Inventory of the Austin E. Klahn Papers, 1940 – 1989

 

Descriptive Summary

Abstract: Austin Elwood Klahn (1917-2016) worked for the U.S. Forest Service and Army Soil Conservation Service in Texas, Oregon, and Washington, with a significant portion of his career spent on the Okanogan National Forest in Washington.

This collection contains paperwork related to Austin Klahn’s time working with the U.S. Forest Service and Army Soil Conservation Service, including photographs, personnel records, and maps. Also included in the collection are U.S. Forest Service uniforms, pins, hard hats, signage, and other items as well as a metal toy of Smokey Bear in a Jeep from the 1960s.

Title: Austin E. Klahn Papers, 1940 – 1989

Creator: Klahn, Austin E., 1917-2016

Repository: Forest History Society Library and Archives

Call Number: 2017-001

Language of Material: Material in English

Extent: 3.5 linear feet (1 archival box, 1 records carton, 2 oversized archival boxes)

 

Biographical Note

Austin Elwood Klahn (1917-2016) worked for the United States Department of Agriculture for 30 1/2 years as part of the U.S. Forest Service and Army Soil Conservation Service. He worked in Texas, Oregon, and Washington, with a significant portion of his career spent on the Okanogan National Forest in Washington.

Klahn was born in Durango, Colorado, on August 6, 1917. He graduated from Durango High School and went on to receive a degree in forestry from Colorado A&M (later Colorado State University) in Fort Collins. In 1941, he became a Jr. Ranger Examiner with the U.S. Forest Service on the Targhee National Forest in Anthony, Idaho. He served with the Army Air Force from January 1942 to November 1945 as a pilot and flight instructor. From 1946 to 1958, Klahn worked for the Soil Conservation Service in Big Springs, Dumas, Dalhart, and Texline, Texas. He returned to the U.S. Forest Service in 1958 working on the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest in Baker, Oregon, and then the Rogue River National Forest in Medford, Oregon. While working on the Rogue River National Forest, Klahn and his fellow employees received an incentive award from the Forest Supervisor. He transferred to the Okanogan National Forest in Washington in 1965, where he remained until retiring on June 30, 1973. Klahn served with the U.S. Forest Service and Army Soil Conservation Service for 30 1/2 years as Range Conservationist, Forester, and Assistant District Ranger. His final position at the Okanogan National Forest had him responsible for range, wildlife, and watershed functions. Throughout his life, he was also a member of the American Society of Range Management, the Society of American Foresters, and Toastmasters International. Klahn died on September 4, 2016 in Dalhart, Texas.

Collection Overview

This collection contains paperwork related to Austin Klahn’s time working with the U.S. Forest Service and Army Soil Conservation Service, including photographs, personnel records, and maps. Also included in the collection are U.S. Forest Service uniforms, pins, hard hats, signage, and other items as well as a metal toy of Smokey Bear in a Jeep from the 1960s.

Collection Arrangement

The records are arranged in five series:

  1. Series 1: Photographs
  2. Series 2: Austin E. Klahn Personal Papers, 1946-1973
  3. Series 3: U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Forest Service Items, 1940-1989
  4. Series 4: Maps and Guides
  5. Series 5: Ephemera

 

Subject Headings

  • Erosion–Texas
  • Klahn, Austin E., 1946-
  • Maps–United States
  • Okanogan National Forest (Wash.)
  • Photographs
  • United States. Dept. of Agriculture
  • United States. Dept. of Agriculture–Employees and officials
  • United States. Forest Service
  • United States. Forest Service–Officials and employees

Detailed Description of the Collection

1. Photographs.
  • Box 1
    • Folder 1.1
      16 black and white, “Sad Sooky Sez”, portraits, landscapes
    • Folder 1.2
      16 black and white, portraits
    • Folder 1.3
      11 black and white, 4×5 in., USDA-SCS photos by James Hart, Lester C. Fox, cattle and farm landscapes with descriptions, 1948-1949, Dalhart TX, Dallen County, Cimmaron County
    • Folder 1.4
      11 black and white, 4×5 in., USDA-SCS photos by James Hart, Lester C. Fox, farm landscapes and portraits with descriptions, 1948-1949, Dalhart TX, Dallen County
2. Austin E. Klahn Personal Papers, 1946-1973.
  • Box 1
    • Folder 2.1
      Employment File, United States Department of Agriculture – Forest Service, 1946-1963. Payroll stubs, payroll computer punch card, hiring and promotion paperwork, reviews, training
    • Folder 2.2
      Certificates of appreciation, 1967, 1973; letter from Dillard H. Gates with articles; Action Plan for Progress – Region 6 Okanogan National Forest
    • Folder 2.3
      Memorandum 1968 for employment and status changes (Applications); Individual Training Plans July 1, 1966-June 30, 1968 and July 1, 1967-June 30, 1968; Draft letter regarding patrolman resignation
    • Folder 2.4
      Training documents 1967, 1968; team report; Managerial Grid booklets, filled in c. 1966; Grid Organizational Development booklets, completed c. 1966
3. U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Forest Service Items, 1940-1989.
  • Box 1
    • Folder 3.1
      Employee handbooks U.S. Department of Agriculture; Society for Ranger Management training DVD
    • Folder 3.2
      U.S. Forest Service Retirement booklets, 1972; USDA Employee Handbook, Agriculture Handbook No. 23
    • Folder 3.3
      Know Your Grasses booklet; Timberlines newsletter 1989
    • Folder 3.4
      U.S. Forest Service, Wildlife Handbook Northwest Pacific Region, 1940
4. Maps and Guides, c. 1960s.
  • Box 1
    • Folder 4.1
      Maps, grazing allotments, Twisp, Tonasket, Connully, Winthrop
    • Folder 4.2
      3 maps, Okanogan National Forest, 1965, 1960
    • Folder 4.3
      3 maps, Okanogan National Forest, fireman map 1965, ConCoroully 1960, Twips 1960
    • Folder 4.4
      2 maps, Okanogan National Forest c. 1960s, for tourists
    • Folder 4.5
      Fishing, hunting, pack trips guides, Pacific North West Region
5. Ephemera, c. 1950-1973.
  • Box 2
    • Patches featuring U.S. Forest Service and Smokey Bear, first aid kit, snake bite kit, magnifying glasses, pen set, U.S. Forest Service padlock with key, U.S. Forest Service plate, bowl, 1 mug with U.S. Forest Service insignia, U.S. Forest Service hard hat with Klahn’s name, U.S. Forest Service metal signage, binoculars.
  • Box 3
    • Item 1
      U.S. Forest Service Insignia Pin, metal, approximately 2 in x 1 in, with logo
    • Item 2
      U.S. Forest Service Insignia Pin, metal, approximately 2 in x 1 in, with logo
    • Item 3
      U.S. Forest Service Insignia Pin, metal, approximately 1 in x 1/2 in, with logo
    • Item 4
      U.S. Forest Service Insignia Pin, metal, approximately 1 in x 1/2 in, with logo
    • Item 5
      20 Year Service Pin, gold with eagle and red accents, reads “United States Service 20 Years Agriculture”
    • Item 6
      30 Year Service Pin, gold with eagle and blue accents, reads “United States Service 30 Years Agriculture”
    • Item 7
      U.S. Forest Service Uniforms c. 1960s including: short sleeve button up shirt with Okanogan National Forest patch and pants
    • Item 8
      U.S. Forest Service Uniforms c. 1960s including: short sleeve button up shirt with Okanogan National Forest patch and pants
    • Item 9
      U.S. Forest Service Uniforms c. 1960s, short sleeve button up shirt with Okanogan National Forest patch
    • Item 10
      U.S. Forest Service Uniforms c. 1960s Carhartt jacket, zippered, with Okanogan National Forest patch
  • Box 4
    • Item 11
      U.S. Forest Service formal uniform, c. 1960, includes: suit jacket, pants, overcoat with Okanogan National Forest patch, 2 green clip-on ties, and 2 green ties
    • Unboxed Oversized Item
      Metal toy, Smokey Bear in green Jeep with drip torch and shovel, battery operated but not functional. Jeep says “Prevent Forest Fires” on sides and front, “Help Smokey Prevent Forest Fires” on back, “Be Careful with your Fire” on hood. NOTE: fragile, one of Smokey’s arms has fallen off but is with item. (Stored in FHS Museum Items Box 4)

Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

No restrictions.

Copyright Notice

Copyright is retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Austin E. Klahn Papers, Library and Archives, Forest History Society, Durham, NC, USA.

Acquisitions Information

Received from Austin E. Klahn, II in August 2016

Processing Information

Processed by Christin Lampkowski, April 2017

Encoded by Christin Lampkowski, April 2017

Support for digitization and outreach provided by the Alvin J. Huss Endowment.

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