Charles Alexander Sheldon (17 October 1867 – 21 September 1928) was an American conservationist and the "Father of Denali National Park".[1] He had a special interest in the bighorn sheep and spent time hunting with the Seri Indians[2] in Sonora, Mexico, who knew him as Maricaana Caamla ("American hunter").[3] Another favorite haunt was the lakes and rivers which later became Kejimkujik National Park in Nova Scotia where Sheldon built a cabin at Beaverskin Lake.[4]
In December 1905, Sheldon was elected member of the Boone and Crockett Club, a wildlife conservation organization founded by Theodore Roosevelt and George Bird Grinnell in 1887.[5] He died on September 21, 1928 in Nova Scotia while on his annual stay at his cabin where he spent much of his final years.[6] The Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge in northwestern Nevada is named in Sheldon's honor, as is Mount Sheldon in Denali National Park.
- ^ The National Parks: America's Best Idea, by Ken Burns. 2009 Sept. 29. PBS TV
- ^ The Wilderness of Desert Bighorns & Seri Indians, 1979, The Arizona Desert Bighorn Sheep Society, Phoenix
- ^ Mary B. Moser & Stephen A. Marlett, 2010, Comcaac quih Yaza quih Hant Ihiip hac: Diccionario Seri-Español-Inglés, Hermosillo & Mexico City, Universidad de Sonora & Plaza y Valdés Editores, p. 442
- ^ "Jim Cyr, "Exploring Family Foundations At Kejimkujik"". Archived from the original on 2012-11-05. Retrieved 2013-10-17.
- ^ "Boone and Crockett Club Archives". Archived from the original on 2015-05-20. Retrieved 2014-03-20.
- ^ *"Charles Sheldon: The Father of Denali National Park", Charlessheldon.org