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Correlating 100 years of Miami University history with the biological growth of a witness tree
Research Team
Research Team
Maria Olson
Maria Olson
Biology Pre-medicine Co Major History and Italian Minor
Steven Sullivan
Steven Sullivan
Biology
Abstract/Introduction
Abstract/Introduction
This project explores a century of Miami’s evolution (1924–2024) through the lens of a "witness tree", a 100-year-old Ash tree that grew in the now Bishop Woods. By mapping the tree's biological rings to archival history, this study demonstrates that Miami’s campus has long been a site for scientific observation and botanical study. The narrative emphasizes how the university shifted from purely descriptive natural history toward modern ecological research and active environmental protection, fueled by student leadership and the legacy of pioneering women.
Research Questions
Research Questions
How does the annual growth and biological structure of a century-old witness tree correlate with the historical milestones of land preservation, academic expansion, and female leadership at Miami University?
Methods
Methods
The study utilized dendrochronology (the scientific method of dating tree rings) combined with extensive archival research from the Miami University Special Collections and the Western College Memorial Archives. The tree’s age was determined by counting alternating layers of tissue that form annual rings. These biological markers were mapped to historical data, such as the 1974 Western College merger and the 1969 founding of the Institute for the Environment and Sustainability (IES), to create a physical and chronological timeline. The findings were structured according to the five main layers of the tree: Heartwood, Sapwood, Cambium, Inner Bark, and Outer Bark.
Results/Findings and Discussion
Results/Findings and Discussion
The history of the university is reflected in the five biological layers of the Ash tree: Heartwood (1924–1940s): The Foundation. Represents the core of the tree and the stabilization of botanical research. Key milestones include the 1924 beginning of the tree's life and the 1928 move of the Botany Department to Irvin Hall. This era was supported by the legacy of Caroline Bingham, whose meticulous records provided the scientific blueprint for Miami’s collections. Sapwood (1950s–1970s): Expansion and Justice. Defined by the 1974 merger with Western College for Women. This layer memorializes the 1964 Freedom Summer activists through the Flowering Dogwood trees planted on campus as living monuments. Cambium (1980s–1990s): Active Restoration. A period of "new cells" where Miami shifted toward protecting nature. Milestones include the 1987 donation of Kramer Woods and the 1992 formalization of the Miami University Natural Areas. Inner Bark (2000s–2020s): Sustainability. Moves the "energy" of modern activism. Highlights include Project Dragonfly (2007), LEED building initiatives (2011), and the Climate Leadership Commitment for carbon neutrality (2020). Outer Bark (2024): Witness to Change. The tree's "shield" finally failed in 2024 when the Emerald Ash Borer, an invasive species felled it.
Conclusions and Future Study
Conclusions and Future Study
The correlation between ring growth and historical archives reveals a transformative evolution in the university's interaction with its environment. The research suggests that the "structural core" of Miami’s scientific identity was built on female-led intellectual foundations long before modern expansions. Furthermore, the transition from the Sapwood to the Cambium layers mirrors a broader cultural shift from observing the natural world to actively rehabilitating and protecting it. The death of the 100-year-old Ash tree serves as a call to action regarding the fragility of local ecosystems. The study concludes that Miami’s history is inseparable from its land.
The following is an image of the poster presented at the 2026 Undergraduate Research Forum
Acknowledgements
Acknowledgements
This project was made possible through the extensive records preserved within the Miami University Libraries’ Special Collections and Archives and the Western College Memorial Archives. I want to thank Gillian Singer for her design expertise and extend a special thank you to my mentor, Steven Sullivan, for his dedicated support. Finally, we recognize the pioneering female scientists and activists whose early contributions laid the groundwork for Miami’s enduring environmental leadership.
References
References
Audubon Miami Valley & City of Oxford. (2023). Plan to transfer idle turf grass into vibrant pollinator gardens.
Bachelor, J. M. (1947). Donation of the Bachelor Wildlife and Game Reserve as a living laboratory. Miami University Special Collections and Archives.
Bingham, C. (n.d.). Pioneering botanical records and the professionalization of science at Miami University. Miami University Special Collections.
Bruce, F. (1906). Establishment of the Willard Sherman Turrell Herbarium and first botany professorship. JSTOR Biographical Record; Miami University Special Collections & Archives.
Crawford, G. P. (2020). Signing of the Climate Leadership Commitment for carbon neutrality.
Institute for the Environment and Sustainability. (1969). Founding of the Institute for the Environment & Sustainability (IES). Miami University Archives.
Miami University. (1964). Freedom Summer training and the Flowering Dogwood memorial trees. Freedom Summer Digital Archive; Miami University Special Collections.
Miami University. (1974). The Western College for Women merger and campus landscape impact. Miami University and Western College Memorial Archives.
Miami University. (2011). Commitment to LEED initiatives and sustainable building design.
Miami University Natural Areas. (1978). Creation of the Silvoor Biology Sanctuary for wetland protection. Miami University Archives.
Miami University Natural Areas. (1987). Donation of Kramer Woods as an outdoor classroom. Miami University Archives.
Miami University Natural Areas. (1992). Formalization and permanent protection of Miami University Natural Areas. Miami University Archives.
Miami University Special Collections & Archives. (1916). Expansion and organization of the Miami University Herbarium collection.
Miami University Special Collections & Archives. (1990s). Establishment of the Historic Tree Walk to honor ecological heritage.
Project Dragonfly. (2007). Bee conservation efforts and pollinator education.
Willard Sherman Turrell Herbarium. (n.d.). Specimen MU 000162076: Macroalgae collection. Miami University Department of Botany.
Zoology Records. (1962–1989). Zoological documentation and expansion of field research sites. Arts and Sciences Collection (004-AS-2016083101), King Library, Oxford, OH.
NACE Career Readiness Competencies
NACE Career Readiness Competencies
NACE Competencies: Communication, Leadership, and Self-Development
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