Inventory of the Arthur V. Smyth Papers, 1960 – 2004

Descriptive Summary

Abstract: Arthur V. Smyth (born 1919) was a professional forester and timber company executive. Smyth worked for Weyerhaeuser Company from 1941 to 1984, retiring as Vice President of National Affairs. For many years following his retirement Smyth was an associate of the Columbia Consulting Group. Long active in professional forestry affairs, he was elected a Fellow of the Society of American Foresters and served as the society's national president in 1990. In 1991 he received the American Forestry Association's Distinguished Service Award for service to the conservation of America's natural resources. He is the author of Millicoma Biography of a Pacific Northwestern Forest, which was published in 2000.

This collection contains correspondence, copies of speeches and addresses delivered before various organizations, annual meeting minutes and agendas, event programs, reports, newspaper clippings, and miscellaneous writings.

Title: Arthur V. Smyth Papers, 1960 - 2004 (bulk 1990-1995)

Creator: Smyth, Arthur V., 1919-

Repository: Forest History Society Library and Archives

Call Number: 2015-008

Language of Material: Material in English

Extent: 0.5 linear ft. (1 archival box)

 

Biographical Note

Arthur V. Smyth (born 1919) was a professional forester and timber company executive. Smyth graduated with a forestry degree from the University of Michigan in 1941. Upon graduation he joined Weyerhaeuser Company as a land examiner on Clemons Tree Farm in Grays Harbor, WA, the nation's first tree farm. During World War II he served in New Guinea, the Philippines and Japan. He was a member of the 650th Topographic Battalion, which made the maps for all major landings in the Southwest Pacific. After his service he returned to Weyerhaeuser and held various timberland management positions. In 1970 he was sent to Washington, D.C. to open the company's federal relations office. He served as vice president from 1972 until his retirement in 1984.

Following his retirement from Weyerhaeuser, Mr. Smyth was a forest consultant as an associate at Columbia Consulting Group. Mr. Smyth served six years on the National Agricultural Research Users Advisory Board, appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture. Long active in professional forestry affairs, he was elected a Fellow of the Society of American Foresters and served as the society's national president in 1990. He also served as chairman of the Columbia River Section of the Society in 1962 and the chairman of the National Capital Society of American Foresters in 1974. In 1991 he was awarded the Distinguished Service Award by the American Forestry Association for distinguished service to conservation of America's natural resources. Also in 1991 he received the Distinguished Service Award from the School of Natural Resources at the University of Michigan. He is the author of Millicoma Biography of a Pacific Northwestern Forest, which was published in 2000.

 

Collection Overview

This collection contains correspondence, copies of speeches and addresses delivered before various organizations, annual meeting minutes and agendas, event programs, reports, newspaper clippings, and miscellaneous writings.

Collection Arrangement

  1. Speeches and Writings, 1990-2000
  2. Society of American Foresters, 1990-1995
  3. Society of American Foresters Subgroups and Affiliated Groups, 1987-1994
  4. American Forest Congress, 1994-1996
  5. Yale Forest Forum, 1994-1995
  6. Weyerhaeuser Company, 1974-1994
  7. Clippings and Brochures, 1960-1990
  8. Biographical, 1992.

Subject Headings

  • American Forest Congress
  • American Forests (Association). Forest Policy Center
  • North Carolina Forestry Association
  • Smyth, Arthur V., 1919-
  • Virginia Forestry Association
  • Weyerhaeuser Company
  • Yale University. Yale Forest Forum

 

Detailed Description of the Collection

1. Speeches and Writings, 1990-2000.
  • Folder 1
    Speeches, 1990-1993

    • National Capital Society of American Foresters - Luncheon Meeting speech- January 31, 1990
    • "Forestry: A Changing Profession in a Changing World" - Ann Arbor, MI - February 22, 1990
    • Oregon Society of American Foresters speech- May 3, 1990
    • "Forest Research: A Mandate for Change" - National Research Council Report - June 5, 1990
    • Statement for National Research Council Press Conference - July 30, 1990
    • Statement on National Research Council's Report "Forestry Research: A Mandate for Change" - July 30, 1990
    • Opening Session Address - Society of American Foresters Annual Convention - July 30, 1990
    • Awards Ceremony address - Society of American Foresters Annual Convention - July 30, 1990
    • "Renewing the Conservation Ethic" - Society of American Foresters Annual Convention - Washington, DC - August 1, 1990
    • "The World Turned Upside Down" - For "American Forestry: An Evolving Tradition" - Society of American Foresters National Convention Proceedings - Richmond, VA - October 25-28, 1992
    • "Forest Management in the 21st Century" - Texas Society of American Foresters Annual Meeting - 1992
    • "The Great American Forest" - Rotary Club Cedar Knoll - January 27, 1993
    • "The World Turned Upside Down" - Virginia Forestry Association Annual Meeting - Richmond, VA- April 2-4, 1993
    • "The World Turned Upside Down" - Siskiyou Chapter Society of American Foresters - Ashland, OR - May 13, 1993
    • "The World Turned Upside Down" - North Carolina Forestry Association Annual Meeting - Wilmington, NC - September 30, 1993
    • "American Forestry: An Evolving Tradition in a World Turned Upside Down" - An article in the Journal of Forestry, January 1993, adapted from speeches by Arthur V. Smyth
    • Banquet Speech - Northwest Fire Council Annual Meeting - Portland, OR - November 15, 1993
  • Folder 2
    Speeches, 1997-2000

    • "The Great American Forest: From Jamestown to The Northern Spotted Owl" - An address before the 75th Annual Winter Meeting of The Allegheny Society of American Foresters - Matamoros, PA - February 13, 1997
    • "Forests and Forestry in the United States and How They Grew" - Presented at the 2000 Environmental Film Festival - Washington, D.C. - March 23, 2000
    • Award acceptance speech - American Forestry Association - Undated
    • Speech outline - Undated
    • "A Forester's Role in a Changing Environment" - Undated
    • Untitled speech as President of the Society of American Foresters - Undated
    • Untitled speech for Michigan Society of American Foresters - Ontario CIF - Undated
    • "Foresters and the Environment" - Undated
  • Folder 3
    Miscellaneous Writings, 1965-1990

    • Handwritten memo from Royce Cornelius (Chief Forest Engineer, Weyerhaeuser Company) to Art Smyth - September 22, 1965 and "Trees Don't Vote" by Royce O. Cornelius - A paper for the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society of American Foresters, Detroit, MI - October 25, 1965
    • Timber Taxation Report - Robert E. Wolf, Assistant Chief of Environment and Natural Resources Policy Division Congressional Research Service - May 10, 1982
    • Press Statement by Dr. Jerry A. Sesco (Deputy Chief for Research, USDA Forest Service) - July 30, 1990
    • Writing for "Forest Perspectives"- Undated
    • Unsigned letter regarding a seminar - Undated
    • Miscellaneous - Undated
    • "Signs of Change" - Society of American Foresters - Undated
    • "Short Term Payout in Relation to Longer Term (Short Rotation) Forestry" - Undated
    • "German Contributions to the Forestry Profession in America" - Undated
2. Society of American Foresters, 1990-1995.
  • Folder 4
    Society of American Foresters, 1990-1995

    • Correspondence from George R. Staebler - May 17, 1988
    • Correspondence between Dick Welch and Jim Sorenson regarding Society of American Foresters program development - February 23, 1990
    • Correspondence regarding Society of American Foresters Annual Convention Opening Session planning - July 19, 1990
    • Correspondence to Charles W. Bingham, Executive VP of Weyerhaeuser Company - August 24, 1990
    • Commentary entry by Art Smyth in the December 1990 issue of the Journal of Forestry regarding Society of American Foresters Annual Convention 1990
    • Correspondence from Richard G. Reid, Associate Director Continuing Education and Meetings, Society of American Foresters - November 16, 1992
    • "Professional Ethics of The Society of American Foresters: A History 1900-1995" Draft by Arthur V. Smyth - August 1995
    • Memorandum regarding Accounting for Society of American Foresters Contributions and Funds - July 12, 2004
    • Correspondence between John F. Hosner, Chairman of the Investment Committee and Dr. John A. Helmos, VP of Society of American Foresters - October 20, 2004
    • Correspondence between John F. Hosner, Chairman of the Investment Committee and Michael T. Goergen, Jr. of the Society of American Foresters - October 20, 2004
    • Correspondence regarding Members, Investment Committee meeting - October 29, 2004
    • Investment Committee Report draft, October 2004
3. Society of American Foresters Subgroups and Affiliated Groups, 1987-1994.
  • Folder 5
    Virginia Forestry Association, 1993

    • Correspondence regarding Virginia Forestry Association Annual Convention - February 12, 1993
    • Directory of Participants, Annual Meeting - April 2-4, 1993
  • Folder 6
    Northwest Fire Council, 1993

    • Memo regarding Annual Meeting 1993
    • Thank you letter to Arthur V. Smyth regarding Annual Meeting 1993
    • Memorandum - 1993
    • Northwest Fire Council Annual Meeting program - November 15-17, 1993
    • Northwest Fire Council Annual Meeting - List of Speakers and Moderators - November 15-17, 1993
    • Northwest Fire Council Annual Meeting - List of Exhibitors - November 15-17, 1993
    • Northwest Fire Council Annual Meeting - List of Participants - November 15-17, 1993
  • Folder 7
    American Forests Forest Policy Center, 1994

    • Workshop Summary - Building Partnerships for Ecosystem Management on Forest and Range Lands in Mixed Ownership - Northeast Regional Workshop - Manchester, NH - March 20-21, 1994
    • Workshop Summary - Building Partnerships for Ecosystem Management on Forest and Range Lands in Mixed Ownership - Rocky Mountain Regional Workshop - Fort Collins, CO - June 5-6, 1994
    • Workshop Summary - Building Partnerships for Ecosystem Management on Forest and Range Lands in Mixed Ownership - Northern Rockies Regional Workshop - Missoula, MT - July 7-9, 1994
    • Workshop Summary - Building Partnerships for Ecosystem Management on Forest and Range Lands in Mixed Ownership - Southern Regional Workshop - Auburn, AL- October 18-20, 1994
  • Folder 8
    Forest Roundtable, 1993

    • The Forest Roundtable - Grey Towers Planning Session - Milford, PA - August 15-16, 1993
    • The Forest Roundtable - Grey Towers Planning Session - Consolidated Notes - Milford, PA - August 15-16, 1993
  • Folder 9
    Society of American Foresters Subgroups and Miscellaneous, 1990-1993

    • Correspondence from M.B. Dickerman of the International Society of Tropical Foresters - January 20, 1987
    • Correspondence from Forrest Fenstermaker of the National Capital Society of American Foresters - January 14, 1989
    • Program from Society of American Foresters Washington State Annual Banquet - May 4, 1990
    • Program from Oregon Society of American Foresters Annual Meeting - May 2-5, 1990
    • Program from Implementing a Vision - Partners in Action Conference sponsored by Society of American Foresters Siskiyou Chapter - Ashland, OR - May 13, 1993
    • North Carolina Forestry Association Annual Meeting agenda and program - September 29-October 1, 1993
    • North Carolina Forestry Association Annual Meeting program - September 29-October 1, 1993
    • Letter of thanks from Bob Slocum of the North Carolina Forestry Association
4. American Forest Congress, 1994-1996.
  • Folder 10
    American Forest Congress, 1994-1996

    • Roundtable and Congress Communications Strategy - Draft number 3 - October 7, 1994
    • Roundtable Group suggestions - November 22, 1994
    • Memorandum regarding Seventh American Forest Congress - From Gretchen Lloyd, Oregon/Washington Director of the U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management - March 15, 1996
    • "The Seventh American Forest Congress: Results, Conclusions and Next Steps" - Prepared for briefings of the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives - April 22, 1996
    • Roundtable paperwork from Seventh American Forest Congress - Undated
    • "Seventh American Forest Congress: Toward a Shared Vision - A Brief History of the American Forest Congresses" by Arthur V. Smyth
5. Yale Forest Forum, 1994-1995.
  • Folder 11
    Yale Forest Forum, 1994-1995

    • Advisory Committee Planning Meeting Agenda - Yale Forest Forum: American Forest Congress - Washington, DC - May 12-13, 1994
    • Yale Forest Forum Committee Meeting Agenda and Notes - Little Rock, AR - June 16-17, 1994
    • Advisory Group Meeting Agenda - August 31-September 1, 1994
    • Advisory Group Action Items/Meeting Notes - October 18, 1994
    • Advisory Group Action Items/Meeting Notes - December 14-15, 1994
    • Correspondence and Organization Charts - December 22, 1994
    • Roundtable Meeting Agenda draft - Undated
    • Advisory Group Scripted Agenda and draft- Roundtable Meeting - January 10-12, 1995
    • Preliminary Comments/Questions from Roundtable Meeting - January 11, 1995
    • Breakout Group Guidelines and draft from Roundtable Meeting - January 11, 1995
    • Breakout Group Summaries from Roundtable Meeting - January 11, 1995
    • Roundtable Meeting Evaluation Results - January 10-12, 1995
    • Meeting Minutes - January 12-13, 1995
    • Correspondence from John C. Gordon of Yale University School of Forestry and Environmental Studies - January 19, 1995
6. Weyerhaeuser Company, 1974-1994.
  • Folder 12
    Weyerhaeuer Company, 1974-1994

    • "The Future of Resource Management - Confrontation or Cooperation?" An address by C.W. Bingham, Senior Vice President, Weyerhaeuser Company - At the Sigurd Olson Institute of Environmental Studies - Ashland, WA - May 24, 1974
    • Correspondence to Arthur V. Smyth regarding summary of meeting minutes - August 15-16, 1993
    • Meeting Minutes - May 19, 1994
    • Meeting Minutes - June 21, 1994
7. Clippings and Brochures, 1960-1990.
  • Folder 13
    Clippings and Brochures, 1960-1990

    • "The Society of American Foresters: An Historical Summary." Reprinted from the Journal of Forestry, Volume 58, Number 10 - October 1960
    • "What Do Employers Want?" Article in American Forests - September 1965
    • The Forest History Cruiser, Volume 6, Number 2 - Summer 1983
    • "Celebrating Earth Day Requires a Certain Calm" by David Warsh in the Washington Post - April 11, 1990
    • "Activists, Industry Oppose Logging Plan in National Forest" by Matthew Lee in the Washington Post - April 19, 1990
    • "Mother Nature's Guilt Trip" by Henry Allen in the Washington Post - April 22, 1990
    • "A True Shortage: Scientists Who Can Speak Plainly" by William J. Hudson in Intellectual Capital Exchange - April 30, 1990
    • "Renewing the Conservation Ethic" by Arthur V. Smyth in the Journal of Forestry - November 1990
    • "Public Comments Crucial to 10-year Resource Plan, BLM team's leader says" by Paul Fattig in the Mail Tribune - December 3, 1992
    • "BLM Logging Plan Takes Gentler Tack" by Gordon Gregory in The Daily Courier - 1992
    • The Pinchot Letter, Spring 1996
    • Ecotour of the Trans-Canada Highway map and pamphlet
    • A Forest for All Seasons, Forestry Capital of Canada 1990 Sault St. Marie Ontario
    • The Group of 10: The Environmental Movement's Mainstream - newspaper clipping - Undated
8. Biographical, 1992.
  • Folder 14
    Biographical, 1992 and undated

    • Biographical sketches of speakers from Texas Society of American Foresters Annual Meeting - November 3-5, 1992
    • Arthur V. Smyth bio and business card, Columbia Consulting Group - Undated

 

Administrative Information

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No restrictions.

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Preferred Citation

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Arthur V. Smyth Papers, Library and Archives, Forest History Society, Durham, NC, USA.

Processing Information

Processed by Jessamyn Leonard, May 2015.

Encoded by Jessamyn Leonard, May 2015.

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.

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