Inventory of the H. Dean Cochran Papers, 1950 – 1960

Descriptive Summary

Abstract: H. Dean Cochran was a forester with the United States Forest Service from the early 1920s until his retirement in the late 1950s.

The collection documents Cochran's involvement with a forestry project in Taiwan during the 1950s, when he served as an American adviser to Taiwan for the International Cooperation Administration. The papers include a small number of maps and photographs, including some photographs of Cochran, Elwood L. Demmon, and Tom Gill; numerous reports and technical bulletins (some in Chinese) on such topics as forest management, forest policy, fuelwood consumption, economic development, Taiwan's pulp and paper industry, and forestry research at the Taiwan Forestry Research Institute; and correspondence with various colleagues after Cochran's departure from Taiwan regarding the implementation of his recommendations. There is also a box of papers relating to Cochran's involvement with the Builder's Brigade in Ghana.

Title: H. Dean Cochran Papers, 1950 - 1960

Creator: Cochran, H. Dean

Repository: Forest History Society Library and Archives

Call Number: 3679

Language of Material: Material in English and Chinese

Extent: 1.5 linear foot (3 archival boxes)

 

Biographical Note

H. Dean Cochran was a forester with the United States Forest Service from the early 1920s until his retirement in the late 1950s.

Cochran began his U.S. Forest Service career in the early 1920s in the Rocky Mountain Region performing several functions in public relations and timber management and private forestry. In 1933 and 1934, he was very much involved with the activities of the Civilian Conservation Corps. By 1937, he was assistant regional forester. In the early 1940s, he moved to the Washington Office to become chief of the Division of Personnel Management, a position he held for about ten years. His final position before retirement was that of regional forester in the North Central Region.

In 1956, Cochran served as an adviser to Taiwan for the International Cooperation Administration (ICA). In 1957-59 he was sent by ICA to advise the government of Ghana on the Builders Brigade, a program to educate people on better techniques of farming, fishing, and forestry.

 

Collection Overview

The collection documents Cochran's involvement with a forestry project in Taiwan during the 1950s, when he served as an American adviser to Taiwan for the International Cooperation Administration. The papers include a small number of maps and photographs, including some photographs of Cochran, Elwood L. Demmon, and Tom Gill; numerous reports and technical bulletins (some in Chinese) on such topics as forest management, forest policy, fuelwood consumption, economic development, Taiwan's pulp and paper industry, and forestry research at the Taiwan Forestry Research Institute; and correspondence with various colleagues after Cochran's departure from Taiwan regarding the implementation of his recommendations. There is also a box of papers relating to Cochran's involvement with the Builder's Brigade in Ghana.

Collection Arrangement

  1. Materials Related to Forestry Project in Taiwan, 1950-1958
  2. Builders Brigade Project: Ghana, 1957-1960.

 

Subject Headings

  • Cochran, H. Dean
  • Demmon, Elwood L.
  • Economic development -- Taiwan -- 20th century
  • Forest management -- Research
  • Forest management -- Taiwan -- 20th century
  • Forest policy -- Taiwan -- 20th century
  • Forests and forestry -- Research -- Taiwan
  • Fuelwood consumption -- Taiwan
  • Gill, Thomas Harvey
  • Paper industry -- Taiwan
  • Taiwan Sheng lin ye shi yan suo
  • Wood-pulp industry -- Taiwan

 

Detailed Description of the Collection

1. Materials Related to Forestry Project in Taiwan, 1950-1958.
  • Folder 1
    Taiwan Photographs, 1956 and undated

    • Includes several black and white photographs, some identified. A few show Cochran, E. L. Demmon, Tom Gill, and other U.S. advisers.
  • Folder 2
    "Forest Management Guide for Taiwan," 1959

    • Published by the Chinese-American Joint Commission on Raral [sic] Reconstruction in Taipei, Taiwan. 25 pp., maps.
  • Folder 3
    "Taiwan Forest Policies and Principles of Management," 1960

    • Published by the Taiwan Forestry Bureau. 41 pp.
  • Folder 4
    Correspondence, 1958

    • Includes correspondence with colleagues about the Taiwan project and its progress.
  • Folder 5
    Published Reports on Taiwan, 1956

    • Includes reports on forest conditions, forest policy, fuelwood consumption, land statistics, economic development, and the pulp and paper industry in Taiwan.
  • Folder 6
    Published Reports on Taiwan, 1951-1956

    • Includes reports and other background information provided to Cochran.
  • Folder 7
    Gill-Cochran-Demmon Report, 1957

    • Report on forestry in Taiwan formulated by Tom Gill, E. L. Demmon and H. Dean Cochran.
  • Folder 8
    Taiwan Forestry Research Institute, 1947-1956

    • Several reports on specific aspects of forestry published by the TFRI (mostly in Chinese).
  • Folder 9
    "Forestry in Taichung Area," undated

    • Compiled by Kou-Juei Wang, Chief of Taichung Forest Administration (in Chinese). Includes many illustrations.
  • Folder 10
    Forest Experiment Station, 1952, 1956, and undated

    • Several technical bulletins (in Chinese) published by National Taiwan University.
  • Folder 11
    Maps, undated

    • Two large maps of Taiwan, one in color and one in black and white.
  • Folder 12
    Basic Information on Forestry in Taiwan, 1954-1957, and undated

    • Assembled for the U.S. advisers by JCRR: Wang.
  • Folder 13
    PDAF Meeting, January 16, 1957

    • Agenda, minutes, and supporting material on forest policy, forest management, and timber production in Taiwan.
  • Folder 14
    Miscellaneous, 1950-1957 and undated

    • Includes notes on meetings and talks, a bibliography of publications on forests and forestry in Taiwan, a list of forestry research projects conducted by the Taiwan Forestry Research Institute (TFRI), and a map showing the location of TFRI headquarters and branch units.
2. Builders Brigade Project: Ghana, 1957-1960.
  • Box 3
    • Folder 1
      Drafts, 1959-1960

      • Drafts of reports and notes.
    • Folder 2
      Projects, 1959.

      • Notes and memos on various projects, mainly agricultural, fishing, poultry, and tobacco.
    • Folder 3
      Confidential, 1958-1959.

      • Notes, memos, orders, and reports.
    • Folder 4
      Correspondence, 1959
    • Folder 5
      Dean Cochrane USOM Adviser, 1959
    • Folder 6
      Administrative Files, 1959.

      • Administrative notes, advisor inspection information, notes from meetings with minister, labour, co-operatives and social welfare, and information about Jamaica Youth Corps.
    • Folder 7
      Advice to the National Organiser, 1959-1960.

      • Memos, notes, and papers written by Cochran for the National Organiser.
    • Folder 8
      Training, 1959.

      • Course records for Builders Brigade.
    • Folder 9
      Circulars and Board Minutes, 1959.

      • Circular memos written by National Organiser, information on Builders Brigade staff, Chief Inspector Reports for Builders Brigade Camps, and Builders Brigade Board Meeting Minutes.
    • Folder 10
      Formal Recommendations, 1959-1960.

      • Recommendations of policies, drafts of policies, organizational charts, notes on policies, and confidential memos.
    • Folder 11
      United States Operations Mission (U.S.O.M.) 1958-1960.

      • USOM Engineering Reports February 1959-January 1960, correspondence with a variety of people about the Builders Brigade project.
    • Folder 12
      Cochran (Personal) - First Tour, 1957-1958.

      • Terms of reference for role of Adviser to the Government of Ghana on the Builders Brigade, Report on the Establishment of the Builders Brigade of Ghana written March 11, 1958 by H. Dean Cochran, press release issued by the Development Commission November 22, 1957, and multiple airgrams and documents containing recommendations for Builders Brigade projects.

 

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], H. Dean Cochran Papers, Library and Archives, Forest History Society, Durham, NC, USA.

Acquisitions Information

Donated by Mrs. Cochran to the Washington Office of the U.S. Forest Service and forwarded to the Forest History Society by Dennis James in December 1992.

Processing Information

Processed by Staff

Encoded by Amanda Ross, September 2008; updated by Staff, August 2015

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.

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