Gillette, Genevieve (1898–1986)

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Gillette, Genevieve (1898–1986)

American landscape architect and conservationist. Born Emma Genevieve Gillette, May 19, 1898, in Lansing, Michigan; died 1986; was the only woman to graduate from the 1st landscape architecture class at Michigan Agricultural College (now Michigan State University), 1920.

Known as Miss Michigan State Parks, began career landscaping the campuses of Albion College and Ferris State; under the aegis of P.J. Hoffmaster, director of the Department of Conservation, surveyed potential park sites for their biological and scenic value and through her recommendations and persistence was eventually responsible for Sleeping Bear Dunes, Hartwick Pines State Park, Porcupine Mountain State Park and the Detroit area Metroparks, among others.

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