ON THIS DAY: May 27, 1907, Environmentalist Rachel Carson born in Springdale
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By Matt Simmons
PITTSBURGH, Pa. — Rachel Carson was one of the leading environmentalists in the world and a trusted public voice of science in the U.S. She researched and wrote extensively on environmental issues and testified in numerous government hearings, leading to sweeping policy changes. Cason is often cited as a founding member of the modern environmental movement.
Born in Springdale on May 27, 1907, Carson grew up on a 65-acre farm. She became enthralled with animals and writing stories, going on to initially major in English at the Pennsylvania College for Women (known today as Chatham University) with the goal of becoming a writer.
Carson was hired part-time at the U.S. Bureau of Fisheries in 1935 to write a series of radio programs. The programs got her noticed and she was hired full-time in 1936, only the second woman ever hired by the Bureau.
By 1941, when she published her first book “Under the Sea-Wind,” Carson was renowned for her prolific newspaper columns and public bulletins. She was soon promoted again, to editor-in-chief of all Fish and Wildlife Service publications.
The federal government was prompted to conduct its own research, which ultimately concluded that Carson was right and a full review of American pesticide policy was ordered. Carson testified before Congress and as a direct result of her research, DDT was banned.
The American Chemical Society designated “Silent Spring” a National Historic Chemical Landmark in 2012 for changing the industry’s focus to green practices and sustainability.
Rachel Carson Rachel Carson was one of the leading environmentalists in the world and a trusted public voice of science in the U.S. She’s often cited as a founding member of the modern environmental movement.
Rachel Carson Rachel Carson was one of the leading environmentalists in the world and a trusted public voice of science in the U.S. She’s often cited as a founding member of the modern environmental movement.
Rachel Carson Rachel Carson was one of the leading environmentalists in the world and a trusted public voice of science in the U.S. She’s often cited as a founding member of the modern environmental movement.
Rachel Carson Rachel Carson was one of the leading environmentalists in the world and a trusted public voice of science in the U.S. She’s often cited as a founding member of the modern environmental movement.
Rachel Carson Rachel Carson was one of the leading environmentalists in the world and a trusted public voice of science in the U.S. She’s often cited as a founding member of the modern environmental movement.
Rachel Carson Rachel Carson was one of the leading environmentalists in the world and a trusted public voice of science in the U.S. She’s often cited as a founding member of the modern environmental movement.
Rachel Carson Rachel Carson was one of the leading environmentalists in the world and a trusted public voice of science in the U.S. She’s often cited as a founding member of the modern environmental movement.
Rachel Carson Rachel Carson was one of the leading environmentalists in the world and a trusted public voice of science in the U.S. She’s often cited as a founding member of the modern environmental movement.
The Ninth Street Bridge was renamed for Pittsburgh’s famed environmentalist, Rachel Carson, on Earth Day, April 22, 2006. It is one of three self-anchored suspension bridges built across the Allegheny River between 1924 to 1928, the first of their kind in the United States. Known as the Three Sisters, the bridges use steel eyebars instead of cables and are the only trio of nearly identical bridges in the nation.
Rachel Carson Bridge The Pittsburgh skyline is seen through the supports of the Ninth Street Bridge as it is being renamed in honor of Rachel Carson, a major figure in the modern environmental movement on Saturday, April 22, 2006. Carson, a native of nearby Springdale Borough and author of "Silent Spring," was named by Time magazine as one of the 100 most important people of the 20th century for her work. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic) (KEITH SRAKOCIC/AP)
Rachel Carson Bridge The Ninth Street Bridge was renamed for Pittsburgh’s famed environmentalist, Rachel Carson, on Earth Day, April 22, 2006.
Rachel Carson Bridge The newly renamed Rachel Carson Bridge, top, is seen along with the other two of the bridges known as the "Three Sisters" during the dedication ceremony to rename it in honor of Carson, a major figure in the modern environmental movement in Pittsburgh on Saturday, April 22, 2006. The other two have been renamed in honor of Pittsburgh native artist Andy Warhol and Pittsburgh Pirates baseball player Roberto Clemente. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic) (KEITH SRAKOCIC/AP)
Rachel Carson Bridge The Ninth Street Bridge was renamed for Pittsburgh’s famed environmentalist, Rachel Carson, on Earth Day, April 22, 2006.
Rachel Carson Bridge The Ninth Street Bridge was renamed for Pittsburgh’s famed environmentalist, Rachel Carson, on Earth Day, April 22, 2006.
Rachel Carson Bridge The Ninth Street Bridge was renamed for Pittsburgh’s famed environmentalist, Rachel Carson, on Earth Day, April 22, 2006.
Rachel Carson Bridge The Ninth Street Bridge was renamed for Pittsburgh’s famed environmentalist, Rachel Carson, on Earth Day, April 22, 2006.
Andy Warhol Bridge A support tower of the Rachel Carson Bridge is visible between the abutment of the Andy Warhol bridge to downtown Pittsburgh Sunday, Jan. 17, 2021. They are two of the "Three Sisters Bridges" spanning the Allegheny River in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic) (Keith Srakocic/AP)
Rachel Carson Bridge The Ninth Street Bridge was renamed for Pittsburgh’s famed environmentalist, Rachel Carson, on Earth Day, April 22, 2006.
Rachel Carson Bridge The Ninth Street Bridge was renamed for Pittsburgh’s famed environmentalist, Rachel Carson, on Earth Day, April 22, 2006.
Pittsburgh Convention Center, Three Sisters Bridges The sloping roof of the Pittsburgh Convention Center is visible behind the Three Sisters Bridges along the Allegheny River, Wednesday, July 26, 2017. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic) (Keith Srakocic/AP)
Rachel Carson Bridge The Ninth Street Bridge was renamed for Pittsburgh’s famed environmentalist, Rachel Carson, on Earth Day, April 22, 2006.
Rachel Carson Bridge The Ninth Street Bridge was renamed for Pittsburgh’s famed environmentalist, Rachel Carson, on Earth Day, April 22, 2006.
Andy Warhol Bridge Six of Pittsburgh's many bridges are shown crossing the Allegheny River, including the city's so-called "three sisters" suspension bridges, seen at bottom, Thursday, March 17, 2005. The first was the former Sixth Street Bridge, renamed for former Pittsburgh Pirate Roberto Clemente, the next, now called the seventh Street Bridge, will be renamed The Andy Warhol Bridge on Friday. The third is called the Ninth Street Bridge. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic) (KEITH SRAKOCIC/AP)
Rachel Carson Bridge The Ninth Street Bridge was renamed for Pittsburgh’s famed environmentalist, Rachel Carson, on Earth Day, April 22, 2006.
Three Sisters Bridges A towboat and barges make their way up the Allegheny River under three historic bridges named after, from front to back, Robert Clemente, Andy Warhol, and Rachel Carson in downtown Pittsburgh, March 26, 2014. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) (Gene J. Puskar/AP)
PITTSBURGH BRIDGES Six of Pittsburgh's many bridges are shown crossing the Allegheny River, including the city's so-called "three sisters" suspension bridges, seen at bottom, Thursday, March 17, 2005. The first was the former Sixth Street Bridge, renamed for former Pittsburgh Pirate Roberto Clemente, the next, now called the seventh Street Bridge, will be renamed The Andy Warhol Bridge. The third is called the Ninth Street Bridge. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic) (KEITH SRAKOCIC/ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Rachel Carson Bridge Snow laden branches frame the Rachel Carson bridge and skyline of downtown Pittsburgh Friday, Feb. 7, 2020. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) (Gene J. Puskar/AP)
Rachel Carson Bridge The Pittsburgh skyline is seen above the Ninth Street Bridge and an inflatable lion fish balloon before it was renamed in honor of Rachel Carson, a major figure in the modern environmental movement. on Saturday, April 22, 2006. Carson, a native of nearby Springdale Borough and author of "Silent Spring," was named by Time magazine as one of the 100 most important people of the 20th century for her work. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic) (KEITH SRAKOCIC/AP)