James Madison University Libraries Special Collections
U.S. Forest Service, George Washington National Forest, Dry River District records
SC 0083
/repositories/4/resources/392
3 cubic feet
2 boxes, 1 flat file, and 1 rolled storage container
1917-1994
This collection consists of photographs, memos, letters, pamphlets, maps, and other materials dating from 1917-1994 that relate to the George Washington National Forest, Dry River District. Most of the materials concern fire-fighting activities within the Forest, while others relate to the activities of the Civilian Conservation Corps and recreation within national forest lands.
English
Access Restrictions
Collection is open to research. Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using this collection. Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the James Madison University Special Collections Library to use this collection.
Use Restrictions
The copyright interests in this collection have been transferred to the James Madison University Special Collections Library. For more information, contact the Special Collections Library Reference Desk (library-special@jmu.edu).
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], [box #, folder #], U.S. Forest Service, George Washington National Forest, Dry River District Records, 1917-1994, SC 0083, Special Collections, Carrier Library, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA.
Acquisition Information
Donated in February 1998 by District Ranger Stephen Parsons.
Processing Information
During initial processing, photographs were removed from box:folders 2:1-2:3 and grouped into the folder Miscellaneous Photographs. In order to streamline the process of applying collection numbers, Special Collections staff completed a large-scale renumbering campaign in the spring of 2017. This collection was previously cataloged as SC 3014.
Administrative History
The George Washington National Forest was created after the enactment of the 1891 Forest Reserve Act, which was brought in front of Congress in response to the extensive damage done to the Shenandoah Valley by farming, timber, mining, hunting, and natural devastation. In 1911, the Weeks Act passed, which allowed the federal government to purchase land to be used for preservation. In 1917, three plots of purchased land in Virginia were combined to create the Shenandoah National Forest, later renamed the George Washington National Forest. The first ever Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camp, Camp Roosevelt, was established in the George Washington National Forest, and began work on constructing the roads, campgrounds, fire towers and more. A total of 14 camps were eventually opened in the forest. The 1960 Multiple-use Sustained-Yield Act and the 1973 Threatened and Endangered Species helped the animal and plant population thrive in the forest, and help it to become the popular recreational hotspot it is today.
Scope and Content
The U.S. Forest Service, George Washington National Forest, Dry River District Records, 1917-1994, consist of two boxes, 1 flat file, and 1 rolled storage container. Most file materials concern the Dry River District, which currently incorporates 227,000 acres on both sides of Shenandoah Mountain from State Route 259 in the north to Lookout Mountain and State Route 728 in the south, although locations in some other districts are mentioned. Most materials concern the fire-fighting activities undertaken by employees of Shenandoah National Forest, the predecessor name for the George Washington National Forest. Fighting forest arson, prevalent during the first half of the twentieth century, was at that time one of the U.S. Forest Service's foremost goals. The collection also includes some items relevant to recreational and historical topics.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged topically in two boxes, one flat file, and one rolled storage container.
Bibliography
USDA Forest Service, George Washington and Jefferson National Forest. http://www.fs.usda.gov/main/gwj/learning/history-culture.
Fire lookout stations -- George Washington National Forest (Va. and W. Va.)
Forest fires -- George Washington National Forest (Va. and W. Va.)
Forest fires -- Shenandoah National Forest (Va. and W. Va.)
Forest fires -- Massanutten National Forest (Va.)
Forest fires -- Detection
Forest fires -- Prevention and control -- handbooks, manuals, etc
Forest fires -- Statistics
Arson
Forests and forestry -- Environmental aspects -- United States
Forest management -- George Washington National Forest (Va. and W. Va.)
Forest management -- Shenandoah National Forest (Va. and W. Va.)
Forest management -- Massanutten National Forest (Va.)
Conservation of natural resources -- History
National parks and reserves -- Appalachian Region, Southern -- History
Recreation areas -- George Washington National Forest (Va. and W. Va.)
Stribling Springs (Va.)
Appalachian Region, Southern -- History
Shenandoah Mountain (Va. and W. Va.)
Lookout Mountain (Va. and W. Va.)
Massanutten Mountain (Va.)
Shenandoah National Forest (Va. and W. Va.)
George Washington National Forest (Va. and W. Va.)
Massanutten National Forest (Va.)
High Knob Fire Tower -- Shenandoah Mountain (Va. and W. Va.)
Camp Todd (Augusta County, Va.)
Maps (documents)
Photographs
Memorandums
Letters (correspondence)
Administrative records
Civilian Conservation Corps (U.S.) -- History
Civilian Conservation Corps (U.S.) -- Camp Roosevelt (Va.)
Standard lookout structure plans/repositories/4/archival_objects/2443193891Recreation/repositories/4/archival_objects/24441917-193421Camp Todd/repositories/4/archival_objects/24451932-196822Fire reports/repositories/4/archival_objects/24461917-191923High Knob fire tower/repositories/4/archival_objects/24471946-199424Fire warden system/repositories/4/archival_objects/24481922-1957 25Fire tower specifications/repositories/4/archival_objects/24491917-199026Civilian Conservation Corp photographs/repositories/4/archival_objects/245027Miscellaneous photographs/repositories/4/archival_objects/245128Scope and ContentsIncludes Stribling Springs.
Maps/repositories/4/archival_objects/267801917-1971Map no. 1, Massanutten National Forest/repositories/4/archival_objects/245219171Map no. 2, Shenandoah National Forest/repositories/4/archival_objects/245319171Map no. 3, Shenandoah National Forest, oversize, with acquisition boundaries/repositories/4/archival_objects/24541920RS 1Map no. 4, Massanutten Division, Shenandoah National Forest/repositories/4/archival_objects/245519251Map no. 5, Shenandoah National Forest, with text for general public/repositories/4/archival_objects/245619271Map no. 6, Shenandoah National Forest, with typed and penned text updates appended/repositories/4/archival_objects/245719271Map no. 7, Shenandoah National Forest, large/repositories/4/archival_objects/24581927RS 1Map no. 8, Shenandoah National Forest, with fire and ranger district boundaries drawn in and table of acreage/repositories/4/archival_objects/245919271Map no. 9 Shenandoah National Forest, with approved and recommended change in boundaries drawn in and table/repositories/4/archival_objects/24601927, 19322Map no. 10, George Washington National Forest, with text for general public/repositories/4/archival_objects/246119322Map no. 11, George Washington National Forest, with fire and ranger district boundaries drawn in/repositories/4/archival_objects/24621930s2Map no. 12, George Washington National Forest charcoal-iron furnaces/repositories/4/archival_objects/246319712