Rupert Cutler Papers

Malcolm Rupert Cutler, an environmentalist and conservation journalist, was born on October 28, 1933 in Michigan. He received his undergraduate degree in wildlife management from the University of Michigan and his master's and doctor of philosophy degrees from the Department of Resource Development of Michigan State University.

Following his graduation from the University of Michigan in 1955, Cutler was briefly employed as an instruction book writer for Argus Cameras in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He also was the editor of the Winslow Arizona Mail newspaper, Executive Secretary of Wildlife Conservation Inc. in Boston, Massachusetts; and Chief, Education Division and Editor for Virginia Wildlife, Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. During the years 1962-1969, Cutler was in Washington D.C. serving as editor of publications of the National Wildlife Federation and then as assistant executive director of The Wilderness Society.

Rupert Cutler was an Assistant Professor of Resource Development and Extension Specialist for natural resources policies at Michigan State University. He was also senior Vice President of the National Audubon Society; Executive Director of Population-Environment Balance; and President of Defenders of Wildlife.

In 1977, he was appointed by President Jimmy Carter to serve as Assistant Secretary of the Department of Agriculture for conservation, research, and education. From 1977 to 1980, he provided policy direction to the U.S. Forest Service, the Soil Conservation Service, and USDA's research, extension, and library agencies.

Since January of 1991, M. Rupert Cutler has resided in Roanoke, Virginia. From 1991 to February of 1997, he was the executive director of Virginia's Explore Park, a 1,000-acre outdoor living history museum and environmental education center on the Roanoke River in Roanoke and Bedford counties. In March of 1997, M. Rupert Cutler became the founding executive director of the Western Virginia Land Trust, a new, private, nonprofit association created to help preserve the natural, scenic, and cultural heritage of western Virginia on private lands, using conservation easements.