The Tamest Grizzly of Yellowstone

Adored by tourists and studied by scientists, a grizzly mother named Sylvia became an emblem of the fragile balance between humans and the wild.
Workers for the Insular Lumber company felling a small Almon (Thorea species) in Northern Negros, 1910.

The Mythical Mahogany that Helped Build the American Empire

How “Philippine mahogany” became America’s tropical timber of choice, thanks to a rebrand from a colonial logging company that drove deforestation.
Three colorful shapes against a black background demonstrating the idea of national parks and public lands

The Victory of Public Lands

Most Americans agree on the value of preserving public lands. How did the idea of public lands come about, and how can we ensure they exist in the future?
A view of the landscape seen along the Golden Gate Trail in the Paradise area of Mount Rainier National Park, Washington.

The Promise and Problems of Public Lands: A Reading List

Discover key research on U.S. public lands through scholarly works exploring conservation, Indigenous knowledge, and public policy.
Tonka beans

Tonka Bean: The Tale of a Contested Commodity

The rise and fall of the sweet-smelling seeds of Dipteryx odorata stands in stark contrast to the tree’s lasting presence in global markets.
Panoramic of 14th street and Union Square. Taken August 25, 2017 in New York.

Perspectives on Public Space: A Reading List

This list introduces some of the main debates about public space, from park politics to political protest, public expressions of sexuality to safety and security.
An illustrated reconstruction of the dire wolf

“Playing God” with De-Extinction

As tech companies tout successes in bringing back the likes of the long-gone dire wolf, they must grapple with accusations such innovation is immoral. Why isn’t it?
A collage of colorful shapes that include images of different public spaces.

Perspectives on Public Space: A JSTOR Daily Podcast

What is public space? How does it function? Whom does it benefit, and whom does it harm? These are just a few of the questions we put to experts on the subject.
A colorful collage that includes a family feeding pigeons in a city square, friends relaxing in a park, and an example of hostile architecture

On the Meaning and Value of Public Spaces

What is public space? How is it produced, and why is that production important for our social and political lives?
Theodore Roosevelt speaking with reporters

The President and the Press Corps

Theodore Roosevelt was the first White House occupant to seek control over how newspapers covered him.