Clemson Experimental Forest Records

Collection

Identifier: Series -185

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This series contains a variety of documentation related to the formation and development of the Clemson Experimental Forest. The correspondence spans 1935-1974; some hand drawn plat maps predate the project as early as 1916. The records consist of correspondence, reports, deeds, lease agreements, receipts for sale of land, abstracts of titles, and maps, both of tracts and of single plats of land. Prominent correspondents include G. H. Aull, project manager of land use projects; Norbert Goebel, the first forest manager; H. M. Currie, officer with the Federal Land Bank; Henry A. Wallace, U. S. Secretary of Agriculture; Clifford H. Wayland, Land Acquisition Division of the Soil Conservation Service; Charles W. Rentz, Jr., U. S. Soil Conservation Service; S. H. Sullivan, Project Engineer. Other correspondents include attorneys and officials for the various parties involved.

Dates

1916-1974

Biographical / Historical

The Clemson Experimental Forest originated in 1934 as land utilization projects administered by the Works Progress Administration and the United States Department of Agriculture. The projects, which were managed by Dr. George H. Aull, a professor of agricultural economics at Clemson College, were originally called the "Fant's Grove Community Development Project," "Clemson College Community Conservation Project," and "South Carolina Land Utilization Project no. 3" which was the name used by the USDA. In 1946, Norbert Goebel was named the first forest manager. The Clemson Experimental Forest was administered first by the USDA, 1934-1939; later, jointly by USDA and Clemson College, 1939-1954; and lastly by Clemson College, 1954-present.