Charles W. Schwartz (June 2, 1914 — July 4, 1991) was an American wildlife artist, biologist, author, conservationist, and filmmaker known for his work on Missouri wildlife.

Early life and education

Schwartz was born in

St. Louis St. Louis () is the second-largest city in Missouri, United States. It sits near the confluence of the Mississippi and the Missouri Rivers. In 2020, the city proper had a population of 301,578, while the bi-state metropolitan area, which e ...

to parents Frederick O. Schwartz and Clara Walsh Schwartz. He received his AB in

Zoology Zoology ()The pronunciation of zoology as is usually regarded as nonstandard, though it is not uncommon. is the branch of biology that studies the Animal, animal kingdom, including the anatomy, structure, embryology, evolution, Biological clas ...

from the

University of Missouri The University of Missouri (Mizzou, MU, or Missouri) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Columbia, Missouri. It is Missouri's largest university and the flagship of the four-campus Universit ...

in 1938. A graduate assistantship during his MA led Schwartz to work with Elizabeth Reeder, a Ph.D. candidate. They married in 1938 and later had three children. In 1940, Schwartz completed his MA and began work at the Missouri Conservation Commission as a biologist.

Career

Schwartz's career with the

Missouri Department of Conservation The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) and the Missouri Conservation Commission were created by Article IV Sections 40-42 of the Missouri Constitution, which were adopted by the voters of the state in 1936 as Amendment 4 to the constitution ...

lasted for thirty-nine years. A short stint from 1946 to 1947 was spent in Hawaii studying wildlife conditions for Hawaii's Board of Agriculture and Forestry. Throughout the late twentieth century, the Schwartzes wrote and illustrated books, created films, and made artwork on wildlife and conservation topics. In 1949, ''Game Birds of Hawaii'' was published and selected by

the Wildlife Society The Wildlife Society (TWS) is an international non-profit association involved in wildlife stewardship through science and education. The Wildlife Society works to improve wildlife conservation in North America by advancing the science of wildlif ...

as the best publication in wildlife management and ecology for 1949–1950. Several other films won awards, including a 1952 CONI Grand Medal for ''Bobwhite through the Year'' and the American Association for Conservation Information best North American wildlife movie award in 1959 for ''Story of the Mourning Dove''. Another Schwartz collaboration, ''The Wild Mammals of Missouri'', was co-published by the

University of Missouri Press The University of Missouri Press is a university press operated by the University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri and London, England; it was founded in 1958 primarily through the efforts of English professor William Peden. Many publications a ...

and the Missouri Department of Conservation. Containing over four hundred illustrations and information about sixty-six species, ''Wild Mammals'' proved to be one of their most important works. The American Association for Conservation Information selected it as the outstanding wildlife book in 1959 and revised editions were published in 1981 and 2001. Schwartz's artwork was used for Missouri trout and duck stamps, conservation fundraising for the Conservation Federation of Missouri and other efforts, and books by other Missouri wildlife writers. From 1965 to 1987, he completed murals for the Missouri Department of Conservation headquarters in

Jefferson City Jefferson City, informally Jeff City, is the capital of Missouri, United States. It had a population of 43,228 at the 2020 census, ranking as the 15th most populous city in the state. It is also the county seat of Cole County and the principa ...

. Schwartz retired in 1981. He remained active as an artist and outdoorsman. He died from pancreatic cancer at his home in Coeur d'Alene. A posthumous book, ''About Mammals and How They Live'', was completed by Libby, published in 1993, and selected by the Wildlife Society for its 1994 Conservation Education Award.

References

External links

Missourinet: The Blog articleHis bronzes at the Conservation Foundation of Missouri Charitable TrustSchwartz, Charles (1914-1991) and Elizabeth, (1912-2013), Papers, 1915-1990s, C2217
{{DEFAULTSORT:Schwartz, Charles W 1914 births 1991 deaths Writers from St. Louis Wildlife artists Artists from St. Louis University of Missouri alumni