Inventory of the George Harris Collingwood Papers, 1889 – 1958

Descriptive Summary

Abstract: George Harris Collingwood (1890-1958) was a forest ranger, forester for the American Forestry Association, chief forester for the National Lumber Manufacturers ASsociation, and author of bulletins, magazine articles, and the popular book Knowing Your Trees.

The collection includes professional and family papers, diaries, forestry course notes, photographs, clippings, mementos, manuscripts, drafts of articles, and correspondence relating to Collingwood's work as Ranger on the Apache National Forest, Arizona (1914-1915); the United States Bureau of Aircraft Production; the National Lumber Manufacturers Association (1940-1946); the Society of American Foresters; the American Forestry Association (1928-1940); the Cornell University Forestry Extension (1916-1923); the U.S. Legislative Reference Service (1952-1958); and the United States Forest Service.

Title: George Harris Collingwood Papers, 1889 - 1958

Creator: Collingwood, G. H. (George Harris), 1890-1958

Repository: Forest History Society Library and Archives

Call Number: 3278

Language of Material: Material in English

Extent: 4.0 linear feet (10 archival boxes)

Biographical Note

George Harris Collingwood (1890-1958) was a forest ranger, forester for the American Forestry Association, chief forester for the National Lumber Manufacturers ASsociation, and author of bulletins, magazine articles, and the popular book Knowing Your Trees.

Collingwood was born in Fayetteville, Arkansas on May 27, 1890. He earned his B.S. in Forestry. from Michigan State College in 1911 and his M.A. from the University of Michigan in 1917. He began his forestry career as an Assistant Ranger on the Apache National Forest, Arizona with the United States Forest Service (USFS).

Collingwood held numerous positions in forestry organizations. In 1928 he became the forester for the American Forestry Association; he held this position for twelve years. During this appointment he guided the Association's educational programs with federal and state agencies, private woodland owners, and forest industries. In 1940 he became chief forester for the National Lumber Manufacturers Association (NLMA). This appointment lead to such accomplishments as assisting with the Forest Conservation Policy of NLMA, the amendment of Section 3 of the Clarke-McNary Act which increased the authorization of cooperative forest fire protection funds, and amendment to Section 9 of the McNary-McSweeney Act to complete forest surveys.

The forestry profession benefited from Collingwood's numerous publications. His work include bulletins for the United States Department of Agriculture, magazine articles and a popular book entitled Knowing Your Trees, 1937 published by the American Forestry Association. Collingwood held membership with the Society of American Foresters and American Association for Advancement of Science.

George Harris Collingwood worked diligently during his forestry career and was well received by his peers. Collingwood helped change the way government responded to the needs of forestry. At the time of his death on April 2, 1958, he was a specialist in forestry and natural resources with the Legislative Reference Bureau.

Collection Overview

The collection includes professional and family papers, diaries, forestry course notes, photographs, clippings, mementos, manuscripts, drafts of articles, and correspondence relating to Collingwood's work as Ranger on the Apache National Forest, Arizona (1914-1915); the United States Bureau of Aircraft Production; the National Lumber Manufacturers Association (1940-1946); the Society of American Foresters; the American Forestry Association (1928-1940); the Cornell University Forestry Extension (1916-1923); the U.S. Legislative Reference Service (1952-1958); and the United States Forest Service.

Collingwood maintained excellent documentation that provides valuable insights into forestry practices and government regulations such as the Clarke-McNary Bill and the Fulmer Act that greatly impacted forestry procedures. Documents include organizational correspondence, memos, awards, expense logs, manuscripts, diaries, photographs, and articles from Collingwood's fifty year career as a forester. The papers are arranged in chronological order within each folder.

Note: As much as possible, the arrangement of his papers has been retained. Duplicates of manuscript and published materials have been discarded.

Collection Arrangement

1. Series A: Family (Personal Correspondence), 1910 to 1950s

2. Series B: Education, 1889-1922

3. Series C: Career, 1911-1958

3.1. Group A: Professional History, 1911-1958

3.2. Group B: Special Projects, 1911-1958

4. Series D: Publications, 1915-1949

5. Series E: Professional Organizations and Awards, 1920-1956

6. Series F: Photographs, Expense Logs, and Diaries, 1906-1958

Subject Headings

• Apache National Forest (Ariz. and N.M.) -- History -- 20th century
• American Forestry Association
• Arizona -- History -- 20th century
• Collingwood, G. H. (George Harris), 1890-1958
• Collingwood, Jean Cummings
• Cornell University. Cooperative Extension
• Forest rangers -- Arizona -- Apache National Forest (Ariz. and N.M.)
• Forest reserves -- Southwestern States
• Library of Congress. Legislative Reference Service
• National Lumber Manufacturers Association
• National parks and reserves -- Arizona
• Society of American Foresters
• Southwestern States
• United States. Bureau of Aircraft Production
• United States. Forest Service
• United States. Forest Service Southwestern Region

Detailed Description of the Collection

1. Series A: Family (Personal Correspondence), 1910 to 1950s

• Box 1
  Father and Mother, June 1910 to September 1910
• Box 1
  Father, Mother & Sisters, July 1911 to December 1911
• Box 1
  Father, Mother, & Sisters, January 1912 to December 1912
• Box 1
  Father and Mother, January to June 1913
• Box 1
  Jean and Father, September 1914 to September 1915
• Box 1
  G. H. Collingwood to Jean, 1915 to 1916
• Box 1
  Jean's Relatives and Friends, 1915 to 1929
• Box 1
  Thomas P. Collingwood (War-Navy), 1941 to 1947
• Box 1
  G. H. Collingwood: Personal
• Box 1
  G. H. Collingwood: Personal, 1921- 1937
• Box 1
  G. H. Collingwood: Personal (Family), 1940s
• Box 1
  G. H. Collingwood: Family Affairs, 1950s

2. Series B: Education, 1889-1922.

• Box 2
  Journals from Agriculture Experiment, 1889-1890
• Box 2
  Botany Notes, 1909
• Box 2
  Letters from G.H. Collingwood to Family. 1912-1915
• Box 2
  G. H. Collingwood Letters from Germany, 1913-1914
• Box 2
  G. H. Collingwood & Jean, 1915-1929
• Box 2
  G. H. Collingwood & Jean, 1916
• Box 2
  Eaton Rapids Rural Survey, 1916
  • Includes articles and notes.
• Box 2
  Forest Management Notes, 1917
  • Relates to classes by Filibert Roth and P. S. Lovejoy.
• Box 2
  Letters to Jean, not G. H. Collingwood, 1917-1922

3. Series C: Career.

3.1. Group A: Professional History, 1911-1958.

• Box 3
  Ranger, Arizona, 1911-1916
• Box 3
  Family Correspondence, 1914-1937
• Box 3
  G. H. Collingwood and Jean, 1915-1916
• Box 3
  Principles of Economics, 1915-1917
• Box 3
  Cornell University Period, 1916-1923
• Box 3
  G. H. Collingwood to Jean, 1917-1926
• Box 3
  Personal Correspondence, 1919-1921
• Box 3
  Jean to G. H. Collingwood, early 1920s
• Box 4
  G. H. Collingwood and C. B. Collingwood, Sr., 1907-1936
• Box 4
  Friends and Relatives, 1920-1929
• Box 4
  Letters From Friends, 1924
• Box 4
  G. H. Collingwood and Jean, 1920-1936
• Box 4
  United States Forest Service Period, 1923-1928
  • Includes publications and correspondence.
• Box 4
  G. H. Collingwood and Jean, 1929-1930
• Box 4
  Letter from Franklin Delano Roosevelt, 1933 and 1935
• Box 4
  Personal Employment, 1946-1951
• Box 4
  Commission's Report on Agriculture, 1948
• Box 4
  Legislative Reference Services, 1952-1958
• Box 4
  Jokes and Personalities of Foresters

3.2. Group B: Special Projects, 1915-1956.

• Box 5
  Rural New Yorker Correspondence, 1915-1922
• Box 5
  Bureau of Aircraft Production, 1918
• Box 5
  Imports Under Proclamation 2708, 1943-1947
• Box 5
  Mexican Exports and Imports, 1946
• Box 5
  Olympic National Park, 1946-1948
• Box 5
  Agricultural Interests, 1946-1950
• Box 5
  Biographical Material for DAB Article on Ferdinand A. Silcox, 1955-1956

4. Series D: Publications, 1915-1949.

• Box 6
  Agricultural Bulletins, 1915, 1919, 1940's
• Box 6
  Pubs, Activities in Forestry Service, 1923-1928
• Box 6
  Appraisal: Forestry Extension Work, 1923
• Box 6
  Publications, 1923-1929
• Box 6
  Walnut Manuscript, 1944
• Box 6
  Chronological File on Forest Product, 1947
• Box 6
  Society of American Foresters, 1953
• Box 6
  Collingwood Miscellaneous, 1917-1958
• Box 6
  G. H. Collingwood Miscellaneous
  • Includes negatives, photo, clippings, correspondence, horoscopes, and other materials.
• Box 6
  Miscellaneous Clippings
• Box 6
  Correspondence with Photo, 1949

5. Series E: Professional Organizations and Awards, 1920-1956.

• Box 7
  New York Historical Society, 1920-1930
• Box 7
  Society of American Foresters, 1925-1955
• Box 7
  American Forestry Association Period (General), 1928-1940
• Box 7
  Commission Organization, 1946-1948
• Box 7
  National Lumber Manufacturers Association (NLMA), 1940-1946
• Box 7
  American Forestry Association, 1948-1953
• Box 7
  American Forestry Association: "Washington Look Out," 1948-1955
• Box 7
  G. H. Collingwood Honors at Michigan State College Commencement, 1954
• Box 7
  Michigan State College, 1954
• Box 7
  American Forestry Association Conservation Award, 1956

6. Series F: Photographs, Expense Logs, and Diaries, 1906-1958.

• Box 8
  American Wood: Collingwood
• Box 8
  Roycroft, 1920
• Box 8
  Small Photo Album of a Trip
• Box 8
  Index: Book
• Box 8
  Ontario Owners Inc.
• Box 8
  Miscellaneous Pamphlets and Department of Forestry Material
• Box 8
  The Arnold Arboretum and Its Future, 1927
• Box 8
  Charles Collingwood Correspondence, 1921-1946
• Box 9
  Photo Album: Trip to Europe
• Box 9
  Photo Album: Work with the U.S. Forest Service
• Box 9
  "Family Pictures": Envelope of Postcards and Photographs
• Box 9
  "The Ju Shakha," 1910 (by Junior Shakesperian Class)
• Box 9
  Letters during Mother's Illness, Autumn 1922
• Box 9
  Collingwood: Small Photo Aalbum, Pictures, Siary (June-September 1910, July 1913)
• Box 9
  Scrapbook, 1917-1930s
• Box 10
  Diaries: G. H. Collingwood, 1906-1911, 1914, 1936-1958
• Box 10
  Collingwood Log
  • Includes miscellaneous notes on varying subjects.
• Box 10
  Miscellaneous Notes on Forestry
• Box 10
  Miscellaneous Note on Logging Road
• Box 10
  Notes on Oregon Trip, 1941
• Box 10
  The Wolverine, 1911

Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

No restrictions.

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Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], George Harris Collingwood Papers, Library and Archives, Forest History Society, Durham, NC, USA.

Processing Information

Processed by Carmelita Pickett, December 1999, and Amanda Ross, September 2008

Encoded by Amanda Ross, September 2008

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.