1861-1914
- Salesman, mountaineer, photographer, Sierra Club Director.
- Parsons received a degree from the University of Rochester in 1886, and became one of the first salesmen for the Sherwin-Williams Company. He traveled throughout the west and settled in San Francisco about 1900.
- Parsons was an active mountaineer and conservationist and wrote about his experiences, illustrating many of his articles with his photographs. He assisted William Colby in establishing the Sierra Club's outings program.
- He served as chair of the Le Conte Memorial Lodge Committee, and on other Sierra Club committees.
- At the time of his death in 1914 he was on the Board of Directors of the Sierra Club. His wife, Marion Randall Parsons was elected to take his place and served as the club's first woman board member. She remained on the board until 1938.
- For more about Edward Parsons, see the Edward Parsons Biography on the Sierra Club Colby Library History and Archives website.
- John Muir's tribute to Edward Parsons.
- Edward Taylor Parsons: An Appreciation by William E. Colby.