SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. — The collection of well-known names researched for a book by presidential historian Douglas Brinkley is remarkable due to their diverse backgrounds as well as what they have in common.

Brinkley’s book Silent Spring Revolution  chronicles the work of a host of historical figures who played a part in conservation efforts.

Dr. Mark Madison, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Historian at the National Conservation Training Center in Shepherdstown. He says Brinkley will talk about his research into the rise of environmental activism during a period called “The Long Sixties” from 1960 to 1973.

Dr. Madison says during that time, DDT and widely accepted practices had almost wiped out some species of animals and set waterways on fire.