Marjory StoneMan DouglaS Marjory Stoneman Douglas and the Florida Everglades SammonS

YOUNG READERS SERIES

Marjory Stoneman Douglas

and the Florida Everglades
Sandra Wallus Sammons Marjory
Marjory Stoneman Douglas is called “the Stoneman Douglas
Grandmother of the Everglades.” Read about her
life from her childhood up north to her long and
inspiring life in south Florida.

Marjory Stoneman Douglas arrived in

Miami in 1915. She was happy to be in the tropical
warmth of Florida. Marjory soon began to
understand the importance of the Everglades, an
area most considered a “swamp.” She called attention
to it with her book Everglades: River of Grass.
During her 108 years, she was a newspaper and
magazine journalist as well as a book writer. She
received the Presidential Medal of Freedom for her
work on the Everglades.

Marjory Stoneman Douglas

Pineapple Press, Inc. and the Florida Everglades
Sarasota, Florida
$7.95

Sandra WalluS SammonS

Ages 9–12
Cover design by Jennifer Borresen
Front cover photos courtesy of the State Archives of Florida

Pineapple Press
BIOGRAPHIES
 Marjory Stoneman Douglas
and the Florida Everglades

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 Marjory Stoneman Douglas might be saying: The Everglades are
“not saved yet!” 1985. (Courtesy of the State Archives of Florida)

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 Marjory Stoneman Douglas
and the Florida Everglades

Sandra Wallus Sammons

Pineapple Press, Inc.

Sarasota, Florida

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 To Jeanne S. Bachman, teacher extraordinaire, and to Steve and Misty
Sammons, who live on the edge of the mysterious Everglades.

Copyright © 2010 by Sandra Wallus Sammons

Manufactured April 2010

Cartoon by Dana Summers on page 44 © Tribune Media Services, Inc.

All rights reserved. Reprinted with permission. Further distribution of this
material strictly prohibited wihtout additional permission.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or
by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording,
or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in
writing from the publisher.

Inquiries should be addressed to:

Pineapple Press, Inc.

P.O. Box 3889
Sarasota, Florida 34230

www.pineapplepress.com

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Sammons, Sandra Wallus.

Marjory Stoneman Douglas and the Florida Everglades / Sandra Wallus
Sammons. -- 1st ed.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-1-56164-470-4 (alk. paper) -- ISBN 978-1-56164-471-1 (pbk. :
alk. paper)
1. Douglas, Marjory Stoneman--Juvenile literature. 2. Conservationists-
-Florida--Biography--Juvenile literature. 3. Everglades (Fla.)--Juvenile
literature. I. Title.
QH31.D645S36 2010
333.91’80975939--dc22
2010006660

First Edition
Hb: 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Pb: 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Design by Shé Hicks

Printed in the United States of America

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 Contents
Foreword vi

Discovering Her World 1

A Caring Family 4
Out on Her Own 9
A New Life in Florida 12
Marjory Becomes a Writer 15
Two Changes 20
The Everglades: River of Grass 26
Friends Working Together 34
A Long, Inspirational Life 39

Afterword 45
To See and Do 48
Some of Marjory Stoneman Douglas’ Awards 50
Glossary 51
Bibliography 53
References 54
Acknowledgments 57
Index 59
About the Author 61

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 Foreword

She was a small woman, just over five feet tall, who lived
for many years in a cottage in Coconut Grove, Florida.
Her home was almost hidden behind tropical plants on a
quiet street. In her older years, she was almost blind. But
what a long, busy, productive life she had.
Marjory Stoneman Douglas received the Presidential
Medal of Freedom, America’s highest civilian award,
from President Bill Clinton in 1993. He called her “the
Grandmother of the Everglades.” Why? She spent many
years helping people and our environment, particularly
in the Miami area. She spoke out loudly and clearly
and inspired thousands of others to bravely speak out as
well. In doing this, she helped save the incredibly unique
habitat in south Florida known as the Everglades.

vi

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 “When you do things for yourself, you’ll have more
people to come see you because you’ll have something
to talk about. And you won’t be complaining,
which is a bad habit to acquire.”
—Marjory Stoneman Douglas

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 Chapter 1
Y
Discovering Her World

Marjory Stoneman Douglas spent most of her life in

warm, sunny Florida, but she was born in Minneapolis,
Minnesota, after a cold and snowy winter. Springtime
brought flower blossoms and new growth on the trees. It
also brought the birth of a baby girl to Frank and Lillian
Stoneman. Their new daughter, Marjory, was born on
April 7, 1890.
Young Marjory Stoneman had no brothers or
sisters so she spent most of her time with her parents
and other relatives. She learned to love music from her
mother, who could play the guitar, banjo, and violin.
Lillian could even place drinking glasses or small sticks
of slightly different sizes in a row and tap them to play
a tune!
Frank Bryant Stoneman taught his daughter to love
books and reading. Just as importantly, he encouraged

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 2 Marjory Stoneman Douglas and the Florida Everglades

Young Marjory
Stoneman. (Courtesy
of the State Archives of
Florida)

her to question whatever she didn’t understand.

Some of her father’s relatives told young Marjory
stories about the Stoneman family. She grew up with
the knowledge that her family members were not
afraid to speak out for what they knew to be right. Her
grandfather, a doctor, had spoken out against slavery.
Marjory’s great-great-uncle and great-great-aunt, Levi
and Katie Coffin, risked their own lives to help slaves
escape from the South to the North so they could be free.

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 Discovering Her World 3

Marjory’s relatives. She is being held by her father (right side of

photo); her mother Lillian is sitting on the railing near them. (Courtesy
of the State Archives of Florida)

Marjory was proud of her family as she listened

to the many stories. She was learning that if each
person does his or her own special part, the world can
be a better place. One person can definitely make a
difference.

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