Collection Guide
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Inventory of the Department of Forestry Records
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Title: Department of Forestry Records
Dates: 1968-2004
Collection Number: See series descriptions
Creator:
State Board of Forestry;
Department of Natural Resources - Division of Forestry;
Department of Forestry
Collection Size:
113 cubic feet
Repository:
California State Archives
Sacramento, California
Abstract: The records of the California Department of Forestry (CDF) span over a century, with the majority of the material concentrated
in the period from the 1930s to the 1970s. The records reflect the activities of the Department of Forestry, and include information
regarding fire protection, forest convservation, the State Labor Camp and Civilian Conservation Camp Programs, World War II-related
activities and programs, and affirmative action practices of the 1970s and 1980s.
Physical Location: California State Archives
Languages: Languages represented in the collection:
English
Some items related to personnel matters have been restricted, per Government Code 7927.7 (formerly Gov. Code section 6254(c)).
These items have been noted throughout the finding aid.
For permission to reproduce or publish, please consult California State Archives staff. Permission for reproduction or publication
is given on behalf of the California State Archives, Office of the Secretary of State, Sacramento, as the owner of the physical
items. The researcher assumes all responsibility for possible infringement that may arise from reproduction or publication
of materials from the California State Archives' collections.
[Identification of item], Department of Forestry Records, [ID number]:[folder number], California State Archives, Office of
the Secretary of State, Sacramento, California.
The California State Archives acquired the Department of Forestry records according to state law.
To understand the history of the forestry program in California, one must turn to the establishment of the first State Board
of Forestry in 1885 (
Statutes 1885, chapter 11). This first Board, comprised of three members, was entrusted to collect and disseminate data on silviculture
and enforce state and national forestry laws.
Less than a decade later, the legislature in 1893 repealed the 1885 act that created the Board of Forestry (
Statutes 1893, chapter 187). In 1905 the Forest Protection Act (
Statutes 1905, chapter 264), instituted a new Board of Forestry, consisting of the Governor, Secretary of State, and the State Forester
whose position was created in the same law. Fire protection duties were entrusted to volunteer fire wardens and select counties.
Not until 1919, however, was a more efficient fire protection system inaugurated. With U.S. involvement in World War I, came
a more intense awareness of fire prevention and control needs. Losses of grain, farm equipment, and wood could not be risked.
California counties consequently developed local fire control districts. In addition, two bills affected the state forestry
program. One bill signed into law,
Statutes 1919, chapter 176, reorganized forestry operations and provided for districts, rangers, and equipment; and empowered the
State Forester to formulate fire protection agreements with federal and local governments and private parties.
Soon after, another law provided for a different Board of Forestry (
Statutes 1919, chapter 544). The governor now appointed representatives from different professional sectors such as timber and livestock,
to serve on the board with the State Forester.
During the governorship of C.C. Young, a Department of Natural Resources was established (
Statutes 1927, chapter 128). Within the newly established Department of Natural Resources, the legislature created a Division of
Forestry (
Statutes 1927, chapter 764). The State Forester became the Chief of the Division. The State Board of Forestry henceforth operated
as the policy-making body for guidance of the division with the State Forester also serving as secretary to the Board.
The Great Depression had its effect on CDF and resulted in the establishment of State Labor Camps that CDF operated from 1931-1933.
Unemployed men were given the opportunity to construct fire breaks, roads, trails and telephone lines, in return for much
needed money. The Civilian Conservation Corps continued similar projects like those of the labor camps through 1942.
World War II saw CDF become involved in national programs of fire prevention and education. CDF lookouts were used by the
Aircraft Warning Service of the U.S. Army and the Fire Fly Project, aimed to stop Japanese incendiary balloons, involved CDF.
In 1945 the legislature passed the Forest Practice Act, (
Statutes 1945, chapter 85) to promote production of forest lands. Each district established by this act was regulated by a committee
that adopted rules for the district. On several occasions legislation has altered the FPA to conform to modern forest practice
needs.
CDF operations in the post-World War II era expanded rapidly. More forest lands were acquired for the state forest system,
air tanker usage increased, the conservation camp program accelerated, and watershed management and range improvement programs
began to function.
In 1961 the Department of Conservation replaced the Department of Natural Resources (
Statutes 1961, chapter 2037). The mission of the California Department (formerly Division) of Forestry (CDF) is the protection and
responsibility for over 38 million acres of state, private, and intermingled federal lands having statewide interest with
regards to timber production, rangelands, recreation uses, and watershed values. The Department directly provides fire protection
for approximately 29 million acres of these lands. In addition, 6 million acres of local-responsibility lands are protected
under contract by reimbursement of costs for 26 counties. Administrative functions as of 1968 included the office of State
Forester fire control; management services; engineering and conservation camps; training; fire prevention; and forest, range,
and watershed management.
The 1970s were continued years of expansion for CDF. Effective in 1977, the Division of Forestry became the Department of
Forestry (
Statutes 1976, chapter 1300). Also in the 1970s, CDF began to utilize women for fire fighting purposes and rearranged their program
to compensate for programs cuts caused by Proposition 13, the tax reform initiative.
The records of the California Department of Forestry (CDF) span over a century, with the majority of the material concentrated
in the period from the 1930s to the 1970s. The records reflect and coincide with various historic and social issues in California
and United States history. Some of the records represented that were influenced by such issues include the State Labor Camp
and Civilian Conservation Camp Program, World War II-related activities and programs, and affirmative action practices of
the 1970s and 1980s. The papers of C. Raymond Clar give a good overview of CDF's history and form the basis for two books
on CDF development and operation.
The most complete series within the collection, the Fire Control series, is the best represented because fire control has
been CDF's main objective during its early years and has since been enhanced by other programs. Other major subgroups include
Administration, District III and V records, Agreements, Forest Management, Public Relations, Range Improvement, and Watershed
Management. Series which contain "general" for the series title contain administrative records involving the operation of
specific programs.
The most apparent trend existing throughout the collection is the theme of cooperation. Since its inception, CDF has always
worked jointly towards the goal of fire prevention and control with local, state, and federal agencies as well as private
groups. More recent programs were aimed at assisting farmers and foresters in forest, range, and watershed management. Times
of crisis such as World War II, fires, floods, and other disasters encouraged these groups to work even closer together.
Several major individuals are represented in the collection. Included are the working papers of Merritt B. Pratt, State Forester
from 1921-1944; Raymond Clar, Assistant Executive Office to the Board of Forestry from 1953-1969; Cecil Metcalf, Deputy State
Forester of District IV from 1943-1962; John Hastings, Chief of District V until its demise in 1985; and Frank E. Thompson,
District Forester for the Central Coast District from the late 1920s until 1933.
The records of M. B. Pratt cover the transition period when forest management was wholly a function of the State Board of
Forestry. These records are described in two sections: Part I, the records of M. B. Pratt, ca. 1921-1944, but which includes
records relating to the State Labor Camp Program and other miscellaneous records dating prior to 1944 which cannot be properly
identified as a part of records described in Part II; Part II, records arranged according to Circular Letter No. 122-5, dated
February 19, 1971. The majority of records described in Part II will cover the period ca. 1944-1985. In some instances series
will date back as far as 1920 in order to insure the continuity and integrity of the specific series. This is particularly
true of early records relating to fire control.
The collection consists mainly of correspondence, memoranda, publications and pamphlets, newspaper clippings, reports, photographs,
tape recordings, and several movies.
In general, records that have a F subnumber lower than F3849:1690 reflect the work of the Division of Forestry, while those
higher than F3849:1690, or identified as R288, are in most instances related to the Department of Forestry. Many series descriptions
however describe both the Division and Department in order to retain the continuity of the records.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
California. Dept. of Forestry
California. State Board of Forestry
California. Division of Forestry
Fire prevention
Forest conservation
Related Collections at the California State Archives
Board of Forestry Records
Board of Forestry and Fire Protection Records