Abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine how disturbance events shape forest composition and structure through differential growth responses among species. Species of trees were examined in sites of varying disturbance age (indicated by canopy gaps and pit and mound topography), and control sites with no disturbance. Quercus rubra , the dominant canopy species in the area, and Acer pensylvanicum , the dominant understory species in the area, were sampled. Dendrochronology techniques were used to measure growth response of these species in terms of annual radial growth. Specific disturbance events were identified and stand level responses to these events were observed. Disturbance events in the area include the chestnut blight in the 1930s, Hurricane Hugo in 1989, years of severe drought, and years of insect outbreaks and defoliation. Differential growth response to disturbance was observed among Q. rubra and A. pensylvanicum and is a function of the species' position in the canopy and patterns of growth. Understanding of past forest processes is important in determining the future trajectory of current forest lands so that management decisions can be made on an informed basis.