Roger Tory Peterson (August 28, 1908 – July 28, 1996) was an American naturalist, conservationist, citizen scientist ornithologist, artist and illustrator,[1] educator,[2] and a founder of the 20th-century environmental movement, where he was an inspiration for many.

Roger's mother, Henrietta Badar, was an immigrant, at the age of four, of German and Polish extraction, who grew up in Rochester, New York.

[8] Roger's middle name pays homage to his Uncle Tory, who resided in Oil City, Pennsylvania, located south of Jamestown.

During his high school years, one of his teachers, Miss Hornbeck, had encouraged his interest in sketching and painting birds and nature, while he waited to earn enough money to purchase a camera.

Several months after graduating, he traveled to New York City to attend a meeting of the American Ornithologists' Union, where he met distinguished figures such as the artist Louis Agassiz Fuertes and up-and-comers like Joseph Hickey.

Soon after, he moved to New York City and earned money by painting furniture, so that he could attend classes at the Art Students League in 1927-1929[9] and later at the National Academy of Design.

[10] Virginia Marie Peterson developed the species range maps that were introduced in the fifth edition of A Field Guide to the Birds of Eastern and Central North America.

[20] The Roger Tory Peterson Institute (RTPI) of Natural History in Jamestown, New York, launched in 1984, and ramped up its activity in 1986 with its hire of the first president, Dr. Harold D.

[23] Its present mission and vision is stated as being to challenge visitors "to confront environmental issues of regional, national and global concern" and to be "a living embodiment of the Peterson Field Guide".