Oral History with M. Rupert Cutler, November 28, 2023 (Ms2020-005)
Forests and forestry
M. Rupert Cutler was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan in 1933. Following his father's alma mater, he attended the University of Michigan and received his Bachelor's degree in Wildlife Management in 1955. His love for environmentalism and resource management, led him to pursue both a Master's and PhD in resource management in later years. Cutler's career in wilderness started prior to the completion of his PhD. In 1957, he started his post of the executive secretary of Wildlife Conservation Incorporated in Boston. Throughout the years, he served as the associate editor of Virginia Wildlife, editor for the National Wildlife Federation, and the assistant executive director of the Wilderness Society. Upon finishing his PhD, he became an assistant professor, and going on to serve as the Assistant Secretary of Agriculture for Conservation, Research, and Education under the Carter Administration. He arrived in Southwest Virginia in January of 1991, when he moved to Roanoke, Virginia to serve as the executive director of Virginia's Explore Park. From 1997 until 2010, he continued to work in Virginia's natural resources, including (but not limited to) land conservation, Natural Parks, and waste water treatment. In this oral history interview, Cutler covers his long career, how he arrived in Roanoke, VA, and his work serving Southwest Virginia for 30 years. Throughout the interview, his service and passion is evident as he has dedicated his life to environmentalism, and better the community through it.
Permission to publish material from the M. Rupert Cutler Papers must be obtained from Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech.
Oral histories
A video taken of site selection and barn raising on Explore Park property in Spring of 1992.
Cutler, M. Rupert
See the finding aid for the M. Rupert Cutler Papers.
1992
Permission to publish material from the M. Rupert Cutler Papers must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.
An interview conducted with Dr. Cutler talking about Explore Park and its services. First aired May 5, 1996.
May 1996
A promotional video created to advertise Explore Park in Roanoke, Virginia.
1990s
Awards
An award presented by the Blue Ridge Bicycle Club to Cutler to acknowledge his work on the Roanoke City Council to make Roanoke more bicycle friendly
M. Rupert Cutler
See the Finding Aid for the M. Rupert Cutler Papers
May 2010
Dr. Cutler and other Roanoke Kiwanis Club members display their white containers with hearts on them
Feb. 2020
Dr. Cutler points to a map of Explore Park during a speech
A detailed itinerary for an event honoring the alumni of Michigan State University
July- Aug. 2018
Dr. Cutler stands with the president of Hollins University Pareena Lawrence at a University event
Feb.- Mar. 2018
A copy of the speech given by Dr. Cutler at the ceremony celebrating the 200th Aniversary of a building named after his ancestor Manasseh Cutler at Ohio University.
Oct.- Dec. 2016
A photograph of Dr. Cutler giving a speech at the 200th Aniversary event for a building named after his ancestor Manasseh Cutler at Ohio University.
A detailed itinerary of events for the Natchez Trace trip taken by Dr. Cutler and Brenda McDaniels
Apr.- May 2016
Dr. Cutler poses with other galley attendees at an event at the Taubman Art Museum
Jan.- Feb. 2016
Dr. Cutler poses with two other former presidents of the Roanoke Kiwanis Club
William Preston Memorial Project Event Award Presentation
Dr. Cutler poses with the certificate and medal recognizing his work on the William Preston Memorial Project
A detailed itinerary of events for the Alumni Campus Abroad trip to the Amalfi Coast
Oct.- Nov. 2015
An award presented to Dr. Cutler for completing the Alumni Campus Abroad Program.
A picture of Dr. Cutler on the Amalfi Coast during a vacation.
A picture of Dr. Cutler and Brenda McDaniel on the Amalfi Coast during a vacation
Dr. Cutler stands at a podium and gives a high five to another member of the Sons of the American Revolution
Aug.- Sept. 2015
Dr. Cutler stands with two other members of the Sons of the American Revolution at the Phase I completion celebration
Program for the Phase I Completion of the William Preston Memorial Project
The program for the event celebrating the completion of Phase I of the William Preston Memorial Project
A status report given by Dr. Cutler to members of the Daughters of the American Revolution, who helped to fundraise for the William Preston Memorial
Remarks Given at the Completion of the First Phase of the William Preston Memorial Project
A script of Dr. Cutler's remarks at the ceremony commemorating the completion of Phase I of the Willaim Preston Memorial Project
A photograph taken after the marriage of Rupert Cutler and Brenda McDaniel.
Apr.- May 2015
Dr. Cutler and Liz Belcher stand together at an event celebrating the Roanoke Greenways
Mar.- Apr. 2015
A detailed itinerary of Dr. Cutler and Brenda McDaniel's trip to the Pacific Northwest
William Preston Memorial Groundbreaking Event
A group photo of members of the Sons of the American Revolution who were involved in the William Preston Memorial Project
July- Aug. 2014
Dr. Cutler giving a presentation to members of the National Forest Service
City planning
A certificate of appreciation for Dr. Cutler's service on the Roanoke Valley Area Metropolitan Planning Organization
June 2014
A marked up agenda for the Roanoke Arts Commission
May 2014
Blue Ridge Land Conservancy Presentation
A script for a presentation to the Roanoke City COuncil on behalf of the Blue Ridge Land Conservancy
Feb. 2014
A certificate for the nomination of Dr. Rupert Cutler for the Community School's Local Hero Award
Correspondence between Dr. Cutler and another Roanoke resident about the feral cat issue in the City of Roanoke.
May- June 2013
Dr. Cutler stands with the sign for the Saint Mary's Wilderness area of the George Washington National Forest
Oct. 2012
A group photo of Roanoke Kiwanis Club members who participated in a clean up event in the city
July- Aug. 2012
A pamphlet produced to educate Virginians about the potential dangers of uranium mining in the state
A map of the nature trails established in the Carvins Cove area of Roanoke.
May- June 2012
Donation of Money Towards the "Bridging the Gap" Campaign
A resolution passed by Roanoke City Council approving funding to connect the Bridge Street and Salem sections of the Roanoke River Greenway.
Notes made by Dr. Cutler during a meeting with a City of Roanoke Engineer about the Roanoke River Greenway.
A report on the status of the greenways in the City of Roanoke.
Roanoke Kiwanis Club Presidential Reception
Rupert Cutler and Pam Kestner at the reception for the Kiwanis International president
June 2012
The plaque associated with the commemmorative tree planted in honor of Dr. Cutler's service on the Board of Trustees of the Virginia Outdoors Foundation
May 2012
Dr. Cutler stands with another man by the sign for Brown-Robertson Park, where they had been birdwatching
Sons of the American Revolution Virginia Chapter Service Medal Certificate
A certificate awarded to Dr. Cutler for his service to the chapter and the Roanoke community
Mar. 2012
Dr. Cutler gives a speech as a Roanoke City Council member
Feb. 2012
Dr. Cutler stands by the sign of the Gathright Wildlife Management Area, where he was birdwatching
Dr. Cutler stands holding onto a tree in the woods