James K. Vessey / Peter J. Hanlon Collection
M2003.06
Table of Contents
Summary Information
- Repository
- UNC Asheville Special Collections and University Archives
- Title
- James K. Vessey / Peter J. Hanlon Collection
- ID
- M2003.06
- Date [inclusive]
- 1880-2002
- Extent
- 1.75 Linear feet ; 4 boxes
- Physical Description
- Contains correspondences, publications, photographs, newspaper and other clippings
- Location
- Located in Special Collections, Row 7, Section 5
- Language
- English
Preferred Citation
[Identification of Item], James K. Vessey / Peter J. Hanlon Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library, Special Collections, University of North Carolina Asheville
Biographical Note
James K. Vessey was a regional forester with the U.S. Forest Service in Region 8 (Southern Region), and he served on the Cradle of Forestry Advisory Committee/Commission, which was apparently responsible for raising funds for and planning the development of the Cradle of Forestry site and its educational and interpretive programs. Peter J. Hanlon, a forest supervisor with National Forests in North Carolina (an organizational unit of the U.S. Forest Service), contracted with the U.S. Forest Service in the early 1970s to write a history of N.C. national forests. Some of the materials collected by Hanlon date to the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The Vessey materials date primarily from the 1960s and 1970s.
Scope and Contents
Contains materials collected by James K. Vessey and Peter J. Hanlon documenting the history of the creation of what became known as the Cradle of Forestry in America on the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, N.C.; the history of the Biltmore Forest School, which operated from 1898 to 1913 under the leadership of German-born forester Carl Alwin Schenck (1868-1955); and the broader history of national forests in western North Carolina, especially the Nantahala and the Pisgah national forests. Correspondence, minutes of meetings of the Cradle of Forestry Advisory Committee, brochures, pamphlets, maps, newspaper clippings, reprinted journal articles, newsletters of the Southern Region of the U.S. Forest Service, photographs, a musical score, and reports are included in the collection.
Arrangement Note
The collection was originally in two boxes, and the materials were identified and listed by the Forest History Society when they received the materials in 1998. During the initial processing by Special Collections staff, the materials were reordered. In June 2018, the collection was reprocessed, and returned to the order, and folder titles, identified in 1998. Some materials could not be identified from the 1998 container list, although they were clearly part of the collection, and these are now included in Folders 14 to 17 of Box 4. An anomaly is an article in Box 4, Folder 17 from 2002, which is after the date of the original donation. The article has an attached handwritten note from Peter Hanlon so may have been given directly to Ramsey Library.
Administrative Information
Publication Information
UNC Asheville Special Collections and University Archives
Ramsey Library, CPO # 1500One University Heights
Asheville, North Carolina, 28804-8504
828.251.6645
speccoll@unca.edu
Rights
No restrictions. Any display, publication, or public use must credit the D.H. Ramsey Library, Special Collections, University of North Carolina Asheville. Copyright retained by the creators of certain items in the collection, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.
Custodial History
The Forest History Society of Durham, N.C. received the collection from Mr. Hanlon in April 1998. Using the mailing labels a guides, the Society thought that Mr. Vessey mailed his materials to Mr. Hanlon 1989. [The Vessey materials are all of Box 1 and Folders 1 to 4 of Box 2.] The Historical Society donated the collection to Ramsey Library in January 2000.
Processing Information
Initial container list by Forest History Society, 1998. Processed by Special Collections staff, 2003. Reprocessed and new finding aid by Colin Reeve, June 2018
Collection Inventory
Box 1 |
||||
|
Folder 1: Photographs |
||||
|
Photo 1: J. K. Vessey, Regional Forester, opening of CFA ceremony, (1964) |
||||
|
Photo 2: Foresters and civic leaders, guests of Reuben Robertson at the Sit N'Whittle Lodge, Lake Logan, North Carolina, for launching the Cradle of Forestry in America, September 6, 1963 |
||||
|
Photo 3: J. K. Vessey; Peter Hanlon, Supervisor of National Forests in North Carolina; Supreme Court Justice Douglas; and Harvey Broome, President of the Wilderness Society looking at the Black Forest house on Rock Creek, Pisgah National Forest, NC, September 1963 |
||||
|
Photo 4: (Henry Clapper and J. K. Vessey), nd |
||||
|
Photo 5: Unidentified people at dinner, nd |
||||
|
Photo 6: (Forestry workers) outside cabin, nd |
||||
|
Photo 7: Reuben Robertson, possibly at opening of Cradle of Forestry, nd |
||||
|
Photo 8: Ribbon cutting (at Cradle of Forestry), nd |
||||
|
Photo 9: (Opening of Cradle of Forestry), nd |
||||
|
Photo 10: (Opening of Cradle of Forestry), nd |
||||
|
Photo 11: (Opening of Cradle of Forestry), nd |
||||
|
Photo 12: Reuben Robertson and two unidentified men, possibly at opening of Cradle of Forestry, nd |
||||
|
Photo 13: Reuben Robertson, possibly at opening of Cradle of Forestry, nd |
||||
|
Photo 14: Reuben Robertson, at Cradle of Forestry, nd |
||||
|
Photo 15: (Opening of Cradle of Forestry), nd |
||||
|
Photo 16: Reuben Robertson and others, possibly at opening of Cradle of Forestry, nd |
||||
|
Photo 17: (Opening of Cradle of Forestry), nd |
||||
|
Folders 2 - 20: Correspondence (1962-74) incoming and outgoing of Vessey pertaining to Cradle of Forestry in America, dedication of Verne Rhoades portrait, and advisory committee meetings |
||||
|
Folder 2: F. Leroy Bond, Regional Forester |
||||
|
Folder 3: Edwin Conger, Staunton, VA |
||||
|
Folder 4: James B. Craig, Editor. The American Forestry Association |
||||
|
Folder 5: H. C. Eriksson, Deputy Regional Forester |
||||
|
Folder 6:C. M. Evenson, USFS |
||||
|
Folder 7: G. A. Foss, Bear Creek Junction Rail Road |
||||
|
Folder 8: Voit Gilmore, Storey Corp. |
||||
|
Folder 9: Peter J. Hanlon |
||||
|
Folder 10: Charles Hensley, Assistant Regional Forester |
||||
|
Folder 11: W. W. Huber, Assistant Regional Forester |
||||
|
Folder 12: A. W. Nelson Jr., U.S. Plywood=Champion Papers Inc. |
||||
|
Folder 13: Kenneth B. Pomeroy, Chief Forester, American Forestry Association |
||||
|
Folder 14: R. J. Preston, NC State University |
||||
|
Folder 15: Mrs. Verne (Dorothea) Rhoades |
||||
|
Folder 16: Reuben Robertson |
||||
|
Folder 17: Theodore A. Schlapfer, Regional Forester |
||||
|
Folder 18: William (Bill) E. Towell, Exec. V.P. American Forestry Association |
||||
|
Folder 19: Joan & Jane Veach. Asheville |
||||
|
Folder 20: Ed Cliff, chief of the U.S. Forest Service |
||||
|
Folders 21 - 26: Cradle of Forestry in America |
||||
|
Folder 21: Advisory Commission, Minutes, 1970-72 |
||||
|
Folder 22: Charter of the Advisory Committee |
||||
|
Folder 23: Interpretive Plan |
||||
|
Folder 24: Conference on Cradle of Forestry in America, Notes, July 3, 1963 |
||||
|
Folder 25: Cradle of Forestry in America, Pisgah National Forest, North Carolina. Interpretive area plan, 1970 |
||||
|
Folder 26: Cradle of Forestry in America, Exhibit Area Plan, Forest Festival Trail. Exhibit area plan by U.S. Forest Service, 1972 |
||||
|
|
||||
Box 2 |
||||
|
Folders 1 - 6: Cradle of Forestry in America |
||||
|
Folder 1: Cradle of Forestry in America, Interpretive Story Plan, Phase 1. Plan for interpreting foresting history at the Cradle site |
||||
|
Folder 2: Cradle of Forestry in America, Master Plan Plan Phase II, Amendment 1970-A, Revised. Prepared by Office of Recreation & Environmental Design, National Forests in North America. Also includes "Critical Path to Development - Cradle of Forestry Project" project plan, prepared 9-70 |
||||
|
Folder 3: Interpretive Area Plan, Cradle of Forestry in America. 1973 |
||||
|
Folder 4: Cradle of Forestry in America, Cradle Advisory Committee Meeting, August 10, 1971. Agenda and transcripts of opening remarks and presentations |
||||
|
Folder 5: Three information folders containing miscellaneous brochures, maps, and reprints of articles related to the Cradle of Forestry. Each folder has slightly different contents. 1964 |
||||
|
Folder 6: Brochures and pamphlets describing Carl Schenck, Biltmore Forest School, and the Cradle of Forestry, (1968-87) |
||||
|
Folders 7 - 15: Journal Articles and Newspaper Clippings Concerning the Biltmore Forest School, Carl Schenck and the Cradle of Forestry in America |
||||
|
Folder 7: The Foot That Rocks the Cradle." Editorial. American Forests (October 1964) |
||||
|
Folder 8: Patton, C.R. "Biltmore Estate - Cradle of Conservation in America." Journal of Soil and Water Conservation (n.d.): 101-105 |
||||
|
Folder 9: Argow, Keith. "The Cradle of Forestry in America." Journal of Forestry 62 (October 1964): [3] pp |
||||
|
Folder 10: Yates, B.C."A Glimpse Into the Early Life of Gifford Pinchot." Journal of Forestry (September 1968): [4] pp |
||||
|
Folder 11: "The Cradle of Forestry." American Forests (May 1964): [3] pp |
||||
|
Folder 12: Jolley, Harley E. "The Cradle of Forestry in America." Reprint from American Forests (October, November, December 1970). Originally printed in three parts |
||||
|
Folder 13: Jolley, Harley E. "The Cradle of Forestry: Where Tree Power Started, Part I." American Forests (October 1970): 16-21. "The Cradle of Forestry, Part II", American Forests (November 1970): 36-39. "The Cradle of Forestry, Part III", American Forests (December 1970): 36-39, 51. |
||||
|
Folder 14: Rhoades, Verne. Fashioning the Cradle of Forestry in America". Speech thought to been presented at the joint American Forestry Association/North Carolina Forestry Association annual meeting in Asheville (October 19, 1964). Possibly later printed in American Forests (December 1964) |
||||
|
Folder 15: Newspaper articles, various publications, 1974-91 |
||||
|
Folders 16 - 24: Assorted Manuscripts, Publications, Reports and Articles |
||||
|
Folder 16: Manuscript titled "This Was Forestry in America: The Biltmore Forest School, 1898-1913", written (in 1983?) by F. H. Tainter and B. M. Cool of the Department of Forestry, Clemson University, SC and submitted for comments to the participants of the Symposium on the Early Logging History in the Southern Appalachian Mountains, July 1983 |
||||
|
Folder 17: Musical score with words to the song "Down Under The Hill", the alma mater song of the Biltmore Forest School. Words and music by Douglas Sayre Rodman of the class of 1902-03 |
||||
|
Folder 18: Agenda for the meeting "New Era Celebration, Cradle of Forestry in America, June 25, 1988." |
||||
|
Folder 19: Program for the joint annual meeting of the American Forestry Association and the North Carolina Forestry Association held in Asheville, N.C., 18-21 October 1964 |
||||
|
Folder 20: National Forests in North Carolina 1964. U.S. Forest Service |
||||
|
Folder 21: Forest Facts for Western North Carolina 1985 (Asheville, N.C.: Forestry Commission, Western North Carolina Development Association) |
||||
|
Folder 22: "Forestry Commission Report to the WNC Development Association." 3 May 1988. 4pp |
||||
|
Folder 23: National Forests In North Carolina, Birthplace of American Forestry. Resource management plans of the U.S> Forest Service, ca. 1970 |
||||
|
Folder 24: Uwharrie History. Contains "The History and Management of Uwharrie Purchase Unit, North Carolina", 1957 and a memorandum dated 2 December 1960 concerning land classification on the Uwharrie Purchase Unit |
||||
|
|
||||
Box 3 |
||||
|
Folders 1 - 8: Forest Lands in North Carolina |
||||
|
Folder 1: History of N.F.'s in N.C. - contract. Copy of contract between Peter J. Hanlon and the U.S., Forest Service for Hanlon's writing of a history of the North Carolina national forests, 1970 |
||||
|
Folder 2: Manuscript titled "Partial History of National Forests in North Carolina" by Lew M., dated April 15,1982, and correspondence related to Peter Hanlon's writing of the history |
||||
|
Folder 3: Two newspaper articles discussing the Nantahala National Forest, 1972 & 1973 |
||||
|
Folder 4: Recreation map of the Pisgah and Nantahala national forests in North Carolina produced by the Southern Region of the U.S. Forest Service |
||||
|
Folder 5: Pisgah National Forest Map, 1945 |
||||
|
Folder 6: Materials related to the fiftieth anniversary of the 1911 Weeks Law |
||||
|
Folder 7: U.S. Forest Service. Southern Region Report. Featuring the 50th Anniversary of the Weeks Law. 1961. 18pp. Two copies |
||||
|
Folder 8: Materials related to wildlife management in the Pisgah National Forest (1921-82) |
||||
|
Folders 9 - 13: Forested Land in Clay and Graham Counties of North Carolina Formerly Claimed by Edwin B. Olmsted |
||||
|
Folder 9: Legislation, (1907-34) |
||||
|
Folder 10: Correspondence, 1905-07 |
||||
|
Folder 11: Examination report by the Treasury Department listing acreage, soil conditions etc., on the Olmstead Tract of the Nantahala Purchase Unit. Date 23 October, 1880 |
||||
|
Folder 12: Report by Secretary of Agriculture James Wilson dated 17 June 1911 summarizing the history of the Olmsted Tract |
||||
|
Folder 13: "Report of the Survey of the Government Lands, Known as the 'Olmstead Lands'....", 1895: 32pp. Also questions asked of Alfred Judson Bryson in 1915 concerning Bryson's work on the 1895 survey. |
||||
|
Folders 14 - 16: U.S. Forest Service |
||||
|
Folder 14: "What The Forest Service Does." Reprint from the Outlook. Ca.1922 |
||||
|
Folder 15: Manuscript by Percy J. Paxton titled "The National Forests and Purchase Units of Region Eight." 1955 |
||||
|
Folder 16: Newsletters of the Southern Region of the U.S. Forest Service, January - December 1940, January 1971, April 1972, and May 1987 |
||||
|
|
||||
Box 4 |
||||
|
Folders 1 - 17: Assorted Manuscripts, Publications, Reports and Articles |
||||
|
Folder 1: Administrative Handbook, U.S. Forest Service Eastern District. Issued December 1927 |
||||
|
Folder 2: Newspaper articles concerning forests in western North Carolina. 1962, 1969 and n.d. |
||||
|
Folder 3: "Master Memorandum of Understanding for a Cooperative Demonstration Forest Program on the Bent Creek Experimental Forest". 1988 |
||||
|
Folder 4: "Background Information and Statistics on the R-8 Timber Management Program." Prepared by the Division of Timber Management. FY 1970 |
||||
|
Folder 5: "Gifford Pinchot, Forester". Reprint from The Journal of Forestry, August 1965 |
||||
|
Folder 6: Material related to wilderness areas, 1908, 1962, and n.d. |
||||
|
Folder 7: "Roaming the Mountains". Profile of Reuben Robertson by John Parris dated 11 June 1970 |
||||
|
Folder 8: Letter dated December 4, 1990 and supporting materials from artist Harry Rossoll to Peter Hanlon regarding Rossoll's artwork at the Forest Heritage Center in Oklahoma |
||||
|
Folder 9: "Administration TVA Lands Around Norris Lake...., March 1935-June 30, 1936". Report by J. J. Goulden. Sent to Verne Rhoades in August 1936 |
||||
|
Folder 10: Verne Rhoades Historical & Biographical. Miscellaneous biographical information, and six photographs [#21 to 26] and other materials relating to the dedication of Rhoades portrait at the Cradle of Forestry in 1970 [Note: Rhoades' portrait is now in Special Collections] |
||||
|
Folder 11: Materials related to U.S. Congressman Roy A. Taylor's support of forestry in North Carolina. 1967-75 |
||||
|
Folder 12: Handwritten notes concerning the 1899 "Convention for the Purpose of Establishing a National Park or Forest Reserve Association" and additional notes on efforts to establish a forest reserve in N.C. |
||||
|
Folder 13: Materials related to Walter Damtoft's/s request a salary increase and his "essential" work on the home front during WWI. 1917 |
||||
|
Folder 14: "Cradle of Forestry in America", Congressional Report No. 1129, May 1968 |
||||
|
Folder 15: Record of cutting on the Biltmore Tract and Land Bought, 1912-29 |
||||
|
Folder 16: The Forest Service History Line. Winter & Spring 1977 |
||||
|
Folder 17: Newspaper articles and notes by or about Vessey and Hanlon. 1970 and 2002 |
||||
|
|
||||