Inventory of the William C. Shepard Papers, 1902 – 1958

Descriptive Summary

Abstract: William C. Shepard was a consulting forester in Berlin, Connecticut who advised individuals and organizations on wood utilization. He served as Secretary-Forester of the Connecticut Forest and Park Association and initiated the establishment of the Natural Resources Council of Connecticut.

The collection includes mostly correspondence, committee reports, and minutes of meetings concerning forestry and forest utilization in Connecticut. Also includes early twentieth century photographs of people and places relating to lumber and wildlife. Much of the collection pertains to the work of the Connecticut Forest and Park Association. Other associations and organizations represented in the papers include the Natural Resources Council of Connecticut, the New England section of the Society of American Foresters, and the Northeastern Wood Utilization Council.

Title: William C. Shepard Papers, 1902 - 1958

Creator: Shepard, William C.

Repository: Forest History Society Library and Archives

Call Number: 3961

Language of Material: Material in English

Extent: 1.0 linear feet (2 archival boxes)

Biographical Note

William C. Shepard was a consulting forester in Berlin, Connecticut who advised individuals and organizations on wood utilization. He served as Secretary-Forester of the Connecticut Forest and Park Association and initiated the establishment of the Natural Resources Council of Connecticut. Among his activities, Shepard devised and operated a program of generating charcoal from timber obtained through forest thinning, the sale of which to tobacco farmers was moderately profitable for the state of Connecticut. He also worked to convert fallen timber into salable lumber following a hurricane and oversaw a program to provide lumber from state forests to address a home-building problem.

Collection Overview

The collection includes mostly correspondence, committee reports, and minutes of meetings concerning forestry and forest utilization in Connecticut. Also includes early twentieth century photographs of people and places relating to lumber and wildlife. Much of the collection pertains to the work of the Connecticut Forest and Park Association. Other associations and organizations represented in the papers include the Natural Resources Council of Connecticut, the New England section of the Society of American Foresters, and the Northeastern Wood Utilization Council.

Collection Arrangement

1. Correspondence, Meeting Minutes, and Other Organizational Materials, 1902-1958

Subject Headings

• Connecticut Forest and Park Association
• Connwood, Inc.
• Forest products -- Connecticut
• Forests and forestry -- Connecticut
• Natural Resources Council of Connecticut
• Northeastern Wood Utilization Council (U.S.)
• Sleeping Giant Park Association
• Shepard, William C.
• Society of American Foresters. New England Section
• Wood --- Utilization -- Connecticut

Detailed Description of the Collection

1. Correspondence, Meeting Minutes, and Other Organizational Materials, 1902-1958.

• Folder 1
  American Forest Products Industries: Woodlot Forestry, 1957-1958
  • Includes correspondence, booklet entitled "Busy Acres", and other materials.
• Folder 2
  Connecticut Arboretum, 1954-1957
  • Includes bulletins, annual meeting reports, and other materials related to the Connecticut Arboretum at Connecticut College.
• Folder 3
  Connecticut Forest and Park Association, 1952-1957
  • Includes correspondence, meeting notes, budget reports, and other materials.
• Folder 4
  Connecticut Forest and Park Association: Correspondence Before and As Secretary, 1948
• Folder 5
  Connecticut Forest and Park Association: Forestry Committee, 1954-1958
  • Includes materials related to American Tree Farm system.
• Folder 6
  Connecticut Forest and Park Association: Shade Tree Committee,
  • Includes materials related to the street tree program in Connecticut. Also includes a newspaper clipping regarding the resignation and firing of Connecticut foresters, including William C. Shepard, following George C. Waldo's leadership of the Connecticut park and forest commission.
• Folder 7
  Connecticut River Watershed Council, 1954-1956
  • Includes organizational programs and brochures.
• Folder 8
  Connwood Incorporated, 1952-1957
  • Includes committee meeting minutes, correspondence, annual reports, and notices related to Connwood Incorporation, a forest products marketing association for owners.
• Folder 9
  Cordwood Utilization: Conversion Process, 1952-1958
• Folder 10
  Cornell Forestry School, 1956-1957
  • Includes print of photograph of 1902-1903 class of Cornell Forestry School students, with people identified by Stanton G. Smith in 1956; a 1956 letter from Smith to Bill Shepard; and a letter from Ralph S. Hosmer to Shepard dated December 22, 1957.
• Folder 11
  Forestry Professional Work and Advice, 1919-1955
  • Includes correspondence concerning forestry work and recommendations, chiefly with representatives from the Northern Connecticut Power Company and Thompsonville Water Company. Also includes undated report on Thompsonville Water Company tract.
• Folder 12
  Forest Products Utilization, 1953
• Folder 13
  Natural Resources Council of Connecticut, 1954-1958
  • Includes meeting minutes, programs, notices to members, and other materials.
• Folder 14
  Northeastern Wood Utilization Council, Inc., 1952-1957
  • Includes by-laws, newsletters, meeting minutes, and other materials.
• Folder 15
  Sleeping Giant Park Association, 1955-1958
  • Includes meeting notices, programs, and other materials.
• Folder 16
  Society of American Foresters: New England Section, 1950-1955
  • Includes 1950 membership directory, correspondence and notices sent to members, and proceedings of the March 1956 meeting of the New England Section of the Society of American Foresters.

Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

No restrictions.

Copyright Notice

The nature of the Forest History Society's archival holdings means that copyright or other information about restrictions may be difficult or even impossible to determine despite reasonable efforts. The Forest History Society claims only physical ownership of most archival materials.

The materials from our collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to U.S. Copyright law. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used for academic research or otherwise should be fully credited with the source.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], William C. Shepard Papers, Library and Archives, Forest History Society, Durham, NC, USA.

Processing Information

Processed by Amanda Ross, March 2009

Encoded by Amanda Ross, March 2009

Funding from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission supported the encoding of this finding aid. Support for digitization and outreach provided by the Alvin J. Huss Endowment.