William M. Harlow

William M. Harlow was a professor of engineering and silviculture at the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry. William Harlow was also a nature photographer and filmmaker (particularly time lapse films).

Education and career

Dr. William M. Harlow (1900-1986) ^[1] was a native of Syracuse, New York. He graduated from Blodgett Vocational High School and received his bachelor's degree in 1925 from the NYS College of Forestry (now SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry). He also received his master's degree and his doctorate in 1926 & 1928 from the same university. Dr. Harlow was a member of the faculty of the college from 1928 until his retirement in 1965. He was an instructor, assistant professor, associate professor and professor in the field of wood technology. He pioneered in the research of wood cell wall chemistry.^[2]

He was a camping consultant for six years to the Rescue Mission's Camp Id-Ra-Ha-Je. In 1963, the camp renamed its main building Moosewood Lodge. He also taught at several other nature camps and was the head of the camping department at the Sergeant College of Physical Education in Petersboro, Ohio, N.H. Dr. Harlow received the Heiberg Award in 1980 from the New York Forest Owner's Association and ESF's Alumni Association Distinguished Achievement Award in 1984.^[2]

Publications and research interests

Dr. Harlow wrote seven books. His Textbook of Dendrology is in its sixth edition and has sold more than 120,000 copies. The book focuses on tree identification and characteristics. Other books by Dr. Harlow include Trees of Eastern and Central United States and Canada, which sold more than 100,000 copies, and Art Forms from Plant Life, Inside Wood and Ways of the Woods. All of the books were illustrated with photographs taken by Dr. Harlow, who was also an accomplished nature photographer and filmmaker. His colour enlargements can be found in the Life Nature Library Books The Forest and The Scientist, as well as in McGraw-Hill's Life of the Forest and Life of the Marsh. He also illustrated textbooks for other publishers, and sets of slides have been distributed by Ward's Natural Science of Rochester.^[2]

Film work

Dr. Harlow also contributed to producing films for Walt Disney Studies and Encyclopedia Britannica Corp. In the Disney film Secrets of Life,^[3] Dr. Harlow shot 32 time-lapse sequences of flowers and trees blossoming. The 11 films for Encyclopedia Britannica he produced sold more than 13,000 copies. Dr. Harlow won 13 national awards for his 28 at 16mm films. He received the American Film Council's Golden Reel Award in 1955 for Insect Catchers of the Bog Jungle and later received the Blue Ribbon Award for Tree Portraits. In addition to his other work, Dr. Harlow also authored a number of articles on outdoor education under the pen name "Moosewood."^[2]

Publications

Books

• Harlow, W. M., & Harrar, E. S. (1968). Textbook of dendrology, covering the important forest trees of the United States and Canada. New York: McGraw-Hill.
• Harlow, W. M. (1959). Fruit key and twig key to trees and shrubs: Fruit key to northeastern trees: Twig key to the deciduous woody plants of eastern North America. New York: Dover Publications.
• Harlow, W. M. (1957). Trees of the Eastern and Central United States and Canada. New York: Dover Publications.
• Harlow, W. M. (1966). Patterns of life: The unseen world of plants. New York: Harper & Row.
• Harlow, W. M. (1976). Art forms from plant life. New York: Dover Publications.

References

External links

• The William Harlow Archives at the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
• The professional and personal archives of William M. Harlow are located in the Archives of the SUNY College of Environmental Sciences and Forestry http://www.esf.edu/moonlib/archives/