Gladys and Margaret Dysart, a Silhouette: “Well, then just leave it alone”

In this research note, I use portraiture methodology to explore the unsung environmental activism of Gladys Dysart McGaughy and Margaret Dysart in rural Appalachia during the early 1960s. Their story, centered on Dysart Woods, in Belmont County, Ohio, is being reconstructed through archival materials available thanks to three generations of community stewardship. This research note outlines the emerging portrait, drawing from three primary archives related to Dysart Woods (the Bartels Family private archive, the Captina Conservancy archive, and the Ohio University archive), as well as regional archives at the Belmont County District Library and the Ohio County Public Library. My emerging findings suggest that the Dysart family's stewardship reflects a broader legacy of female activism concerning the woods and demonstrates a strong sense of social responsibility akin to rural environmentalism. The depictions of Gladys and Margaret as well as Dysart Woods are called “silhouettes” throughout this research note, representing the initial stages of a forthcoming more comprehensive portrayal.