Inventory of the Betty Conrad Hite Papers, 1961 – 1987

Descriptive Summary

Abstract: Betty Conrad Hite spent 30 years working for the U.S. Forest Service. She began her career on the San Bernardino National Forest in 1957, before moving to the Pacific Southwest Station's Fire Research Lab in Riverside, California. In 1968 Hite began working at the National Media Office in Pasadena, California. She spent extensive time as a technical advisor to the Lassie television show. Hite worked as a public information specialist, serving as a USFS liaison for network television and motion picture industries. She eventually became director of the media office, which provided technical advice and information on national forest filming locations, approved scripts involving the USFS, and supplied the necessary props and uniforms. She also served as technical advisor to the advertising agencies that handled the Smokey Bear and Woodsy Owl media campaigns. Hite herself wrote scripts for Smokey Bear and Woodsy Owl public service announcements. Hite retired from the USFS in January 1987.

This collection includes photographs, correspondence, promotional memorabilia, news clippings, and other personal papers collected by Hite during her career with the USFS media office.

Title: Betty Conrad Hite Papers, 1961 - 1987

Creator: Hite, Betty Conrad

Repository: Forest History Society Library and Archives

Call Number: 2014-003

Language of Material: Material in English

Extent: 1.0 linear foot (4 small archival boxes)

 

Biographical Note

Betty Conrad Hite was born in Phoenix, Arizona, and lived there until moving to Redlands, California, in 1941. She began her career with the U.S. Forest Service in 1957, working for the supervisor's office of the San Bernardino National Forest in San Bernardino, California. In 1964 Hite moved to the Pacific Southwest Station's Fire Research Lab in Riverside, California. Four years later she began working for the Forest Service National Media Office in Pasadena, California, where she would remain for the rest of her career. Hite spent extensive time as a technical advisor to the Lassie television show. She worked as a public information specialist, serving as a USFS liaison for network television and motion picture industries. Hite eventually became director of the media office, which provided technical advice and information on national forest filming locations, approved scripts involving the USFS, and supplied the necessary props and uniforms. She also served as technical advisor to the advertising agencies that handled the Smokey Bear and Woodsy Owl media campaigns. Hite herself wrote scripts for Smokey Bear and Woodsy Owl public service announcements. Hite retired from the USFS in January 1987.

Betty Conrad Hite with Lassie on set, September 1968.

 

Collection Overview

This collection includes photographs, correspondence, promotional memorabilia, news clippings, and other personal papers collected by Hite during her career with the USFS media office.

Collection Arrangement

  1. U.S. Forest Service work and retirement
  2. Woodsy Owl and other film/television productions
  3. Lassie television show
  4. Film/television scripts and other materials

 

Subject Headings

  • Lassie (Fictitious character)
  • Smokey Bear.
  • Television -- Production and direction
  • United States. Forest Service
  • United States. Forest Service -- Officials and employees

 

Detailed Description of the Collection

1. U.S. Forest Service work and retirement, 1963-1987.
  • Box 1
    • Folder 1.1
      Hite Biographical

      • Includes background info on Hite; photos and materials relating to Hite at work.

      • Hite's business card while director of the USFS National Media Office.

    • Folder 1.2
      Television Productions

      • Includes photos of Raymond Burr, Richard Chamberlain, and others.
    • Folder 1.3
      Hite Retirement Party
      Photos of Hite's USFS retirement party, held at the Red Lion Inn, Ontario, California, on January 10, 1987.
    • Folder 1.4
      Retirement Correspondence 1

      • Cards and letters sent to Hite following her retirement in January 1987.
    • Folder 1.5
      Retirement Correspondence 2

      • Cards and letters sent to Hite following her retirement in January 1987.
2. Woodsy Owl and other film/television productions, 1961-1985.
  • Box 2
    • Folder 2.1
      Filming of "Help Woodsy Spread the Word"
      Includes photos of the 1977 production of short Woodsy Owl film written by Hite.
    • Folder 2.2
      Woodsy Owl
      Includes Woodsy Owl photographs, promotional materials, and a certificate of appreciation to Hite. Also photos of various Woodsy floats in the Tournament of Roses Parade.
    • Folder 2.3
      Woodsy Owl Storyboards
      Storyboards for USFS Woodsy Owl public service announcements.
    • Folder 2.4
      Iron Eyes Cody
      Photos of Iron Eyes Cody with Hite, Woodsy Owl, and others.

      • Betty Conrad Hite, Iron Eyes Cody, Chris Olsen from Keep America Beautiful, and Dick Dwan Ad Council VP.

    • Folder 2.5
      Television and Film Productions
      Photos of television and film productions. Includes photos of Andy Griffith, Kim Novak, Fess Parker, and others, as well as series such as Perry Mason, Doctor Kildare, and Empire.
    • Folder 2.6
      Television News Clippings and Other Materials
      News clippings, correspondence, promotional items, and other materials relating to film and television productions.
3. Lassie television show, 1961-1972.
  • Box 3
    • Folder 3.1
      Lassie TV Series; Photos, Clippings, Other Materials

      • Photos, news clipping, and other materials relating to production of the Lassie television series. Includes photos of Rudd Weatherwax, Lassie with Smokey Bear, and actors from the television series.

      • Lassie, Smokey Bear, and Timmy promoting the Junior Forest Rangers program.

    • Folder 3.2
      Lassie TV Series; Photos, Other Materials

      • Photos and other materials relating to production of the Lassie television series.
    • Folder 3.3
      "Project Friendship"

      • Photos, correspondence, and other materials relating to Lassie's "Project Friendship," providing food, clothing, and toys to Navajo children on the Monument Valley Reservation.
    • Folder 3.4
      Lassie Public Appearances

      • Promotional photos of Lassie, as well as photos of Lassie making public appearances in Washington DC in 1965, at the White House in 1967, and at Cape Kennedy, Florida, in 1967.

      • Lassie shakes hands with Sec. of Agriculture Orville Freeman, May 7, 1965.

    • Folder 3.5
      Lassie Materials

      • Clippings, correspondence, promotional items, comic books, and other materials related to Lassie television series.
4. Film/TV Scripts and Other Materials, 1969-1979.
  • Box 4
    • Folder 4.1
      Lassie Scripts

      • Lassie television series scripts and call sheets.
    • Folder 4.2
      Scripts

      • Scripts for Wildfire!, Pinchot, and "Godfather's Three" (episode of The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams).
    • Folder 4.3
      Scripts and Other Materials

      • Script and shooting schedule for "Help Woodsy Spread the Word," news clippings and other materials.
    • Folder 4.4
      Technical Advisor's Job and Other Materials

      • Description of the job of technical advisor; biographical information from Hite.
    • Folder 4.5
      Woodsy Owl Environmental Education Teacher's Kit

      • Folder with Woodsy Owl educational materials.

 

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.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Betty Conrad Hite Papers, Library and Archives, Forest History Society, Durham, NC, USA.

Acquisitions Information

Received from Betty Conrad Hite in September 2011

Processing Information

Processed by Eben Lehman

Encoded by Eben Lehman, August 2014

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

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