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Memorials & Tributes

Leadership Hall

In 1971, the World Forestry Center established a unique tradition to honor those who have significantly contributed to advancing sustainable forestry and/or advanced forest products world-wide.  Over the years, an elite collection of nearly 250 influential people have had their biographies written and preserved for prosperity in our beautifully crafted black walnut chests located in the second-floor Memorial Gallery of the museum.

The Biographies

For each person honored in this way, the World Forestry Center produces a custom biography and chest drawer with brass name plate.  Individual drawers can be removed for reading or kept in the chest for safekeeping. The drawers are in alphabetical order for easy locating.  Electronic versions of all memorials are also available.

Each memorial biography is written by a professional writer, with the help of family members and friends, highlighting the honoree’s accomplishments in forestry or forest products.  The biographical record is printed on durable museum-quality paper and includes a photograph of the individual, name, dates of birth and death, and a printed written history.  Each biography is protected within the drawer by a glass cover.

 The Induction Dinner

Induction Dinner

Once the biography and drawer have been created, a traditional “induction” dinner for all those who would like to recognize or remember the honored individual is given at the World Forestry Center.  The dinner marks the addition of the new biography into one of our chests.  The biography of a new inductee is usually displayed on top of the chest for a period of time.  

How to Establish a Commemorative Biography

A minimum donation of $25,000 given in the name of the individual honored and the approval of the World Forestry Center’s Memorials & Tributes Committee are necessary to establish a commemorative biography in the memorial chests.  Nominees may be living or deceased.  For more information or to discuss a candidate for induction, please contact Maria Jeffrey at 503-488-2111.