From the First Tree Farm to the President’s Front Lawn: Remembering the 1961 National Christmas Tree

The chosen 75-foot Douglas fir on the Clemons Tree Farm.

Sixty years ago this month the National Christmas Tree was erected in Washington, DC, on the Ellipse between the White House and the Washington Monument. The annual tradition of a …

Harold E. Smith’s Forest Service Christmas Story

“Harold E. Smith’s Forest Service Christmas Story” is by USDA Forest Service historian Rachel D. Kline.

As we approach the holiday season in the Forest Service during this unprecedented time, history shows us that our curtailed holiday activities during a …

President bans Christmas tree from White House!

(First published in 2008, this blog posted was updated in 2012 and, after finding the letters to his sisters on the Theodore Roosevelt Center’s website, again in 2016 and 2019.)

Around the internet, there are innumerable articles about how Theodore …

2015 Peeling Back the Bark Holiday Gift Guide

The holiday season is fully upon us, and we here at Peeling Back the Bark want to make sure your gift-giving needs are covered. Below we feature a few items suitable for all the hard-to-please forest history fans on your …

Forest Service "Bulletin" Christmas Art Sampler

This holiday season we turn to the U.S. Forest Service History Collection for a little fun artwork. The "Service Bulletin" was the newsletter, initially issued weekly and then later monthly, published by the Washington Office (WO) to keep employees abreast …

Forgotten Characters: "Ev’rett the Friendly Evergreen" and the War on Christmas trees

Everyone knows Smokey Bear, Woodsy Owl, and maybe even Ranger Rick Raccoon, but there are many other forest and forestry-related fictional characters that long ago fell by the wayside. Peeling Back the Bark‘s series on “Forgotten Characters from …

Looking Back at the National Christmas Tree Tradition

Tonight, December 1st, President Barack Obama and his family will officially light the National Christmas Tree on the Ellipse south of the White House. The tree lighting ceremony dates back to 1923, when President Calvin Coolidge personally lit what was …

The 12 Days of Christmas, FHS style

Here at PBBWHQ (Peeling Back the Bark World Headquarters), we’re perfectly giddy with the holiday spirit. The lights are up, the tree is lit, and Alvin J. Huss is watching over us.

We’re so caught up in the season that …

Seasons Greetings!

In honor of the season, Peeling Back the Bark would like to feature a small selection of just a few of the holiday cards and greetings found in various Forest History Society archival collections. The following selected materials represent just …