the john muir exhibit - people - william e. colby - famous people john muir influenced - john muir exhibit - sierra club
William E. Colby
1875-1964
- William E.
Colby was an attorney who specialized in mining and water law.
- He joined the
Sierra Club 1898, was its third president (after John Muir and
Joseph N. LeConte), and served as its secretary from 1900 to 1946.
- In 1898, just out of law school, he served as the Club's representative
at the Yosemite Valley's first visitor and information center at Adolph
Sinning's Cottage, a precursor to the Club's
LeConte
Memorial Lodge.
- Colby served for 9 years as chairman and member of the California
State Parks Commission, helping to launch the world-renowned California
State Park System, the first in the nation.
- "The
Story of the Sierra Club" by William Colby (offsite link) was
first writen in 1947 and reprinted in the 1961 edition of the Sierra
Club Handbook.
- He received
the Sierra Club's first "John Muir Award," the
Club's highest honor for conservation, in 1961.
- Later, a Sierra Club award in his name was
established for significant contributions to the Sierra Club itself,
and the Sierra Club's Colby Library was named in his honor.
Photo of William E. Colby by Cedric Wright. courtesy
of Colby
Library;
all rights reserved.
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