Rogue River National Forest records

Researchers should note that in 2006 the compiler, Jeff LaLande, selected many (what were judged to be the more broadly historically informative) text-/map-based items from the collection for photocopying. Those copies were then placed at two Jackson County, Oregon locations, as “partial HRC” reference files that would remain available locally: (a) at the Heritage Program files of the Rogue River – Siskiyou National Forest Supervisor’s Office (SO), in Medford; and (b) at the Special Collections section of the Hannon Library, Southern Oregon University, Ashland (where these particular items will eventually be digitized and included in the Southern Oregon Digital Archive [SODA] for on-line availability). In some cases, duplicate originals (as opposed to photocopies) were placed in these local partial-HRC reference files.

A-files: Legal proclamations, land-use plans, forestwide overviews, and resource inventories. The files contain boundary proclamations as well as substantial forest-wide information (general reports and plans) that describe, quantify, and inventory multiple Forest resources.

"Final Guide to the Historical Records Collection of the Rogue River National Forest," by Jeff LaLande. Abridged and edited by Hannon Library staff in 2010.

A-3 "Report on the Boundaries of the Crater National Forest," by H.D. Foster. Crater National Forest, Medford, Oregon (38p). An overview of the physical characteristics and economic resources of the Crater N.F. (now Rogue River N.F.) Much of the material is identical to that in item A-4 (Swenning 1909). Foster's report may have served as the basis for part of Swenning's document in file A-4. Good background on Fish Lake water developments, settlements, grazing, etcetera. The materials make recommendations for Forest boundary changes. [RR-SNF/SOU-HL]

Swenning. Crater National Forest, Medford, Oregon (17p). Brief sections on: topographic features, water projects, agriculture, grazing, settlers, forest cover, forest stands (w/MMBF of species by townships and "regions"), deforestation, timber sold (by "region" or District; sawtimber, fuelwood, posts), mining, mineral springs, Huckleberry Mountain, early Forest personnel (i.e., General Land Office rangers, 1898-1905). (Some of the personal anecdotes about the latter are entertaining reading and reveal some of the condescension that the early USFS rangers evidently felt for some of their USDI predecessors.) [RR-SNF/SOU-HL]

A-5 "The Crater National Forest: Its Resources and Their Conservation," by Findley Burns. Forest Service Bulletin 100, USDA, Washington, D.C. (20p). The pamphlet gives an overview of the forest topography, water, timber, fire, grazing, mining, settlement, Crater Lake, and mineral springs. Some material was undoubtedly drawn from the previous two items. [RRSNF/SOU-HL]

A-6 Crater Lake National Forest "Special Population Report," e-maps, Medford, Oregon. (13p). The report gives district-by-district estimates for the year 1913 regarding the number of persons residing in or visiting the Forest for various purposes. Categories include lumbermen, millmen, stockmen, miners, farmers, forest officers, "women, children, and dependents," campers, etcetera. Shows estimates for both N.F. Land and private in-holdings. This item may be useful for comparative use-study of the early Crater N.F. Ranger Districts. [RR-SNF/SOU-HL]]

A-7 Crater/Rogue River National Forest "File - National Forest Name Change," L-boundaries, Medford, Oregon (10p). Correspondence is dealing with the renaming of Crater National Forest. Some name suggestions included: Harrison, Jackson, McLoughlin, Roosevelt, Hamilton, and Big Pine National Forests. [RR-SNF/SOU-HL]

A-8 Rogue River National Forest "General National Forest Information," Medford, Oregon (18p). A forerunner of the Multiple-Use Reports, this report gives background on CCC, ERA, and Blister Rust crews, Forest-use statistics, and descriptions of significant recreation features. The paper uses a question and answer format in much of the text. Provides a total of various types of FS structures (e.g., lookouts, ranger stations, dwellings). [RR-SNF/SOUHL]

A-9 Rogue River National Forest "Multiple-Use Report for 1961-1969," Medford, Oregon. The Multiple-Use Report includes annual forest statistics, background on each significant resource, and photographs (see also items A-12 and K-19). [RR-SNF/SOU-HL]

A-12 The folder contains "Rogue River National Forest facts and figures." Additional items include the Butte Falls ranger district activity and the USDA Forest Service natural resources agenda.

A-14 "Crater Lake and Rogue River National Forest Values for Jackson County, Oregon," Karl L. Janouch, Rogue River National Forest, Medford, Oregon (10p). Similar in format and content to the subsequent annual "Multiple-Use Reports of the 1960s in A-9." [RR-SNF/SOU-HL]

A-16 "Mission Statement," Rogue River National Forest, Medford, Oregon (34p). A brief statement on Resource Management Mission of the Rogue River N.F., by Ranger District and Resource Section. [RRSNF/SOU-HL]

A-23 "Rogue River Time-Line: Chronology of the Rogue River National Forest and the Surrounding Areas," Jeffrey M. Lalande, C.R. Job RR-572, Rogue River National Forest, Medford, Oregon (16p). A "highlight" history of the Forest, from prehistoric geological events up to the early 1980s. [RR-SNF/SOU-HL]

A-26 "First Proclamation - Siskiyou Forest Reserve," Theodore Roosevelt, Washington, D.C. (2p). A legal proclamation defining the boundaries of the Siskiyou Forest Reserve. Includes the westernmost portion of Applegate Ranger District (includes a map). [RR-SNF/SOU-HL]

A-30 "Multiple-Use Plan," Star Ranger Station, Applegate Ranger District Oregon. A multiple-use plan for the Applegate Ranger District. The paper includes landscape management unit plans for the Upper Applegate County Highway, the development of various recreation sites at Miller Lake, Siskiyou Mountain Scenic Area, Steamboat Cemetery, and other places. [RR-SNF/SOU-HL]

Consist largely of Forest Service maps, including recreation maps with a text of general Forest information on the reverse side. It also includes Forest Service documents pertaining to geographic placenames. Recreation site plans and specific-area maps are contained in the G file; grazing atlases are in the E file. Several other maps are included with land exchange reports in the O file.

Items labeled B-1 through B-9 lists links to digitized maps of Crater Lake National Park U.S. Forest Service "Map of Crater National Forest."

B-11 through B-31, B-79 Includes various maps of Rogue River National Park and the surrounding area. [SOU-HL]

This file contains two items. B-69 is a Map of the Rogue River National Park. B-111 is the double-sided Recreation Map and Regular [RR-SNF/SOU-HL]

The C-files are composed of early and recent timber reconnaissance and inventory reports, timber management plans, "policy statements," and sale reports, as well as correspondence dealing with forest diseases and insect infestations. The C-file also includes items dealing with Christmas-tree cutting and other "special forest products."

C-1 "Preliminary Report on Reconnaissance Work," Bartle T. Harvey, Crater National Forest, Medford, Oregon (16p). A summary of timber stand reconnaissance projects near major watersheds noting fire damage, insect infestations, species types, etcetera. [RR-SNF/SOU-HL]

C-2 file contains the Crater (Rogue River) National Forest "File - Fourbit Creek Timber Sale," S-Sales, Medford, Oregon. A fairly complete administrative history of the earliest timber sale within what is now the Rogue River National Forest, aside from small firewood, shake and post sales. Documents include pre-sale appraisals and documents relating to the transfer of adjacent lands and rolling stock from Millard Olds Lumber Co. to Owen-Oregon Lumber Co. in the early 1920s; timber sale "progress reports" from 1925 to early 1930s. Some of these reports contain inventories of railroad and logging equipment, size and breakdown of woods-crews, wages, living conditions, etcetera. [RR-SNF/SOU-HL]

C-2 file contains the Crater (Rogue River) National Forest "File - Fourbit Creek Timber Sale," S-Sales, Medford, Oregon. A fairly complete administrative history of the earliest timber sale within what is now the Rogue River National Forest, aside from small firewood, shake and post sales. Documents include pre-sale appraisals and documents relating to the transfer of adjacent lands and rolling stock from Millard Olds Lumber Co. to Owen-Oregon Lumber Co. in the early 1920s; timber sale "progress reports" from 1925 to early 1930s. Some of these reports contain inventories of railroad and logging equipment, size and breakdown of woods-crews, wages, living conditions, etcetera. [RR-SNF/SOU-HL]

The C-3 file contains a "Report Covering the Applegate River and Bear Creek Districts," B.E. Hofmann, S-Reconnaissance, Crater National Forest, Medford, Oregon (17p). The report includes timbertype reconnaissance; giving species and stand characteristics, etcetera. The report recommends only salvage cutting in the Ashland Watershed and discusses railroad logging potential of the Applegate drainage. [RR-SNF/SOU-HL]

C-4 "Summary of Timber Stand," Fred A. Matz, Crater National Forest, Medford, Oregon (12p). A timber inventory statistics, arranged by District and species. [RR-SNF/SOU-HL]

C-5 contains a "Management Plan," Hugh B. Rankin, S-Supervision, Crater National Forest, Medford, Oregon (30p). This document is the earliest timber management plan on record for the forest. The plan describes timber resources and economic development (mills, roads, etcetera) of various Working Circles and Districts. Deals with proposed railroad logging projects. [RR-SNF/SOU-HL]

C-6 The Crater National Forest "Various Forest and Bureau of Entomology reports on insect infestations," Medford, Oregon (10+p). Provides insect varieties, areas affected, and timber volumes infested. [RR-SNF/SOU-HL]

C-7 A "Policy Statement," Hugh B. Rankin, SManagement Plans, Crater National Forest, Medford, Oregon (52p). Primarily a second timber management plan, similar to one issued in 1921 (C-5), but more detailed as to policy and silvicultural prescriptions. [RR-SNF/SOU-HL]

C-8 "Memorandum on Railroad Location Possibilities Through and Around the proposed Union Creek Addition to Crater Lake National Park," George L. Drake, L-Boundaries, Crater National Forest, Medford, Oregon. Seven pages with map at the scale: 1"=1/2 mile. Memorandum discusses the proposed route locations, cost estimates, and timber volumes made accessible through the construction of a logging railroad into the area north of Union Creek. This report was used as basic research input to item O-7. The proposed Union Creek addition to the National Park never occurred. [RR-SNF/SOU-HL]

C-9 A "Policy Statement," S-Management Plans," Hugh B. Rankin, Crater National Forest, Medford, Oregon (39p). Similar to the 1924 timber management plan. The plan is a more realistic appraisal of railroad logging potential with increased mention of the need for auto-truck roads and small sawmills. [RR-SNF/SOU-HL]

C-10 The Rogue River National Forest "Annual Statistics - Timber Cut and Sold," compiled by Forest Supervisor Carroll Brown, Medford, Oregon. The document duplicates some material in Volume 2 of the Forest History. [RR-SNF/SOU-HL]

C-11 "A Plan of Management for Rogue River Working Circle," H. C. Obye, S-Plans, Timber Management Section, Rogue River National Forest, Medford, Oregon (51p). A timber management plan for the present Prospect Ranger District. The document provides background information for the area concerning timber volumes, current cutting history, sawmills, etcetera. [RR-SNF/SOU-HL]

C-12 Rogue River National Forest "Correspondence concerning insect infestations," S-Control, Medford, Oregon (14p). [RR-SNF/SOU-HL]

C-13 "A Plan of Management for the Timber Resources of Rogue River National Forest," Maurice L. Tedrow, S-Plans, Timber Management Section, Rogue River National Forest, Medford, Oregon (35p). A forestwide timber management plan. Provides background information on various resources and contains useful data on disease and insect history, socio-economic information, as well as early policy on scenic strips. [RR-SNF/SOU-HL]

C-14 "Timber Management Plan," by David P. Keiser, and Lyle N. Anderson, Timber Management Section, Rogue River National Forest, Medford, Oregon (45p). The document is similar in format to item C-13 but updated and expanded. [RR-SNF/SOU-HL]

C-18 "Memorandum of Inspection - A. L. Coggins Timber Sale," I. J. Mason, S-Sales, Rogue River National Forest, Medford, Oregon (2p). The correspondence deals with a timber sale of 1928 in the upper Tolman Creek drainage. 10 MMBF were sold, but only a fraction was cut, due to the low demand of the Depression economy. [RR-SNF/SOU-HL]

C-20 Crater National Forest "Progress Reports - Brushy Hill Replanting Project, 1910," Medford, Oregon (14p). The report includes information on Brushy Hill Plantation in Ashland Watershed, as well as Sequoia plantation at Ashland Tool House. [RR-SNF/SOU-HL]

C-21 Crater National Forest "Report on Trespass - Ashland Manufacturing Co.," Medford, Oregon (31p). The report deals with timber trespass and fire trespass by a private logging company on the Neil Creek portion of the National Forest. A map shows the locations of cutting units and donkey engine settings. [RR-SNF/SOU-HL]

C-26 "The Scaler's Prayer," Anonymous. Five stanzas of rhyme which relate the woes of life as a Forest Service timber scaler. The poem probably dates to 1965. [RRSNF/SOU-HL]