Freeman Tilden (1883-1980) received the national level Pugsley Medal in 1962, "For providing through his discerning observations, penetrating analyses and distinguished writing, a nationwide understanding of the purposes and objectives of national and state parks and the principles relating to their selection, establishment, use, and management." The citation went on to say, "Through his studies and writings, Mr. Tilden has exerted an exceptional influence on the park conservation programs of this country.Tilden was widely revered as a teacher, mentor, and philosopher. His seminal work, Interpreting Our Heritage, discussed six principles of interpretation and is recognized as required reading for anyone pursuing a career in the field. It was originally published in 1957, but was reprinted on several occasions.
However, Tilden was much more than a primary architect in the building of a professional interpretive foundation. He was educated by private tutors and was just 14 when he started contributing a column and book reviews to his father's paper, the Boston Transcript.Although his father expected his son to attend Harvard University after graduating from high school, Tilden chose instead to see the world. He learned several languages and became a foreign correspondent. His journalism career took him to the Boston News in 1904; Charleston (S.C.) News and Post in 1905-06; New York Evening Post 1906; Standard (English Newspaper) 1908-09; London (England) Times 1910. During the period 1920-1925, Tilden was a European correspondent for the Evening Post and Ladies Home Journal, during which time he lived in Europe.