Inventory of the James C. Sorenson Papers, 1960 – 2015

Descriptive Summary

Abstract: James C. "Jim" Sorenson worked for the Missouri Department of Conservation from 1965 to 1976, and for the U.S. Forest Service from 1976 to 1998. He also worked with the Cooperative Forest Fire Program on various Smokey Bear campaigns in Washington, DC, from 1972 to 1974.

The collection includes items from the personal papers of Jim Sorenson, dating from the 1960s to 2010s. A majority of the materials are related to Smokey Bear and the Cooperative Forest Fire Program. The collection consists of correspondence, reports, publications, photos, audio recordings, artwork, and more.

Title: James C. Sorenson Papers, 1960 - 2015

Creator: Sorenson, James C.

Repository: Forest History Society Library and Archives

Call Number: 2021-001

Language of Material: Material in English

Extent: 2.75 linear feet (1 carton, 1 archival box, 1 oversize box)

Biographical Note

James C. "Jim" Sorenson was an employee of both the Missouri Department of Conservation and the U. S. Forest Service. After service with the U.S. Army he earned a bachelor's of science degree in forestry from the University of Montana in 1965. From 1965 to 1976 Sorenson worked for the Missouri Department of Conservation. In 1976 he officially began his career with the Forest Service, and worked for the agency until his retirement in 1998. Sorenson helped assist State Foresters in 13 southeastern states manage their cooperative forest fire programs. One of his overall career highlights was working with the Cooperative Forest Fire Program on various Smokey Bear campaigns in Washington, DC, from 1972 to 1974. In recognition of his work in forest fire prevention, Sorenson was presented with the Silver Smokey Award in 1996.

Collection Overview

Collection includes items from the personal papers of Jim Sorenson, dating from the 1960s to 2010s. A majority of the materials are related to Smokey Bear and the Cooperative Forest Fire Program. Consists of correspondence, reports, publications, photos, audio recordings, artwork, and more.

Collection Arrangement

The records are arranged into seven series.

1. Correspondence
2. Smokey Bear Files
3. Other Publications
4. Audio Recordings
5. Film/Video
6. Photographs, Artwork, Posters
7. Ephemera

Subject Headings

• Advertising -- Forest fire prevention -- United States.
• Cooperative Fire Protection Program (U.S.).
• Fire control.
• Forest fires -- Prevention and control.
• Smokey Bear.
• Smokey Bear -- Pictorial works.
• United States. Forest Service.
• Wendelin, Rudolph.
• Wildfires -- Prevention and control.

Detailed Description of the Collection

1. Correspondence, 1973-2015.

Box 1

• Folder 1.1: Correspondence, 1973-1996
• Folder 1.2: Correspondence, 2006-2015

2. Smokey Bear Files.

Box 1

• Folder 2.1: Cooperative Forest Fire Program
  Annual reports, 1963-1975.
• Folder 2.2: Cooperative Forest Fire Program
  Other materials.
• Folder 2.3: Rudy Wendelin
  Photographs, art, clippings, publications.
  

  Rudy Wendelin at his desk, 1973.

• Folder 2.4: Rudy Wendelin
  Wendelin-related correspondence files.
• Folder 2.5: Smokey Bear Campaign Catalogs
  Catalogs from 1983, 1989-1994.
• Folder 2.6: Smokey Bear Products and Licensing
  Other materials, 1972-1992, and undated.
  

  Knickerbocker Toys Smokey Bear dolls.

• Folder 2.7: The Real Smokey Bear Retirement (1974)
  Correspondence and other materials related to the retirement of the "real" Smokey Bear at the National Zoo.
• Folder 2.8: Smokey Says Cartoons
• Folder 2.9: Proposed Smokey Bear 50th Birthday Washington DC National Mall planning
  Correspondence, photos, maps, planning materials, circa 1994, related to a proposed Smokey Bear 50th birthday party on the National Mall.
• Folder 2.10: Smokye Mouse

3. Other Publications.

Box 1

• Folder 3.1: National Smokey Bear Workshop
  First National Smokey Bear Workshop (1970) proceedings.
  Second National Smokey Bear Workshop (1973) proceedings.
• Folder 3.2: Other Smokey Bear-Related Publications
  SAF Round Table newsletter, February 26, 1974.
  Smithsonian, May 1972.
  Sports Illustrated, June 12, 1972.
  Smokey's Record, 1960.
  Paisano, August/September 1971.
  Georgia Forestry, Fall 1988 and Fall 1992.
  Other materials.
• Folder 3.3: Smokey Bear 50th Birthday-Related Publications
  Fire Management Notes, 1992-1993.
  Pacific Southwest Newslog, Summer 1994.
  Other materials.
• Folder 3.4: Hot Foot Teddy News, 2008-2010

4. Audio Recordings.

Box 1

• Folder 4.1: Advertising Council Radio Kits (envelopes), 1971-1974

Box 2

• Items: Vinyl Records
  Ad Council / Cooperative Forest Fire Prevention, National Radio PSAs (1967-1972, 1977, 1980).
  *[listen online to 1980 National Radio PSAs]
  Southern Forest Fire Prevention, PSAs (1962, 1966, 1968).
  Eddy Arnold Tells It Like It Is (1969).
  Cool Sounds to Take the Heat Off Southern Forests (1971).
  Wildfire in the South: There's No Future In It (1972-73).
  "Smokey Bear" by Stone Hedge (1972).
  "Crying Trees" by The Limeliters (1963).
  "Smokey’s ABC’s" by Alvin & the Chipmunks / "Speaking for Smokey" by Loren Green, Andy Griffith and Rod Sterling (1964).
  Smokey Speaks for Forest Fire Prevention (1966).
  Hey Cowboy, Gotta Minute for Rangefire Rita? (1970).
  Special Edition: Smokey Bear's All-Stars (1977). [listen online]
  

  Smokey Bear's All-Stars album, 1977.

5. Film and Video.

Box 2

• Item 1
  Film reel- Jonathan Winters, 60 sec. color TV spot.
• Item 2
  VHS tape- Smokey Commemorative Video (pre-release copy), October 1993.

6. Photographs, Artwork, Posters, etc.

Box 3

• Folder 6.1
  Photographs and slides.
• Folder 6.2
  Artwork and Color slides of various characters for 1960s Smokey Bear cartoon; Harold Bell.
  
• Items
  Mark Trail cartoons.
  1978 Bic lighter Smokey Bear poster.
  1990 Smokey Bear calendar.
  Proposed Smokey Bear patches.
  Unauthorized Smokey Bear watch fob.
  Smokey Bear clip art.

7. Ephemera.

Box 1

• Items
  Smokey Bear Matchless Calculator.
  Smokey Bear cigarette lighter.
  Smokey Bear "Snuffit."
  Sixty Years of Vigilance (2004) commemorative coin.
  Team Smokey NASCAR trading cards (1989).

Other digital items also available.

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.

Acquisitions Information

Received from James Sorenson in August 2021.

Preferred Citation

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

Processing Information

Processed by Staff, 2021

Encoded by Staff, August 2022

Support for digitization and outreach provided by the Alvin J. Huss Endowment.