Inventory of the Duke University School of Forestry Lantern Slide Collection, circa 1896 – 1960s
Descriptive Summary
Abstract: The collection includes approximately 900 lantern slides probably collected by the first Dean of the Duke University School of Forestry, Clarence F. Korstian (1889-1968), and used in forestry education lectures during his tenure from 1930 to 1959 (and possibly after). Images date from the 1890s through the 1960s, with the bulk from the 1920s-1930s. The majority depict forestry practices throughout the United States and probably reflect Korstian's early career with the U.S. Forest Service, including his stationing in 1921 at the Appalachian Forest Experiment Station in Asheville, NC; some are from Europe (Germany, Belgium, England, and Switzerland) and document a trip taken by Korstian from July to September of 1932, in part to visit various European forestry schools. Most slides are hand-colored and tinted, as well as matted/mounted. [View digital items]
Title: Duke University School of Forestry Lantern Slide Collection, circa 1896 - 1960s
Creator: Duke University. School of Forestry
Repository: Forest History Society Library and Archives
Call Number: 7441
Language of Material: Material in English
Extent: 4.0 linear feet (906 glass slides)
Collection Overview
The collection includes approximately 900 lantern slides probably collected by the first Dean of the Duke University School of Forestry, Clarence F. Korstian (1889-1968), and used in forestry education lectures during his tenure from 1930 to 1959 (and possibly after). Images date from the 1890s through the 1960s, with the bulk from the 1920s-1930s, although many are uncaptioned and could date earlier. The majority depict forestry practices throughout the United States and probably reflect Korstian's early career with the U.S. Forest Service, including his stationing in 1921 at the Appalachian Forest Experiment Station in Asheville, NC; some are from Europe (Germany, Belgium, England, and Switzerland) and document a trip taken by Korstian from July to September of 1932, in part to visit various European forestry schools, as well as to visit Carl Schenck at his home in Germany and to attend the congress of the International Union of Forest Research Organizations in France. Many of the slides in this collection were created from U.S. Forest Service negatives. Most of the slides are hand-colored and tinted, some are matted/mounted.
Collection Arrangement
- Lantern Slides, circa 1896-1960s
Subject Headings
- Appalachian Forest Experiment Station (Asheville, N.C.)
- Duke University. School of Forestry
- Forest management -- United States -- History -- 20th century
- Forestry schools and education -- North Carolina -- Lantern slides
- Forests and forestry -- United States -- History
- Forests and forestry -- Europe -- History
- Forests and forestry -- History -- Germany
- Korstian, Clarence F. (Clarence Ferdinand), 1889-1968
Detailed Description of the Collection
1. Lantern Slides, circa 1896-1960s.
Most slides are hand-colored and tinted, some are matted/mounted. Some include USFS negative numbers and/or caption information.
**A selection of lantern slides from this collection have been digitized and can be accessed online via the FHS Image Database.
Second growth oaks, damaged at the base by fires. Pisgah National Forest, North Carolina, April 1927. (K_1-217096)
- Box 1
Slides depicting locations in: North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, West Virginia, Wyoming, Belgium, England, Switzerland, and Germany.- Most of the U.S. images have USFS negative numbers.
Korstian in open stand of timber "light-burned" annually by owners. Craven County, North Carolina, May 1927. (K_1-217218)
- Box 2
Slides depicting locations in: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington.- Most of the images have USFS negative numbers.
- Box 3
15 slide boxes: 3-1 to 3-15; from miscellaneous locations.- Box 3-2 contains images from Durham, NC; Boxes 3-3 to 3-10 contain USFS images.
Street tree plantings along West Main St. in Durham, North Carolina, 1938. (K_3-1-1)
- Box 4
16 slide boxes: 4-1 to 4-16; from miscellaneous locations.- Boxes 4-1 to 4-3 contain USFS images.
- Box 5
18 slide boxes: 5-1 to 5-18; from miscellaneous locations.- Boxes 5-1 to 5-6 contain USFS images.
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], Duke University School of Forestry Lantern Slide Collection, Library and Archives, Forest History Society, Durham, NC, USA.
Acquisitions Information
Received from Judd Edeburn of Duke Forest in December 2005.
Processing Information
Processed by Staff
Encoded by Amanda Ross, May 2009. Updated October 2014.
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.
