Professor Evan T. Williams Memorial Tree Walk

Origins

In 1990, students Eric Wold BS ’90 and David Craig BS ’90 conducted a comprehensive census of campus trees and wrote A Natural History Guide to the Lewis & Clark College Campus. The guide included a tree walk that featured 48 species.

In 2002, Evan T. Williams, professor of chemistry and founder and director of the environmental studies program, inspired students to restore the tree walk, which had fallen into some disrepair, and enhance its educational and aesthetic value. He and student Clara Elias BA ’04 incorporated elements of the Lewis and Clark Expedition and tree identifications with a path they hoped would “meander in congruence with the new campus plan and link the residential and academic halves of the campus.” With the passing of Williams in spring 2004, the graduating class, led by Elias, dedicated their senior gift to a revived tree walk in his memory.

The Class of 2005, led by Anna Henry BA ’05, Ashley McElheny BA ’05, and Chris Ragsdale BA ’05, developed educational materials to accompany the restoration of the tree walk.