D. (Dietrich) Lange

Born in Bonstorf, Germany, on June 2, 1863, Dietrich Lange emigrated to Minnesota with his family in 1881 and built his career there as an educator. He studied at Mankato Normal School and later earned a degree from the University of Minnesota, going on to teach and eventually serve for many years as principal of Mechanic Arts High School in St. Paul.

Alongside his school work, he became known as a naturalist and conservation-minded public figure. Records from the Minnesota Historical Society describe him as active in efforts to protect wildlife, end spring hunting, and support reforestation, and note that he was also an early leader in the Boy Scout movement.

As a writer, he published books that introduced younger readers to outdoor life, regional history, and the natural world, including The Lure of the Black Hills, Good Times in the Woods, The Gold Rock of the Chippewa, Nature Trails, On the Fur Trail, and Birds of the Midwest. He died in St. Paul, Minnesota, in November 1940, leaving behind a body of work shaped by teaching, field observation, and deep affection for the landscapes of the Midwest.