Ralph E. Brock

Ralph Elwood Brock was born on February 15, 1881 and raised in Pottsville, Schuylkill County. He graduated from the Howard School in Wilmington, Delaware.

He became the first African-American to become a Graduate Forester of the Pennsylvania State Forest Academy's first class in 1906.

Before the academy class was formed, Brock was employed at the former Mont Alto Reserve, now Michaux State Forest.

Immediately after graduation, and for five years, he served as the superintendent of the newly established Mont Alto State Forest Tree Nursery from 1906 to 1911.

Forestry records indicate the nursery flourished under his direction, and his accomplishments are detailed in early annual reports of the former Department of Forestry (now Department of Conservation and Natural Resources).

He resigned from state service in 1911 to start his own nursery business in the Philadelphia area. He continued in this career for the rest of his life. He died on Dec. 9, 1959 and is buried in the Chestnut Grove Cemetery, West Chester, Chester County.

Brock graduated and advanced in the forestry field at a time when African-Americans had few chances for higher education or advancement.

In February 2000, DCNR renamed the Bureau of Forestry’s main seed orchard in Franklin County near Mont Alto in Brock’s honor to recognize his contributions to forestry and the African-American community.

Also in 2000, Brock and his story were included in an Earth Day educational program to familiarize students across the state with significant environmental leaders in Pennsylvania’s past.

Find out more by going to Pennsylvania’s Environmental Heritage webpage.

Find out more about Black History Month.

Invitation: Do you know of other African-Americans who made a contribution to Pennsylvania’s environmental heritage? Send his/her story to: DHess@crisciassociates.com .

2/4/2005