Advocacy for Nature Preservation in Michigan

“Miss Michigan State Parks” - Howard Tanner, Former DNR Director (Korn, 1985)

Born outside of Lansing Michigan, just before the turn of the century, Emma Genevieve Gillette developed a deep love for the outdoors while growing up on her family’s farm. Her parents, David & Kittie Gillette “instilled in her the importance of nature and natural beauty" (Frank, n.d.). The years spent here before moving to Lansing after her father died certainly played a significant role in creating the person who would later be referred to as “Miss Michigan State Parks” by former DNR Director, Howard Tanner (Korn, 1985).

In her recollections of her childhood, there is one event that clearly had a great impact on her… Her family’s farm backed up to a wooded ravine and the family frequently let visitors picnic on this land. However, Consumers Power wished to dam the stream which required the Gillette’s ravine for overflow. Despite David Gillette’s resistance to selling his land to the power company, he eventually conceded as all of his neighbors had already done. His only requirement was that he had the timber rights. So David Gillette harvested the timber. Gillette recalls that, “Nobody even came after that to have a picnic in the place and it went to mullens and has looked like a no-man’s land ever since just growing up to second growth and being a very poor asset,” she goes on to lament that, “the worst of it is the impoundment never went in" (Frank, n.d.).

“History will remember Genevieve as one of the most effective lobbyists for Conservation” - Doug Fulton, retired outdoors editor for the Ann Arbor News (Korn, 1985)

In the fall of 1916, Gillette would attend Michigan Agricultural School (now Michigan State University), specializing in Horticulture and Landscape Architecture. She was the first woman to graduate from the Landscape Architecture program at M.A.C ("Miss Genevieve Gillette Personal History", 1969). While at school, she became friends with P.J. Hoffmaster, who would later become the Director of the Department of Conservation and also the Superintendent of State Parks. 

After completing her degree, Gillette moved to Chicago to work for renowned landscape architect, Jens Jensen (“E. Genevieve Gillette”, n.d.).  Working for his organization, Friends of the Native Landscape, Gillette played an instrumental role in compelling the State of Michigan to purchase the land that is now Ludington State Park, on the Lake Michigan coast (“E. Genevieve Gillette”, n.d.). During this period of time Gillette would also be involved in the protection of Wilderness State Park in the northwest corner of the Lower Peninsula.

“As many who know her proclaim, the state of Michigan would have been a very different place without Miss Genevieve Gillette” - Claire V. Korn, Michigan Natural Resources Magazine (Korn, 1985)

When Gillette moved back to Michigan, she became involved with many organizations such as the Michigan Horticultural Society and the Detroit Rose Society. These organizations seemed to be a launching pad for her eventual work with other organizations where she would have an active role in land acquisitions as a means to protect natural areas.

In the late 1920s, her association with the owner of what is now Hartwick Pines State Park (Korn, 1985), allowed for the state to acquire the land. This park represents some of the largest areas of old growth forest in the lower peninsula of Michigan.

Gillette was involved in the creation of the Huron-Clinton Metropolitan Park Authority (“E. Genevieve Gillette”, n.d.). This organization has been renamed to the Huron-Clinton Metroparks and it now oversees 13 properties made up of nearly 25,000 acres of land. Gillette would be consulted with in later years by the state’s Assistant Attorney General regarding the desire of the Park Authority to lease lands to a theme park developer

In her time with the Michigan Botanical club, where she claims she was on the board for “far longer than I should have been,” she was put in charge working to protect the remaining natural areas around Traverse City. In addition she aided in the Michigan Botanical Clubs acquiring and establishing Horner-McLaughlin Woods in Ann Arbor, which was then donated in 1965 to the University of Michigan where it still remains an important natural areas corridor managed by the Botanical Gardens (Gillette, ca.[1969]).

In 1966, Washtenaw County acquired land now known as Park Lyndon for $1. Gillette's "constant scouting for park-quality property and encyclopedic knowledge of Michigan law" is credited with this acquisition (Korn, 1985).

Out of the Michigant Botanical Club grew the Natural Areas Council, which Gillette, of course, helped organize and was heavily involved in. Her work with the Natural Areas Council led to her having significant involvement in the creation of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.  Prior to its establishment, Gillette helped protect land that would be included and recommended its inclusion (Gillette, ca.[1969]). 

“To my dear friend Genevieve Gillette - Always in the thick of things - always ahead of her time - always telling it just as she sees it - my humblest appreciation for all that you have done over all the years to preserve the natural heritage of our great State of Michigan and especially for helping me.” - Ralph MacMullan, former DNR Director (Frank, n.d.)

Parks made possible by Gillette

• Ludington State Park
• Wilderness State Park
• Hartwick Pines State Park
• Huron-Clinton Metroparks
• Porcupine Mountain's Wilderness State Park
• Horner-McLaughlin Woods (Ann Arbor)
• Park Lyndon
• Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
• Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

Awards, Honors, Dedications

• Esther Longyear Murphy Medal
• Forest and Park Conservationist of the Year, 1966
• Honorary Life Member of the Michigan Botanical Club
• Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters Degree from Albion College, 1966
• Michigan State University Alumni Award, 1969
• P. J. Hoffmaster State Park Gillette Nature Center
• Holiday Magazine's award for a beautiful America
• Washtenaw Audubon Society's Conservation Award
• American Motors Conservation Award, 1970
• Outstanding Contributions to parks and recreation award, Michigan Recreation and Parks Association
• Michigan Women's Hall of Fame, 1985
• First woman inducted in the Michigan Conservation Hall of Fame
• Park Lyndon dedicated to Gillette