Environmental History Archives of North America
Our Guide to Environmental History Archival Collections is a database containing descriptions of over 7,000 groups of environmental history records located in more than 450 repositories across North America and around the world. The collections represent individuals, organizations, and associations involved with land use, conservation, or natural resource issues. The Forest History Society published an earlier version of the database as: North American Forest History: A Guide to Archives and Manuscripts in the United States and Canada, compiled by Richard C. Davis (Santa Barbara : ABC-CLIO, 1977). FHS also provides free assistance with helping donors find appropriate repositories for new archival collections such as those described in our Guide.
How Data Is Collected
Descriptions in the Guide are as complete as the Forest History Society staff has been able to make them, but for the most up-to-date information, researchers should contact the holding repositories directly. It is now possible for archivists to update and add new records for their own repositories by contacting FHS staff. We also welcome suggestions for collections that should be added to this Guide, either from the holding repository or from researchers.
Search Assistance Available
If you have difficulty searching the database, our library staff will be glad to perform custom searches of the database and email the results to you. Please contact Archival Guide, Forest History Society, 2925 Academy Road, Durham, North Carolina, 27705. Telephone inquiries may be made to 919-682-9319 or you may email FHS staff.
Obtaining Materials Listed in the Archival Guide
The nature of archival materials means that they are unique, often irreplaceable. Therefore it is most often necessary to travel to an archives in order to use the materials. Some archives may be able to do limited copying if requests are very specific.
