We have always been a “tree club” and a program from March, 1979 gives us a look at our early interest. Albert W. Bussewitz (1912 – 1995) presented an Ektachrome (probably not even in existence anymore) slide presentation of four seasons of New England trees and their ecological importance in our natural and man-made environment. The program addressed itself primarily to the varied habitats of our Northeast landscape, including woodlands, streets and backyard gardens. The lecturer created The Albert W. Bussewitz Collection at The Walden Woods Project’s Thoreau Institute Library. This collection consists primarily of Thoreau-related material written or collected by Albert Bussewitz.
Albert W. Bussewitz — “Buzzy” — was born in Juneau, Wisconsin. He was a graduate of Northwestern College (Watertown, WI). He was a former director of a number of Massachusetts Audubon sites including Moose Hill in Sharon, Stony Brook in Norfolk, and Rocky Knoll Nature Center in Milton, and served as the 17th president of the Thoreau Society (1970-1971). After his retirement from Massachusetts Audubon, he began his long association with the Arnold Arboretum, during which he photographed, gave lectures, lead tours and created exhibits. He was awarded Master Member of the New England Camera Club Council (1980), received the Richard D. Perkins Memorial Award from the Henry David Thoreau School of Wilderness Studies, and was honored by the Arboretum as Volunteer of the Year (1993).