Caitlin next introduced our speaker, Stacey Ott-Demangate, CEO, of the Roger Tory Peterson Institute. Stacey joined RTPI in January, coming from a similar position at the California Nature Art Museum in Santa Barbara County. Before that, she was the executive director at the Catalina Island Museum in southern California. She earned a master’s in museum studies from the Cooperstown Graduate Program and a bachelor’s in anthropology from Arizona State University.
The program centered on Roger Tory Peterson himself, his early beginnings, his works in Jamestown, his art education and his career before he created his first Field Guide to the Birds in 1934. Stacey delivered a most interesting biographical talk, including many aspects of Roger’s life that many of us had never heard. For instance, President Jimmy Carter presented Roger with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1980. He created many artistic covers for magazines, in addition to his other works. He testified before Congress on the dangers of DDT and birds (later banned in 1972).
Stacey spoke about the beginning of the Roger Tory Peterson Institute and gave us a “sneak peek” about all the activities and exhibits at the Institute for the rest of the year and in 2027. Roger Tory Institute is a very busy and fun place.
In the question-and-answer period, Greg Jones shared that Roger was his cousin, and
how the ornithologist came to dinner at their home when Greg was only 11 or 12. Once Greg became an optometrist, Roger sought Greg’s advice before undertaking cataract surgery.
A drawing for a membership of the Institute ended with Lisa Goodell winning the prize.
