In my ongoing examination of the published works of Robert Sparks Walker, I learned that he put his experience as a magazine editor and publisher to work for the Chattanooga Audubon Society. Beginning in 1945, Flower and Feather, which began as the newsletter of the Chattanooga Audubon, became a quarterly magazine.
The directors produced one issue in 1944. Volume 1 Number 1 appears to be mimeographed from a typewritten original. It is four pages, printed on one side. A bird guide to Audubon Acres is appended to the newsletter.
The newsletter included reports on the acquisition of the property and its suitability as a nature sanctuary. The directors announced a plan to build a suspension bridge and a wading bird habitat. Plans also included a small library and museum with Dr. W.K. Butts as the curator. The directors formed a committee to restore the historic log cabin.
Beginning with volume II, the newsletter became a 48-page nature magazine. The directors produced one per year, with four issues per volume: January, April, July, and October.
No editor is named in the January 1945 issue, which began with reports by four members who remembered seeing the extinct Passenger Pigeon. Walker later included some of this information in his book, As the Indians Left It. A poem by Robert sparks Walker concluded the issue.
Dr. W.K. Butts wrote the lead article for the April issue. Robert Sparks Walker provided a lead piece and a concluding poem and was officially listed as editor beginning in July 1945.
Walker personally sponsored a poetry competition with over 3,000 entries with the founding of the CAS. The Chattanooga Audubon Society sponsored a photography contest. Each quarterly issue of Flower and Feather had a monochrome photograph on the cover. Many included nature poetry in addition to Walker's concluding poem.
Volume XI, January 1955, includes an article on the acquisition of Maclellan Island in the Tennessee River. This was a significant growth opportunity for the Chattanooga Audubon Society.
The October 1960 issue was prepared before Walker's death on September 26, 1960. It included an announcement of the revised edition of State Flowers and Birds, forthcoming in October, and Walker's article, "An All-American Thanksgiving Dinner." The report of Walker's death appears in the January 1961 issue. The publishers of State Flowers and Birds state that the 1960 revised volume was his final book.
Walker had written several pieces for the magazine, which served as lead articles through 1971. Wendell Walker served as editor. The organization produced two issues in 1972 and ceased production. In 1980, the Board of Directors resumed production. The second series continued through 1983.
A complete bound collection resides at the Chattanooga Public Library. The Chattanooga Audubon Society has some bound volumes. Others are collected in ring binders with other historical information, each issue in a sheet protector. The Special Collections of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Library has a set, according to worldcat.org.
Following is a photo of the walker gravesite at Audubon Acres.
The directors produced one issue in 1944. Volume 1 Number 1 appears to be mimeographed from a typewritten original. It is four pages, printed on one side. A bird guide to Audubon Acres is appended to the newsletter.
The newsletter included reports on the acquisition of the property and its suitability as a nature sanctuary. The directors announced a plan to build a suspension bridge and a wading bird habitat. Plans also included a small library and museum with Dr. W.K. Butts as the curator. The directors formed a committee to restore the historic log cabin.
Beginning with volume II, the newsletter became a 48-page nature magazine. The directors produced one per year, with four issues per volume: January, April, July, and October.
No editor is named in the January 1945 issue, which began with reports by four members who remembered seeing the extinct Passenger Pigeon. Walker later included some of this information in his book, As the Indians Left It. A poem by Robert sparks Walker concluded the issue.
Dr. W.K. Butts wrote the lead article for the April issue. Robert Sparks Walker provided a lead piece and a concluding poem and was officially listed as editor beginning in July 1945.
Walker personally sponsored a poetry competition with over 3,000 entries with the founding of the CAS. The Chattanooga Audubon Society sponsored a photography contest. Each quarterly issue of Flower and Feather had a monochrome photograph on the cover. Many included nature poetry in addition to Walker's concluding poem.
Volume XI, January 1955, includes an article on the acquisition of Maclellan Island in the Tennessee River. This was a significant growth opportunity for the Chattanooga Audubon Society.
The October 1960 issue was prepared before Walker's death on September 26, 1960. It included an announcement of the revised edition of State Flowers and Birds, forthcoming in October, and Walker's article, "An All-American Thanksgiving Dinner." The report of Walker's death appears in the January 1961 issue. The publishers of State Flowers and Birds state that the 1960 revised volume was his final book.
Walker had written several pieces for the magazine, which served as lead articles through 1971. Wendell Walker served as editor. The organization produced two issues in 1972 and ceased production. In 1980, the Board of Directors resumed production. The second series continued through 1983.
A complete bound collection resides at the Chattanooga Public Library. The Chattanooga Audubon Society has some bound volumes. Others are collected in ring binders with other historical information, each issue in a sheet protector. The Special Collections of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Library has a set, according to worldcat.org.
Following is a photo of the walker gravesite at Audubon Acres.
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