. They usually know a lot about John Muir's boyhood in Dunbar and want you to point out where he once climbed out of a window onto the roof of his parents' house along with his younger brother! Others ask if what they see belonged to the family. Apart from one item given back from America everything else had to be bought from available Victorian lookalikes.

It was a pleasant summer working at "the John Muir". At lunch times I used to go to the Town House Museum - another ELC-run museum. There, I got a cup of coffee from my colleagues and had an entertaining time talking to members of the Dunbar and District History Society in their local history room. They have a lot of information about Dunbar and have files and photographs you can consult.

Dunbar is full of history. John Muir writes of it in the book of his boyhood. A new town trail is about to be launched and you can take a guided walk following the text and directions in the new guidebook aided by new plaques at major points of interest.

One of the consequences of working at the Museum was being asked to join DJMA Council. I have enjoyed the experience of doing voluntary work in a town other than my own and on behalf of a man and his cause that is still so relevant today.

Membership News

DJMA income is almost entirely based on membership subscriptions. All subscriptions - other than for members joining since October 1st 1997 or who took out long-term memberships - were due for renewal on 30th September 1997. If you have not yet renewed your subscription please do so as soon as possible. Please return the enclosed renewal slip with your payment to Mr Will Collin, Hon. Treasurer.

Stop Press

The building housing the Centre for the Study of Environmental Change and Sustainability (at King's Buildings, University of Edinburgh) is to have its name changed from the Cruden Building to the John Muir Building.

e-mail: djma@cs.strath.ac.uk
URL: http://www.djma.org.uk/djma/newsletters/