Inventory of the Thomas C. Nelson Papers, 1945 – 1990
Descriptive Summary
Abstract: Thomas C. Nelson (1923-1985) had a long career in the United States Forest Service, eventually serving as its Deputy Chief. Nelson published works on various forestry topics.
The collection consists of one file folder containing miscellaneous personal papers, an alphabetized bibliography of Nelson's works in the form of notecards, and copies of Thomas Nelson's numerous published materials.
Title: Thomas C. Nelson Papers, 1945 - 1990
Creator: Nelson, Thomas C. (Thomas Charles), 1923-1985
Repository: Forest History Society Library and Archives
Call Number: 3936
Language of Material: Material in English
Extent: 3.0 linear feet (2 record cartons)
Biographical Note
Thomas C. Nelson (1923-1985) had a long career in the United States Forest Service, eventually serving as its Deputy Chief. Nelson published works on various forestry topics.
Thomas Charles Nelson was born in Wautoma, Wisconsin. He received a B.S. degree in agriculture from the University of Wisconsin in 1943. Nelson received an M.S. degree in forest pathology in 1947 and a Ph.D degree in forest ecology in 1950, both from Michigan State University. Nelson first worked for the U.S. Forest Service in the years following his discharge from the Navy in 1946. Nelson worked as a research forester at the Southeastern Forest Experiment Station in Asheville, North Carolina during the 1950s and early 1960s (except during 1957 and 1958, when he was in charge of timber management for the Kirby Lumber Company of Texas). In 1966, Nelson became director of the Southern Forest Experiment Station in New Orleans, Louisiana. He moved to Washington, D.C. in 1970 to become associate deputy chief for State and Private Forestry. Nelson served as deputy chief for Programs and Legislation for a short time before becoming deputy chief for State and Private Forestry. From 1973 until his retirement in 1980, Nelson was the Deputy Chief of the USDA Forest Service. Nelson researched numerous forestry subjects during his years working for the U.S. Forest Service, and much of his work was published.
During his retirement years, he served as assistant to the president of the American Mining Congress, a position he held until cancer took his life on October 30, 1985.
Collection Overview
The collection consists of one file folder containing miscellaneous personal papers, an alphabetized bibliography of Nelson's works in the form of notecards, and copies of Thomas Nelson's numerous published materials.
Collection Arrangement
Works are filed chronologically in eight file folders and three ringbinder notebooks. Materials filed in the notebooks have an accompanying index. Materials filed in the folders are primarily duplicates of the indexed works, though there are several papers and pamphlets written by Nelson that are not found in the notebooks.
- Personal Papers and Published Materials, 1945-1990
Subject Headings
- Forest ecology -- United States
- Forest management -- United States
- Forests and forestry -- United States
- Nelson, Thomas C. (Thomas Charles), 1923-1985
- Southeastern Forest Experiment Station (Asheville, N.C.)
- Southern Forest Experiment Station (New Orleans, La.)
- United States. Forest Service
Detailed Description of the Collection
1. Personal Papers and Published Materials, 1945-1990.
- Folder 1
Personal Papers, 1945-1969- Primarily contains correspondence and memos pertaining to Nelson's discharge from the U.S. Navy in 1946.
- Folder 2-9
Published Materials by Thomas C. Nelson, 1950-1990 - Notebook 1-3
- Notebooks: Nelson's Published Materials
- Thomas C. Nelson's research covers miscellaneous forestry topics, such as silviculture, forest management, forest history, forest ecology, forest geography, etc. For a complete listing of the materials filed in these three ringbinders, see the index that is filed in the front of the notebook holding materials dating from 1947 to 1957.
- 1947-1957
- 1958-1968
- 1969-1976
- Notebooks: Nelson's Published Materials
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], Thomas C. Nelson Papers, Library and Archives, Forest History Society, Durham, NC, USA.
Acquisitions Information
Received from Terry West in August 1991.
Nelson's widow provided the papers to Terry West, then Historian for the Public Affairs Office of the U.S. Forest Service, on August 7, 1991. West kept those papers he considered archivally significant for his own repository and donated the rest to the Forest History Society on August 8, 1991.
Processing Information
Processed by Michele Justice, September 1991
Encoded by Amanda Ross, January 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.
