Research Report Archive at Mohonk Preserve's Daniel Smiley Research Center
Mohonk Preserve co-founder Daniel Smiley, for whom the Preserve’s Daniel Smiley Research Center was named, dedicated his life to understanding and protecting the Shawangunk Ridge. A thorough scientist and researcher, he meticulously recorded his observations on many subjects, from the flora and fauna of the Preserve to weather and other environmental phenomena.
“As a naturalist, Dan always let nature and serendipity guide our daily path. And, as unpredictable as nature is, our subject was mostly different each day. It was a very special time in my life,” said Mohonk Preserve Director of Research Emeritus Paul Huth. Dan and Paul’s observations were summarized in internal technical research reports still housed in hard-copy format at the DSRC.
Scientists typically share their projects and results in peer-reviewed publications and scientific journals. While a few reports were published in The Chirp, the newsletter of the John Burroughs Natural History Society, Dan rarely published his observations, choosing instead to distribute them personally to colleagues and store them in the archives. But now these reports are being made public — each with a new introduction authored by Paul that gives important and interesting context to the modern reader. “To me, profiling these Research Reports allows our audience to experience the breadth and depth of our interest in nature, which I had the privilege of experiencing with Dan during the 15 or so years of our working together,” said Paul.
