In 1871, Josephine Clifford McCracken’s popular collection the "Overland Tales” was published.  She was evaluated and "well known to men of letters and to the reading public as an authoress of rare merit.”  In 1899, a large forest fire destroyed her home and the surrounding redwood trees. The disaster prompted Josephine's new found passion in conserving in the redwoods. The following year, she issued an impassioned letter in the Santa Cruz Sentinel, emphasizing the importance of protecting these majestic trees. She and her friends formed the Sempervirens Club and in 1902, establishing the Big Basin Redwoods State Park, the first conservation park in California. Josephine continued her efforts to protecting wildlife, eventually establishing the Ladies Forest and Songbird Conservation Society.  Josephine was most notable for her dedication to the preservation of redwood trees.