Inventory of the Willamette Valley Tree Farms Records, 1934 – 1962

Descriptive Summary

Abstract: Willamette Valley Tree Farms, later Tree Farm Management Service, was organized in 1941. This non-profit corporation, headquartered in Eugene, Oregon, represented area lumber companies interested in researching forest management practices useful to tree farmers.

The collection consists of correspondence, minutes of meetings, annual and quarterly reports, topical subject files, and publications dating from 1934 to 1962 that were either generated or collected by the organization while it was known as Willamette Valley Tree Farms and later as the Tree Farm Management Service. The records focus on forestry issues, primarily in the state of Oregon, of concern to the organization. Topics discussed in materials comprising this collection include: forest taxation; forest management; forestry research; insect control; grazing on forest lands; forest fire control; wood preservation; forest health; and tree farming. Verne D. Bronson, chief forester for the organization, is the primary correspondent represented in the collection.

Title: Willamette Valley Tree Farms Records, 1934 - 1962

Creator: Willamette Valley Tree Farms

Repository: Forest History Society Library and Archives

Call Number: 7283

Language of Material: Material in English

Extent: 2.5 linear feet (5 archival boxes)

Historical Note

In 1941, representatives from five lumber companies established Willamette Valley Tree Farms, a non-profit corporation headquartered in Eugene, Oregon, jointly owned by member companies. Its purpose was to investigate forest management practices that could be applied to their individual land holdings. The company changed its name in the summer of 1950 to Tree Farm Management Service. At the end of 1955, the member-owned company dissolved when several of its leaders purchased ownership rights and incorporated a private consulting forestry business under the same name.

Collection Overview

The collection consists of correspondence, minutes of meetings, annual and quarterly reports, topical subject files, and publications dating from 1934 to 1962 that were either generated or collected by the organization while it was known as Willamette Valley Tree Farms and later as the Tree Farm Management Service. The records focus on forestry issues, primarily in the state of Oregon, of concern to the organization. Topics discussed in materials comprising this collection include: forest taxation; forest management; forestry research; insect control; grazing on forest lands; forest fire control; wood preservation; forest health; and tree farming. Verne D. Bronson, chief forester for the organization, is the primary correspondent represented in the collection.

Collection Arrangement

1. Minutes of Meetings, 1941-1956
2. Topical Files, 1944-1960
3. Publications, 1934-1962

Subject Headings

• Bronson, Verne D.
• Forest management
• Forestry consultants
• Forests and Forestry -- Oregon -- History
• Tree Farm Management Service
• Willamette Valley Tree Farms

Detailed Description of the Collection

1. Minutes of Meetings, 1941-1956.

Includes minutes from meetings of the organization known as Willamette Valley Tree Farms and later as the Tree Farm Management Service.

• Folder 1.1
  Minutes of Meetings, 1941-1946
• Folder 1.2
  Minutes of Meetings, 1947-1950
• Folder 1.3
  Minutes of Meetings, 1951-1956

2. Topical Files, 1944-1960.

Topical subject files relating to such topics as: forest taxation regulations; forestry research; forest fire prevention; forest management; and forestry regulations in the Oregon counties of Douglas, Lane, and Polk. Some records are national in scope, but most relate to issues directly impacting forestry in the state of Oregon.

2.1. Public Relations, 1945-1957.

Includes correspondence, copies of advertisements, article reprints, reports, and newspaper clippings pertaining to efforts of Willamette Valley Tree Farms/Tree Farm Management Service, especially chief forester Verne Bronson, to promote favorable journalism about forestry and conservation issues. Folders in this subseries are arranged alphabetically by title; records within folders are arranged chronologically.

• Folder 1.4
  American Forests, 1953-1957
  • Includes positive and negative comments about article features and editorials published in American Forests magazine expressed by Tree Farm Management Service chief forester Verne Bronson in his correspondence to the magazine editors.
• Folder 1.5
  The Lumberman, 1955
  • Includes correspondence between Verne Bronson and Albert Arnst, managing editor for The Lumberman, concerning input from Bronson for feature articles pertaining to forest management published in various issues of the publication during 1955. Some of the correspondence also pertains to article reprint orders solicited from and purchased by the Tree Farm Management Service.
• Folder 1.6
  Random Lengths, 1945
  • Includes photocopies from three issues of Random Lengths (vol. 1, no. 5; vol. 1, no. 6; and vol. 1, no. 7), a serial published by Willamette Valley Lumbermen's Association in Eugene, Oregon. These issues contain articles describing the services and mission of the Tree Farm Management Service.
• Folder 1.7
  Oregon State College, 1953-1955
  • Includes correspondence, notes, and a typed speech drafted for presentation by Verne Bronson during a panel discussion titled "What Shall We Do With Our Understocked Forest Lands and Brush Lands" at a foresters' banquet held February 21, 1953 at Oregon State College in Corvallis, Oregon.
• Folder 1.8
  Tree Farm Management Service, 1951-1956
  • Includes correspondence, reports, and a newspaper clipping pertaining to the work of the organization.
• Folder 1.9
  The Timberman, 1953-1957
  • Includes correspondence between Verne Bronson and the editors and advertising representatives of The Timberman magazine relating to advertisement orders, purchase orders for article reprints, and positive and negative feedback from Bronson pertaining to articles and editorials published in the serial.
• Folder 1.10
  Television, 1955
  • Includes newspaper article, letter, and report relating to the 21 June 1955 broadcast of NBC's "Home" television show, which included interviews with employees of Valsetz Lumber Company, Verne D. Bronson of the Tree Farm Management Service, and a timber cruiser. The show was produced by the local NBC station in Portland, Oregon, and was broadcast nationwide.
• Folder 1.11
  Western Conservation Journal, 1954
  • Includes correspondence primarily between Verne Bronson and Albert Arnst, consulting editor for the journal, concerning forestry issues covered by the journal. Includes a copy of an advertisement for the Tree Farm Management Service that appeared in the March-April 1954 issue of the journal.
• Folder 1.12
  Western Forest Industries Review, 1954
  • Includes letter dated April 13, 1954 written by Verne Bronson and addressed to R. T. Titus with the Western Forest Industries Review in Portland, Oregon, in which Bronson comments on the editorial "Proposal for the Big Burn" published in the April 9, 1954 issue of the Review.
• Folder 1.13
  Miscellaneous, 1955-1957
  • Includes letter announcing the incorporation of the Tree Farm Management Service as a consulting firm to operate under the same name by new owners Verne D. Bronson, Lyle H. Seymour, and Robert G. Kintigh, and providing the address of the company's new office in Eugene, Oregon; a sheet providing biographical sketches of Tree Farm Management Service personnel Verne D. Bronson, Lyle H. Seymour, Robert G. Kintigh, H. N. Cory, John W. Davis, and Betty Whitlatch; a black-and-white photograph depicting Tree Farm Management Staff members Bob Kintigh, Morris Anderson, Verne Bronson, Fred Pheif, and John Davis; and a copy of an article published in the January 10, 1957 issue of the Springfiled (Oregon) News (pp. 1, 8) discussing recent efforts of pulp and paper industry organizations to reduce odiferous emissions from pulp mills.

2.2. General Taxation Records, 1944-1960.

Includes correspondence, minutes of meetings, article reprints, reports, conference programs, newspaper clipping, pamphlets, and copies of bills relating to taxation impacting forest management in the United States.

• Folder 2.1
  Miscellaneous, 1944-1960
  • Includes federal and Oregon state publications on taxation, correspondence, and reports.
• Folder 2.2
  Timber, 1953-1955
  • Includes correspondence, pamphlets, reports, and a newspaper clipping pertaining to forest industry organizations' positions on timber taxation in the state of Oregon. Verne D. Bronson of the Tree Farm Management Service is the primary correspondent; includes letters he wrote to timber executives, forestry consultants, foresters, and members of the Oregon State Tax Commission.
• Folder 2.3
  Logs and Lumber, 1954-1960 and undated
  • Includes schedules of values for logs; minutes of a joint meeting of the Industrial Forestry Association and the Associated Forest Industries of Oregon held to discuss ways to determine the true cash value of logs for assessment rolls; documents, memorandum, and correspondence relating to the activities of both groups' tax committees.
• Folder 2.4
  Forest Fee and Yield Tax, 1953-1955
  • Includes excerpts from forest taxation laws, correspondence, and articles reprinted from magazines.
• Folder 2.5
  Federal Income Tax, 1954-1963
  • Includes correspondence and reports of the Forest Industries Committee on Timber Valuation and Taxation; Internal Revenue Service Forest Industries Schedule; program of seventh Industrial Forestry Seminar of Yale School of Forestry; other reports, correspondence, and articles reprinted from magazines.
• Folder 2.6
  House Bill No. 14, 1959 and 1961
  • Includes a copy of Oregon House Bill No. 14 introduced by representatives Barton, Bristol, Haight, and Kerbow and senators Pearson and Sweatland at the request of the Legislative Interim Tax Study Committee dated January 14, 1959 and regarding taxation of timber and forest lands; statements by Verne Bronson concerning the bill's provisions presented at congressional hearings held on February 4, 1959 and March 13, 1961; correspondence regarding the bill.
• Folder 2.7
  Bronson's Proposed Bill, 1959
  • Includes a copy of a bill proposed by Verne Bronson as a compromise measure between Oregon House Bills 14, 288 and 518 concerning taxation of timber and forest lands to take effect in 1961; list of advantages of the bill; correspondence between Bronson and industry representatives and politicians regarding the bill.

2.3. County Taxation Regulations, 1948-1957.

Includes correspondence, newspaper clipping, minutes of meetings, and notes concerning forest taxation regulations that apply to forest lands owned by Willamette Valley Tree Farms/Tree Farm Management Service clients with operations in the Oregon counties of Douglas, Lane, and Polk. Folders in this subseries are arranged alphabetically by county name; records within folders have a chronological arrangement.

• Folder 2.8
  Douglas County, Oregon, 1950, 1957, and undated
  • Includs correspondence and papers relating to methods of determining the tax value of timber stands.
• Folder 2.9
  Lane County, Oregon, 1945-1953
  • Includes newspaper clipping and county tax rate sheets.
• Folder 2.10
  Polk County Timber Owners Committee, 1945, 1954-1955, and undated
  • Includes meeting minutes of Forest Taxation Committee of the Polk County Timber Owners of Oregon as well as formula calculations on timber assessments.

2.4. Society of American Foresters Tax Committee, 1954-1960.

Includes correspondence, speech transcript, newspaper articles, reports, booklets, and article reprints concerning efforts of the committee to understand and influence national forest taxation regulations. Verne Bronson of the Tree Farm Management Service was a member of the local Oregon committee that reported findings to the national organization.

• Folder 2.11
  Correspondence, 1953-1954
  • Includes correspondence, tax assessment data, summary of federal forestry taxation laws, notes on Oregon forestry taxation, committee reports, suggestions/proposals for tax policies, and drafts of bills.
• Folder 3.1
  Correspondence, 1954-1955
  • Includes correspondence, recommendations on tax policy, minutes of committee meetings, reports, and newspaper clippings.
• Folder 3.2
  Correspondence, 1955-1956
  • Includes correspondence, meetings minutes, copies of tax laws, newspaper articles, and reports.
• Folder 3.3
  Correspondence, 1957-1960
  • Includes correpondence, transcript of speech given on taxation, explanation and analysis of revisions to taxation laws, and report of the committee.
• Folder 3.4
  Publications, 1953-1956
  • Includes reports, booklets, mimeographed materials, and magazine article reprints.
• Folder 3.5
  Tax Recommendations, 1954-1958
  • Includes reports and correpondence.

2.5. Miscellaneous Management, 1945-1960.

Includes correspondence, newspaper clippings, article reprints, advertisements, and planning notes concerning miscellaneous issues relating to forest management.

• Folder 3.6
  Christmas Trees, 1952-1960
  • Includes industry standards, newspaper clipping, and correspondence.
• Folder 3.7
  Lodgepole Pine, 1957
  • Includes article reprint: McMahon, "R. O. Lodgepole Pine Forsakes Cinderella Role."Timberman (18 October 1957): [1-5].
• Folder 3.8
  Plans: Outlines, 1945
  • Includes an outline for a working plan and intensive management plan for cutover areas.
• Folder 3.9
  Portable Sawmill, 1945-1949
  • Includes correspondence, handwritten notes, newspaper and magazine articles, and advertisements.
• Folder 3.10
  Windthrow, 1956
  • Includes article reprint: Gratowski, H.J> "Windthrow Around Staggered Settings in Old-Growth Douglas-Fir."Forest Science 2 (March 1956): 60-74.

2.6. Research, 1945-1960.

Includes article reprints, minutes of meetings, reports, correspondence, speech transcript, pamphlets, research notes, and bulletin publications concerning research materials gathered by Tree Farm Management Service staff pertaining to a wide range of forest management issues, including: brush control, forest genetics, insect and disease control, grazing, seeding, pruning, and wood preservation.

• Folder 4.1
  Brush Control, 1950-1959
  • Includes reports, reprints of articles from magazines, address given by Verne Bronson; brochures on products, and correspondence.
• Folder 4.2
  Cascade Head, 1949-1950
  • Includes 23-page guide published in 1949 by the United States Forest Service's Pacific Northwest Forest and Range Experiment Station describing the Cascade Head Experimental Forest, located on the Oregon Coast Highway near Otis, Oregon, and managed by the experiment station. Also includes an 8-page supplement to the guide prepared for a Society of American Foresters field trip tour of the forest scheduled for May 13, 1950.
• Folder 4.3
  Chemical/Mechanical Debarking, 1952-1953
  • Includes data sheets and pamphlets on different types of debarkers.
• Folder 4.4
  Cover Crops, 1953 and undated
  • Includes hand-drawn grids showing cover crop experimental plots and correpondence.
• Folder 4.5
  Cuttings: Rooting, 1953
  • Includes an article on rooting of Douglas-fir cuttings and handwritten note.
• Folder 4.6
  Decay, 1947-1954
  • Includes magazine articles, United States Forest Service research papers, and progress report of the Oregon Forest Products Laboratory on Douglas-fir rot.
• Folder 4.7
  Direct Seeding, 1950-1955 and undated
  • Includes reports, research notes, publications, and some correspondence.
• Folder 4.8
  Exotics: Loblolly Pine, 1958-1960
  • Includes correspondence regarding acquiring loblolly pine seedlings for experimentation.
• Folder 4.9
  Fertilizers, undated
  • Includes Mora Chemical Corporation data on fertilizers and an order form.
• Folder 4.10
  Fibre Glass Tanks, 1953
  • Includes correspondence and handwritten notes and calculations about the purchase of fibre glass spray tanks and new linings for existing metal tanks from Beaver Drainboard Company.
• Folder 4.11
  Forest Genetics, 1954-1960 and undated
  • Includes research notes, reports, surveys, and correspondence.
• Folder 4.12
  Forest Seed Committee, 1953
  • Includes minutes of meeting held December 11, 1953 at the Olympic Hotel in Seattle, Washington; correspondence related to the work of the committee; memorandum dated December 11, 1953 from the chief forester of Manning Seed Co. sent to the committee concerning a forest tree seed storage project. Verne Bronson of the Tree Farm Management Service was a member of the committee. The committee members voted unanimously at the December 11, 1953 meeting to become affliated with the Western Forestry and Conservation Association.
• Folder 4.13
  Grazing, 1956-1957
  • Includes typed notes on range management, seeding and costs associated iwth grazing. Also includes two publications.
• Folder 4.14
  Hardwood Control
  • Includes handwritten and typed versions of a progress report titled "Chemical Control and Eradication of Undesirable Hardwoods on Logged Over Areas." Also includes photographs.
• Folder 4.15
  Insect Control, 1952-1960
  • Includes United States Forest Service forest pest leaflets regarding the sitka-spruce weevil and the Douglas-fir beetle; research bulletin listing achievements in professional entomology; summary reports on a bark beetle survey of Oregon and Washington forests; transcripts of two speeches on insecticide hazards and crop dusting given at the second annual short course for Oregon agriculture chemical operators held January 5-7, 1953 in Corvallis, Oregon, at Oregon State College; article reprints from the March 1952 issue of the Western Conservation Journal on the topics of Douglas-fir bark beetles and the beneficial impacts of woodpeckers on western pine forests; and a letter from Verne Bronson dated December 29, 1952 in which he requests bark beetle infestation information from the United States Forest Service's Pacific Northwest Forest and Range Experiment Station.
• Folder 5.1
  Pruning, 1945-1956
  • Includes article reprints and a research note from the United States Forest Service's Pacific Northwest Forest and Range Experiment Station.
• Folder 5.2
  Rust Inhibitors, 1953-1954
  • Includes correspondence, magazine article, and pamphlet about Vapor Phase Inhibitor (a chemical vapor that protects metal against rust and corrosion in storage areas with low ventilation) developed by Shell Oil and Monsanto Chemical.
• Folder 5.3
  Seed Storage, 1955-1956
  • Includes two reports: (1) Lavender, Dennis P. Ponderosa Pine Seed Germination After Exposure to Varying Temperatures and Humidities. Research Note No. 24. S.l.: Oregon State Board of Forestry, 1955. 4 pp.; and (2) Lavender, Dennis P. Western Hemlock Seed Germination After Exposure to Varying Temperatures and Humidities. Research Note No. 26. S.l.: Oregon State Board of Forestry, 1956. 4 pp.
• Folder 5.4
  Tree Poisoning, 1951-1953
  • Includes correspondence, magazine articles, program of Oregon agricultural chemical applicators short course, and reports.
• Folder 5.5
  Wood Preservatives, 1951-1955 and undated
  • Includes correspondence and brochures on Osmosalts produced by the Osmose Wood Preserving Company.
• Folder 5.6
  UBC Research Notes, 1953-1955
  • Includes newsletters of the University of British Columbia Forest Club Research Committee containing information on such technical forestry topics as: slash-burning, bark thickness, and determining moisture requirements. Includes a listing of newsletters published in 1954 and abstracts of theses of the graduating class of 1959.
• Folder 5.7
  USDA Research Notes, 1945-1957
  • Newsletters published by the United States Forest Service's Pacific Northwest Forest and Range Experiment Station containing information on a variety of topics related to technical forest research, including: reforestation, danger from fire, soils, mortality in Douglas-fir forests, lumber grade recovery from 110-year-old Douglas-fir thinnings, volume tables, and others.

2.7. Fire, 1946-1954.

Includes correspondence and reports relating to forest fire control.

3. Publications, 1934-1962.

Includes publications relating to private forest management, tree farm management, taxation, and timber volume.

• Folder 5.10
  Leaving Cutover Lands Productive, 1934
• Folder 5.11
  Forestry in Farm Management, 1944
• Folder 5.12
  An Introduction to American Forestry, 1944
• Folder 5.13
  Institute of Forest Products, 1950-1953
  • Includes five bulletings published by the Institute of Forest Products.
• Folder 5.14
  Insect Enemies of Western Forests, 1952
• Folder 5.15
  Progress in Private Forestry in the United States, 1961
• Folder 5.16
  Oregon Business Review, 1962
• Folder 5.17
  Volume Tables, undated
  • Includes two copies of the booklet and a memorandum from D. G. McKeever of Weyerhaueser Timber Company dated April 29, 1944 in which he discuess how and why the tables were compiled.

Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

No restrictions.

Copyright Notice

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Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Willamette Valley Tree Farms Records, Library and Archives, Forest History Society, Durham, NC, USA.

Acquisitions Information

Received from Martha Bronson, wife of Verne Bronson, in May 2003, and Bob Kintigh in November 2003.

Processing Information

Processed by Rachel Speer, July 2003

Encoded by Amanda Ross, March 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.