American Tree Farm System Collection Open to Researchers
Recently processed with the help of graduate student intern Shaun Trujillo, the American Tree Farm System (ATFS) Collection is now open to researchers. The tree farm movement began in June of 1941 with the dedication of the Clemons Tree Farm in Washington. Since then, the American Tree Farm System’s membership and focus have moved from one dominated by industrial forests to that of family-owned forests. Its history reflects the broader history of private forest ownership as well as the history of public-private cooperative forestry.
The records of the American Tree Farm System document the important history of tree farming in the U.S. The collection includes organizational records, press clippings, correspondence, inspection and certification records, publications, records of awards and conventions, and numerous photographs and slides of ATFS events and activities, as well as films of educational programming and public service announcements by famous tree farmers such as Andy Griffith. A complete inventory of the ATFS Collection is now available online.
Researchers interested in the ATFS will also want to explore related collections at FHS such as the records of the American Forest Institute and the National Forest Products Association. For more background information and access to additional historic documents on tree farming in the U.S., visit our new ATFS history digital collection.
Below you will find a few highlights from the American Tree Farm System Collection.
Smokey Bear making an appearance at a tree farmer certification ceremony.
1942 letter discussing the emerging tree farm standards.
Early tree farm advertisement.
A promotional tree farming pamphlet.
Artist rendering of a proposed American Tree Farm System hot air balloon.
Another rendering of proposed hot air balloon.
Commemorative Domino’s Tree Farm (Michigan) baseball bat.
Color slide image of a Tree Farm cake.
One of the celebrity public service announcements found in the collection:
