Inventory of the Arthur B. Recknagel Photograph Collection, 1910 – 1944
Descriptive Summary
Abstract: Arthur B. "Reck" Recknagel (1883-1962) had a long and varied career in forestry as a forester with the U.S. Forest Service, as a professor of forest management, and later as a leader and consultant in the paper industry.
This collection contains four photo albums, as well as seven folders of loose photographs. Two albums feature images taken during the late 1920s and early 1930s when forestry professor Arthur Bernard Recknagel led his Cornell University forestry students on field trips to South Carolina. Another album features images from Recknagel's trip to Europe from 1911 to 1912, primarily documenting forestry practices in Germany. A 2020 addition to the collection includes 172 photographs, from 1910-1938, and one letter from 1944.
Title: Arthur B. Recknagel Photograph Collection, 1910 - 1944
Creator: Recknagel, A. B. (Arthur Bernhard), 1883-1962
Repository: Forest History Society Library and Archives
Call Number: 7281
Language of Material: Material in English
Extent: 1 box
Biographical Note
Arthur B. "Reck" Recknagel (1883-1962) had a long and varied career in forestry as a forester with the U.S. Forest Service, as a professor of forest management, and later as a leader and consultant in the paper industry. A widely respected industrial forester, he was also a prolific writer, authoring many technical articles and books dealing with forest management, taxation, and the pulp and paper industry.
Recknagel was born in Brooklyn, New York, on December 15, 1883. After graduating from the Yale School of Forestry in 1906 with a master of forestry degree, Recknagel served until 1913 with the U.S. Forest Service, including as chief of forest reconnaissance and assistant chief of silviculture in District 3. In October 1911 he took a year's leave of absence from the Forest Service to study forest conditions in Europe. Recknagel traveled through various European countries and also enrolled for one semester at the Forest Academy of Eberswalde near Berlin, Germany.
Accepting an offer from Cornell University in February 1913, he taught in the Department of Forestry until 1943, sometimes leading his classes on field trips to obtain practical training. In 1943, he left to become area forester for New York in the Timber Production War Project, given the responsibility of developing timber supplies for the war effort.
Simultaneous to these assignments, Recknagel also served the Empire State Forest Products Association as forester and executive secretary from 1917 until 1948. After World War II and following a second stint in academia as head of the University of British Columbia forestry faculty, he accepted the position of technical director of forestry for the St. Regis Pulp and Paper Company in 1948. He retired from St. Regis in 1953 to enter practice as an industry consultant.
A member of the Society of American Foresters since 1908 and a chairman from 1940 to 1941, Recknagel was elected a Fellow of the Society in 1961. Recknagel married Mary Thomas in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on August 25, 1909. They had two sons: Bernard Westerman, born June 11, 1912, in Germany; and Thomas Miller born October 8, 1918, in Albany, New York. Arthur Recknagel died in August of 1962 in his home state of New York.
Collection Overview
This collection contains four photo albums. Two albums feature images taken during the late 1920s and early 1930s when forestry professor Arthur Bernard Recknagel led his Cornell University forestry students on field trips to South Carolina. Another album features images from Recknagel's trip to Europe from 1911 to 1912, primarily documenting forestry practices in Germany. A 2020 addition to the collection includes 172 photographs, from 1910-1938, and one letter from 1944. These photos document Recknagel's work, Cornell forestry education, logging and forestry practices from various locations, and more.
A selection of photos from this collection have been digitized and can be accessed via the online Image Database.
Collection Arrangement
- Photo Albums, 1911-1934
- Loose Photographs, 1910-1938 (donated by Brian J. Cadamatre)
Subject Headings
- College Teachers
- Cornell University -- Students
- Foresters -- United States -- Biography
- Forestry schools and education -- New York
- Forests and forestry -- South Carolina -- History
- Forests and forestry -- United States -- History
- Recknagel, A. B. (Arthur Bernhard), 1883-1962 -- Interviews.
Detailed Description of the Collection
1. Photo Albums, 1911-1934.
- Album 1
- European forestry photos, 1911-1912 (67 photos). Photos, mainly from Germany, taken during year Recknagel spent touring and studying forest operations and forestry practices in Europe.
- Album 2
- Cornell foresters in South Carolina, 1928-1931 (106 photos).
- Album 3
- Cornell University forestry students on field trips (South Carolina), 1932-1934 (68 photos).
- Album 4
- Undated photos of Recknagel and others (18 photos).
2. Loose Photographs, 1910-1938 and undated.
- Folder 2.1
- Recknagel and family members, others (12 photos). Folder also includes one letter to Recknagel from his son dated April 24, 1944.
- Folder 2.2
- Cornell forestry education photos, 1915-1933 (25 photos).
- Folder 2.3
- Forestry photos from Washington state, New York, and other locations, 1910-1938 (18 photos).
- Folder 2.4
- Logging photos, various locations, circa 1920s-1930s (29 photos).
- Folder 2.5
- Miscellaneous photos, labeled with initials ABR (25 photos).
- Folder 2.6
- Unidentified individuals and groups (14 photos).
- Folder 2.7
- Miscellaneous photos, no caption information (49 photos).
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.
Acquisitions Information
2020 addition to the collection received from Brian J. Cadamatre.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Arthur B. Recknagel Photograph Collection, Library and Archives, Forest History Society, Durham, NC, USA.
Processing Information
Processed by Elizabeth Arnold, August 2003, updated July 2020
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.
