Carolyn V. Platt is a retired professor of English at Cuyahoga Community College in Cleveland. She is author of Creatures of Change (Kent State University Press, 1998), Cuyahoga Valley National Park Handbook (Kent State University Press, 2006) and Ohio Hill Country (Kent State University Press, 2012). She lives in Oregon.

Gary Meszaros is a retired Cleveland City School teacher. His photographs have appeared in many publications, including Smithsonian, National Wildlife, National Parks Magazine, National History, and Timeline as well as on numerous posters and calendars.