THE HISTORY OF ARBOR DAY

Arbor Day originated and was first observed in Nebraska in 1872. J. Sterling Morton, an Easterner by birth, is generally recognized as the father of Arbor Day in this country.

Mr. Morton was a member of the Nebraska State Board of Agriculture when he conceived his plan for Arbor Day. During the January 4, 1872 meeting of the State Board of Agriculture, Mr. Morton introduced a resolution to the effect that Wednesday, April 10, 1872, be set aside for tree planting in the State of Nebraska and be named Arbor Day.

Tree planting had been haphazard prior to 1872. The Arbor Day plan introduced the concept of organized tree planting work. More than one million trees were planted in Nebraska on that first Arbor Day.

Another conservationist, Dr. Birdsey Northrup, is credited with promoting Arbor Day as an annual event in schools all over the United States. A native of Kent, Connecticut, Dr. Northrup was also the sole motivating force behind the creation of Arbor Day in Europe, Australia, Japan, and Canada.

The last Friday of April in each year is observed in Connecticut as Arbor Day. On this day schools and civic organizations commemorate the numerous benefits provided by trees with tree plantings and tree awareness programs.