The
Forest Service Historical Photograph Collection consists of approximately 60,000
black and white images, mostly 8" x 10" in size. The photographs date from the late nineteenth century into the second half of the twentieth century. The Forest Service Historical Photograph Collection was begun in 1898
under the direction of Gifford Pinchot, the first Chief of the Forest Service,
and an avid photographer. Pinchot required his forestry agents to include photographs
and good documentation in oversight reports from the field. This policy carried
over when the Forest Service was given authority and responsibility for land
management.
Pinchot donated his personal collection of images on the subject of forestry to the Forest Service. These photographs were combined with those inherited from the Bureau of Forestry to form the foundation of the collection. Taken as a whole, the photographs create a pictorial documentation of the westward movement in America--the farmers, foresters, miners, cowboys, American Indians, scientists, and others who changed the face of the land.
The
photographs, housed in an automated file system, are filed under subject
categories developed by the Forest Service. Within the subject categories,
the photographs are filed by state and then by negative number. Examples
of subject categories include foresters at work, recreation, scenery,
logging, erosion, wildlife, homesteads, fire, and insects. The Subject
Matter Classification List provides an outline of the major subject
categories within the collection. The corresponding numerical codes are
important access points for retrieving the photographs on-site. Researchers
can review the list to determine the relevant subject areas prior to using
the collection.
Researchers accompanied by Special Collections staff may browse the holdings. An appointment is necessary. Materials are not available on loan, however photographic reproduction services are available for a fee.
Negatives of the photographs, as well as other photographs from the Forest Service Historical Photograph Collection, are located at the National Archives.
The image gallery below was created in the early 1990's to enable researchers to browse selected photographs online. Of all the subject areas represented in the collection, the four categories highlighted here are among the most popular.
 Forest Insects |
Forest Fire Fighters |
| Natural Phenomena |
Homesteads |
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