History of the Forest Service in the Southwest collection
Collection
Identifier: MSS-459-BC
Scope and Content
The collection, donated to the UNM University Libraries by Henry Dethloff, consists mainly of photocopied research materials preparatory to the writing of Timeless Heritage. Spanning the period l905 to l985, the materials include USDA Forest Service newsletters, reports, memoranda, and correspondence; unpublished materials, including dissertations and theses; books, monographs, and articles; and oral histories regarding the evolution of the Forest Service in the Southwest (Region 3). The following series comprise the collection: I. Forest Service Documents (newsletters, early materials, memoranda/reports concerning regional forests, memoranda/reports concerning land use); II. Forest Histories; III. Miscellaneous Research Materials; and IV. Drafts of Timeless Heritage.
Dates
- December 1911
Creator
- United States. Forest Service. (Organization)
Language of Materials
English.
Access Restrictions
The collection is open for research.
Copy Restrictions
Limited duplication of CSWR material is allowed for research purposes. User is responsible for compliance with all copyright, privacy, and libel laws. Permission is required for publication or distribution.
Institutional History
The evolution of the USDA Forest Service is rooted in the General Provision Act of l89l in which Congress authorized the President to designate particular areas of the forested public domain to be set aside as "reserves" for future use. The number and size of these reserves increased notably in l897 when the President was authorized to establish reserves in order to protect watersheds, to preserve timber, and to provide lumber for local use. There was no provision for management or supervision of the forests, which were by law closed to public use. In spite of the restrictions, the use of these lands by local residents for grazing, hunting, mining, lumbering, and recreation continued as they had for decades.
On February l, l905, Secretary of Agriculture James Wilson announced the transfer of the Forest Reserves to the Department of Agriculture, as authorized by Congress (H.R. 8460) on that same day. The newly created Forest Service was charged with providing for the use of the National Forests, while maintaining the permanence of their resources.
In l908, Chief Forester Gifford Pinchot appointed Arthur C. Ringland the first District Forester of the newly organized Southwestern District, or District 3. The district comprised New Mexico's 3ll,040-acre Pecos River Forest Reserve, established in l892, as well as the Prescott, Gila River, and Santa Rita Forest Reserves, encompassing millions of acres. Region 3, as the Southwestern district has been known since l930, is a system of canyons, mountains, deserts, grasslands, and wildlife that encompasses some 2l million acres of public lands in Arizona and New Mexico. Unique features of the region are its extreme ranges in elevation (l4l ft. above sea level at Yuma, Arizona to l3,l6l ft. at Mt. Wheeler in northern New Mexico) and the resulting six life zones.
Twelve national forests make up the region: Coconino, Kaibab, Prescott, Sitgreaves, and Tonto national forests in Arizona; Carson, Cibola, Gila, Lincoln, and Santa Fe national forests in New Mexico; and Apache and Coronado national forests in both states.
Nine men have served as regional foresters since the district was organized in l908. They are: Arthur C. Ringland (l908-l9l6), Paul G. Redington (l9l6-l9l9), Frank C. W. Pooler (l920-l945), Philip V. Woodhead (l945-l949), C. Otto Lindh (l949-l955), Fred H. Kennedy (l955-l965), Milo Jean Hassell (l976-l985), and Sotero Muniz (l985 to the present). (Source:Timeless Heritage, Chapters l, 6, and l6.)
In May l983, Intaglio, Inc. of College Station, Texas, was contracted by the USDA Forest Service to conduct research and to write a history of Region 3. Timeless Heritage: a History of the Forest Service in the Southwest, authored by Robert D. Baker, Henry C. Dethloff, Robert S. Maxwell, and Victor H. Treat, was published by Intaglio, Inc. in August l988.
On February l, l905, Secretary of Agriculture James Wilson announced the transfer of the Forest Reserves to the Department of Agriculture, as authorized by Congress (H.R. 8460) on that same day. The newly created Forest Service was charged with providing for the use of the National Forests, while maintaining the permanence of their resources.
In l908, Chief Forester Gifford Pinchot appointed Arthur C. Ringland the first District Forester of the newly organized Southwestern District, or District 3. The district comprised New Mexico's 3ll,040-acre Pecos River Forest Reserve, established in l892, as well as the Prescott, Gila River, and Santa Rita Forest Reserves, encompassing millions of acres. Region 3, as the Southwestern district has been known since l930, is a system of canyons, mountains, deserts, grasslands, and wildlife that encompasses some 2l million acres of public lands in Arizona and New Mexico. Unique features of the region are its extreme ranges in elevation (l4l ft. above sea level at Yuma, Arizona to l3,l6l ft. at Mt. Wheeler in northern New Mexico) and the resulting six life zones.
Twelve national forests make up the region: Coconino, Kaibab, Prescott, Sitgreaves, and Tonto national forests in Arizona; Carson, Cibola, Gila, Lincoln, and Santa Fe national forests in New Mexico; and Apache and Coronado national forests in both states.
Nine men have served as regional foresters since the district was organized in l908. They are: Arthur C. Ringland (l908-l9l6), Paul G. Redington (l9l6-l9l9), Frank C. W. Pooler (l920-l945), Philip V. Woodhead (l945-l949), C. Otto Lindh (l949-l955), Fred H. Kennedy (l955-l965), Milo Jean Hassell (l976-l985), and Sotero Muniz (l985 to the present). (Source:Timeless Heritage, Chapters l, 6, and l6.)
In May l983, Intaglio, Inc. of College Station, Texas, was contracted by the USDA Forest Service to conduct research and to write a history of Region 3. Timeless Heritage: a History of the Forest Service in the Southwest, authored by Robert D. Baker, Henry C. Dethloff, Robert S. Maxwell, and Victor H. Treat, was published by Intaglio, Inc. in August l988.
Extent
5 boxes (5 cu. ft.)
Separated Material
Photographs have been transferred to the History of the Forest Service in the Southwest Photograph Collection
Creator
- United States. Forest Service. (Organization)
- Title
- Finding aid of the History of the Forest Service in the Southwest collection
- Status
- Approved
- Author
- Processed by CSWR staff
- Date
- ©2000
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid is in English
Revision Statements
- June 28, 2004: PUBLIC "-//University of New Mexico::Center for Southwest Research//TEXT (US::NmU::MSS 459 BC::History of the Forest Service in the Suthwest)//EN" "nmu1mss459bc.sgml" converted from EAD 1.0 to 2002 by v1to02.xsl (sy2003-10-15).
- Monday, 20210524: Attribute normal is missing or blank.
Repository Details
Part of the UNM Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections Repository
Contact:
University of New Mexico Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections
University Libraries, MSC05 3020
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque NM 87131
505-277-6451
cswrref@unm.edu
University of New Mexico Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections
University Libraries, MSC05 3020
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque NM 87131
505-277-6451
cswrref@unm.edu