1982 President Ruth Hopson Keen

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Ruth Hopson Keen was born June 19, 1906 in Sayre, Oklahoma. Parents: Edwin L. Hopson and Willie A. Hopson.

1982 - RUTH HOPSON KEEN

Moved to Oregon before my fifth birthday.  Attended grade school and high school in Marshfield (now Coos Bay), Oregon. Graduated from Marshfield High School in June 1924. Graduated from Oregon Normal School, Monmouth, Oregon, September 3, 1926. B.A. degree from University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon, September 28, 1931. M.A. degree from University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon, June17, 1935. Ph D. degree from Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, June 23, 1946.

Honoraries: Sigma Xi, Pi Lambda Theta,  Sigma Delta Epsilon. Sorority: Zeta Tau Alpha.

Taught grade school,  junior high and high school in Oregon public schools from 1927 -1939 in Marshfield, Salem, and Eugene. Taught forthe Division of Continuing Education, Oregon State Systemof Higher Educationfrom 1941 - 1971. Subjects were geology, natural history, and conservation.  Directed teachers workshopin conservation for fifteen summers.

Was Ranger Naturalist, Crater Lake National Park, June 1947 and Naturalist for the Crater Lake Field School of Nature Appreciation, University of Oregon the rest of that summer. Was Ranger Naturalist at Lava Beds National Monument the summer of 1953. Taught Natural History of Oregon on Educational T.V. Channel 10, Spring Term 1963. Was Nature Counselor, Camp Chaparral, National Girl Scout Leaders Training Camp, Big Basin, California, summers of 1931,  32,  36, and 39. Retired fromthe position of Professor of General Science, Portland, Center, Division of Continuing Education, Oregon State System of Higher Education,  June, 1971.

Publications: Nature articles in Nature Magazine, Pacific Discovery, American Forests, American Nature Study Society, Mazamas, and others. Collier Glacier report in Mazama 1961, 62, 63,

Awards: 1964 Beaver Award for Conservation Education from the Oregon Division of the Izaak Walton League of America, Inc.

1964 Certificate of Award for Outstandingwork in Soil and Water Conservation. Presented by Oregon Chapter,   Soil Conservation Society of Oregon.

1977 Northwest Federation of Mineralogical Societies award winner for the American Federation of Mineralogical Societies Scholarship Foundation.  This is presented for distinguished achievement in the field of Earth Science.  (First woman selected for this award).  I had the privilege of choosing two students to receive scholarships toward Masters degree, one for $2000 and one for $1000, both from Portland State University, for an Earth Science Department Fellow and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Honorary Member Tualatin Valley Gem Club.

 Activities in Professional and related societies:

  • American Nature Study Society:

    • Western Division: Vice-president 1952-53.. President 1953-54. 

    • National :  Vice-president 1952-53. President 1954. President-­elect 1960.   President 1961.  Board member 1955 and 1962.

  • Oregon Academy of Science: Represented the Oregon Academy of Science on the council of the American Association for the Advancement of Science at Cleveland in 1950, Philadelphia, 1951, St. Louis, 1952, and Boston, 1953.

  • National Association of Biology Teachers:  Board member 1952-54. Chairman for Oregon 1951-52 for Region IX (Oregon, Washington, California) 1953-54. Committee for preparation of Handbook for Teaching of Conservation and Resource Use, assisted in processing material for this handbook in Boston, December 1953,  book was published 1955.  Title - Conservation Handbook.

  • American Geophysical Union:  Sub- committee on Glaciers of Central Cascades 1949-

  • Northwest Bird and Mammal Society:  Vice-president for Oregon 1957-58.

  • Nature Conservancy:  Chairman of Oregon Chapter 1 967-68. Member Pacific Coast Board 1959-60.       

  • Mazamas: Have served on Science, Education, and Conservation committees and led field trips, also articles in their annual.

  • Geological Society of the Oregon Country: Board member 1958-59-60 and 1964-65. Vice-president and program chairman1957. Vice-president and program chairman 1981. President 1982.

  • Member of the following societies:

    • Geological Society of the Oregon Country

    • Geological Society of America

    • Oregon Academy of Science

    • Oregon Agate and Mineral Society

    • Tualatin Valley Gem Club.

    • Nature Conservancy

    • Audubon Society

    • Native Plant Society

    • Mazamas

    • Obsidians

    • Sierra Club

    • Oregon Old Time Fiddlers

    • Washington Old Time Fiddlers

    • Columbia River Old Time Strings

    • Blue Mountain Old Time Fiddlers

    • Melody Makers Orchestra

    • American Association of University Professors

Hobbies: photography and fiddling