Guide to the Anne LaBastille Papers,
1963-2000

Anne LaBastille, is an ecological consultant, writer, photographer and lecturer, who obtained her Ph.D. from Cornell in Wildlife Ecology, following an M.S. in Wildlife Management from Colorado State University and a B.S. in Conservation of Natural Resources from Cornell. Currently president of West of the Wind Publications in Westport, New York, LaBastille has devoted her life to conservation of endangered wildlife, ecological studies of birds and mammals, preservation of wilderness and wildlands, international conservation projects, tropical rain forest, acid rain, and land and lake use planning. She is perhaps best known for her autobiographical Woodswoman trilogy, in which she explores her experiences building a cabin and leading a Thoreau-like existence in the Adirondacks. Woodswoman, Beyond Black Bear Lake, and Woodswoman III appeared in 1976, 1987, and 1997 respectively. Other publications include several non-fiction titles for children, Assignment: Wildlife, a book of essays, and Women and Wilderness, a series of profiles of wilderness women. In addition, she has published over 150 popular articles and more than 25 scientific papers.

The Anne LaBastille papers include correspondence, fan mail, children's journals and letters, manuscripts, reviews, scrapbooks documenting publicity and promotion, as well as original artwork and photographs. Her papers clearly document the creative and publishing processes for Jaguar Totem, Woodswoman III, Birds of the Mayas, The Wilderness World of Anne LaBastille, Mama Poc, Beyond Black Bear Lake, and Women and Wilderness. Of particular interest is her extensive collection of letters from fans, which span her entire publishing career and includes letters and journals from children.