H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest Oral History Collection, 1996-1998

Collection Overview

Title: H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest Oral History Collection, 1996-1998

ID: OH 028

Primary Creator: Geier, Max G

Extent: 0.15 cubic feet. More info below.

Arrangement: The collection consists of a single series: 1. Interviews, 1996-1998. The series is organized chronologically. Where applicable, reference is made to the existence of a born digital transcript; links to raw audio files have also been included as appropriate.

Date Acquired: 00/00/2018

Languages of Materials: English [eng]

Abstract

The H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest Oral History Collection is comprised of interviews with U.S. Forest Service employees, Oregon State University faculty, and other individuals involved with the creation, development and use of the H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest, which is located in the west-central Oregon Cascades. The interviews were conducted by historian Max Geier in conjunction with the fiftieth anniversary of the forest's designation, and were used in the writing of Geier's book, Necessary Work: Discovering Old Forests, New Outlooks, and Community on the H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest, 1948-2000. The collection consists of microcassette audio tapes and born digital transcripts. All of the collection's microcassettes have been migrated to digital format, and the transcribed and contextualized audio of most of these items is available online.

Scope and Content Notes

The H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest Oral History Collection consists of 54 microcassette audio tapes created by historian Max Geier from 1996 to 1998, and containing the contents of oral history interviews collected by Geier in support of his book, Necessary Work: Discovering Old Forests, New Outlooks, and Community on the H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest, 1948-2000. (USDA Forest Service Pacific Northwest Research Station General Technical Report PNW-GTR-687, March 2007) In addition to traditional oral history interviews conducted with one or two narrators, the collection also includes recordings of group conversations held at a workshop on the history of the Andrews Forest, a site visit to the forest itself, and with collections of people who have collaborated on projects related to small watersheds and riparian zones. The contents of all of the microcassettes held in this collection have been migrated to digital format.

Nearly all of the recordings were also transcribed by students attending Western Oregon University, and the word processing documents that they compiled are described as a component of this collection, as are the instructions that Geier provided to them as they carried out their work. Digitized copies of paper permissions forms are likewise held on file within the OSU Libraries Special Collections and Archives Research Center. Virtually the entire collection has been contextualized and released online. The full contents of this collection are also available upon patron request or for use within the SCARC reading room. A copy of Geier's completed book has also been made available online by the U.S. Forest Service.

Biographical / Historical Notes

The Blue River Experimental Forest was designated by the U.S. Forest Service in 1948, and renamed the H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest five years later following the death, in an automobile accident, of Region 6 Chief Forester Horace J. Andrews. In the years since, the forest has served as laboratory for a wide array of scientific investigations including trials related to forest operations efficiency, and the impacts of logging on numerous aspects of forest ecology. The site was also selected for two long-term trials sponsored by the National Science Foundation -- the International Biological Program and the Long-Term Ecological Research Network. Many of these experiments have been led by OSU research scientists working in collaboration with employees of the U.S. Forest Service. In more recent time, the forest has also nurtured the creative work of writers- and artists-in-residence sponsored by OSU's Spring Creek Project for Ideas, Nature and the Written Word.

Max G. Geier is Professor Emeritus of History at Western Oregon University, where he also served as chair of the university's Social Science Division. His scholarly interests include environmental and North American history, with a particular focus on community development in the western United States and Canada. In addition to two books on the history of forest science research in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska, Geier is the author of The Color of Night: Race, Railroaders, and Murder in the Wartime West (Oregon State University Press, 2015), a study of a racially charged 1943 murder trial.

The narrators interviewed for this project can be broadly grouped into two categories -- U.S. Forest Service employees and Oregon State University faculty. The Forest Service employees who contributed interviews are as follows:

Ed Anderson (Blue River District Ranger), Martha Brookes (research scientist), Lynn Burditt (Blue River District Ranger), John Cissel (Blue River Research Liaison), Ted Dyrness (soil scientist), Steve Eubanks (Blue River District Ranger), Jerry Franklin (research forester and chief plant ecologist), Gordon Grant (research hydrologist), Don Henshaw (information technology specialist), Sherri Johnson (Pacific Northwest Research Station scientist), Mike Kerrick (Willamette National Forest Supervisor), Al Levno (research scientist), George Lienkaemper (Corvallis Forestry Sciences Laboratory geologist), Art McKee (Andrews Experimental Forest Director), Ross Mersereau (Andrews Experimental Forest field staffer), Cindy Miner (Pacific Northwest Research Station Assistant Director for Communications and Applications), Russ Mitchell (entomologist), Jean Rothacher (wife of Jack Rothacher, Pacific Northwest Research Station Forester in Charge), Jim Sedell (research scientist), Roy Silen (Forest Genetics Research Project leader), Fred Swanson (geologist), Bob Tarrant (Pacific Northwest Research Station Director), and Gabe Tucker (Andrews Experimental Forest research scientist).

The OSU faculty members interviewed for the project include:

Norm Anderson (Professor of Entomology), Linda Ashkenas (Senior Faculty Research Assistant in the College of Agricultural Sciences), George Brown (Professor of Forest Engineering and Dean of the College of Forestry), Kermit Cromack (Professor of Forest Ecosystems and Society), Stan Gregory (Professor of Fisheries), Robert Griffiths (OSU and Forest Service research scientist), Jim Hall (Professor of Fisheries and Wildlife), Mark Harmon (Professor of Forest Ecosystems and Society), Julia Jones (Professor of Geography), Jack Lattin (Professor of Entomology), Andy Moldenke (Professor of Entomology), Tim Schowalter (Professor of Entomology), Phil Sollins (Professor of Forest Ecosystems and Society), Susan Stafford (Professor of Forest Science), Jim Trappe (Professor of Mycology) and Dick Waring (Distinguished Professor of Forest Science).

Author: Chris Petersen

Administrative Information

More Extent Information: 56 microcassette audio tapes, 6.99 MB born digital; 1 box

Statement on Access: The collection is open for research.

Acquisition Note: The collection was formally transferred to the Special Collections and Archives Research Center by the OSU College of Forestry and the U.S. Forest Service Pacific Northwest Research Station in 2018.

Related Materials:

The Oregon State University Libraries Special Collections and Archives Research Center is home to a great many collections documenting the history of forests and forestry in the Pacific Northwest. Prominent among these collections are the Gerald W. Williams Papers (MSS WilliamsG), the Royal G. Jackson Papers (MSS JacksonR), and the College of Forestry Records (RG 139). Additional materials related to the H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest can be found in the Facilities Services Records (RG 193) and in the John D. Lattin Papers (MSS Lattin), and documentation of the LTER Program is described as a component of the Research Office Records (RG 170).

Other SCARC oral history collections that incorporate natural resources as a major point of emphasis include the Oral History Interviews, Personal Histories and Sound Recordings Collection on Agriculture, Forestry and Oregon History (OH 005), the Soap Creek Valley History Project Oral Histories (OH 006), the Horner Museum Oral History Collection (OH 010), and the Oregon State University Sesquicentennial Oral History Collection (OH 026).

Finally, a PDF copy of Max Geier's book: Necessary Work: Discovering Old Forests, Net Outlooks, and Community on the H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest, 1948-2000, has been made available online by the U.S. Forest Service.

Preferred Citation: H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest Oral History Collection (OH 028), Oregon State University Special Collections and Archives Research Center, Corvallis, Oregon.

Box and Folder Listing

Series 1: Interviews, 1996-1998

The interviews described in Series 1 reflect the annotations made by Max Geier on a given microcassette's tape case. Where relevant, a reference has also been made to the existence of a born digital transcript. A word processing document in which Geier provided guidance to his student transcriptionists is also organized into Series 1.

Links to the raw audio of specific items have been included in instances where a completed permissions form remains extant and on file within SCARC. The audio of all of the items listed in Series 1 has been migrated to digital format and is available upon patron request or for use within the SCARC reading room.

Extent: 54 microcassette audio tapes and 45 word processing documents

Box-Item 1.1: H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest history workshop morning session, Tape 1, August 7, 1996: Workshop featuring Fred Swanson, Ted Dyrness, Art McKee, Cindy Miner and Max Geier at Corvallis Forestry Sciences Laboratory. Transcribed.
Box-Item 1.2: H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest history workshop afternoon session, Tape 2, August 7, 1996: Workshop featuring Ted Dyrness, Cindy Miner, Art McKee and Max Geier at Corvallis Forestry Sciences Laboratory. Transcribed.
Box-Item 1.3: Mike Kerrick and Ed Anderson, Tape 1, August 28, 1996: Interviewed at Anderson's house in Springfield, Oregon. Transcribed.
Box-Item 1.4: Mike Kerrick. Tape 2, August 28, 1996: Interviewed at his home in Springfield, Oregon. Transcribed.
Box-Item 1.5: Fred Swanson, September 6, 1996: Interviewed at his house in Corvallis. Transcribed.
Box-Item 1.6: Roy Silen, September 9, 1996: Interviewed at Corvallis Forestry Sciences Laboratory. Transcribed.
Box-Item 1.7: Ted Dyrness, September 11, 1996: Ted (Christen Theodore) Dyrness interviewed at his Corvallis Forestry Sciences Laboratory office. Transcribed.
Box-Item 1.8: Ted Dyrness, Tape 2 and Al Levno, September 11 - 12, 1996: Ted Dyrness interviewed at his Corvallis Forestry Sciences Laboratory office, September 11, 1996. Al Levno interviewed at Corvallis Forestry Sciences Laboratory, September 12, 1996. Transcribed.
Box-Item 1.9: Art McKee, September 12, 1996: Interviewed at Corvallis Forestry Sciences Laboratory. Transcribed.
Box-Item 1.10: Jerry Franklin, Tape 1, September 13, 1996: Interviewed at Wind River Canopy Crane Research Facility, Carson, Washington. Transcribed.
Box-Item 1.11: Jerry Franklin, Tape 2, September 13, 1996: Interviewed at Wind River Canopy Crane Research Facility. Transcribed.
Box-Item 1.12: Russ Mitchell, Tape 1, September 20, 1996: Interviewed in Bend, Oregon. Transcribed.
Box-Item 1.13: Russ Mitchell, Tape 2, September 20, 1996: Interviewed in Bend, Oregon. Transcribed.
Box-Item 1.14: Bob Tarrant, July 24, 1997: Interviewed at his Corvallis home. Transcribed.
Box-Item 1.15: Gabe Tucker, August 19, 1997: Interviewed at Corvallis Forestry Sciences Laboratory. Transcribed.
Box-Item 1.16: Jean Rothacher, Tape 1, August 29, 1997: Jean Rothacher and Ted Dyrness interviewed at Rothacher's home in Corvallis, Oregon. Partially transcribed.
Box-Item 1.17: Ross Mersereau with Ted Dyrness, Tape 1, September 3, 1997: Ross Mersereau interviewed with Ted Dyrness at Mersereau's home in Corvallis. Transcribed.
Box-Item 1.18: Ross Mersereau with Ted Dyrness, Tape 2, September 3, 1997: Ross Mersereau interviewed with Ted Dyrness at Mersereau's home in Corvallis. Transcribed.
Box-Item 1.19: Jean Rothacher, Tape 2, September 4, 1997: A recording of Jean Rothacher describing photos.
Box-Item 1.20: Jim Trappe, September 15, 1997: Interviewed in his office in Corvallis. Transcribed.
Box-Item 1.21: George Brown, September 19, 1997: Transcribed.
Box-Item 1.22: H.J. Andrews Site Visit, Tape 1, September 22, 1997: Recording of conversation during van ride from Corvallis to site headquarters with Roy Silen, Bob Tarrant, Martha Brookes, Ted Dyrness, Al Levno and Max Geier. Transcribed.
Box-Item 1.23: H.J. Andrews Site Visit, Tape 2, September 22, 1997: Recording begins with Roy Silen talking in van en route to headquarters site. Also includes conversation at headquarters site before drive to Carpenter Mountain Lookout and in van en route to lookout. Transcribed.
Box-Item 1.24: H.J. Andrews Site Visit, Tape 3, September 22, 1997: Recording of discussion of photo line-up at the lookout on Carpenter Mountain and group interview with Bob Tarrant, Roy Silen, Jerry Franklin, Ted Dyrness, Al McKee, Fred Swanson, Martha Brooks and Al Levno. Transcribed.
Box-Item 1.25: H.J. Andrews Site Visit, Tape 4, September 22, 1997: Recording begins with conclusion of interviews at Carpenter Mountain Lookout followed by drive down to headquarters. Interviews at headquarters streamside site before dinner with Roy Silen, Al Levno, Ted Dyrness, Al McKee, Fred Swanson, Martha Brooks, Bob Tarrant, and Jerry Franklin. Transcribed.
Box-Item 1.26: H.J. Andrews Site Visit, Tape 5, September 22, 1997: Recording of end of group interview at headquarters site to point where group learns of Roy Silen's tragedy. Transcribed.
Box-Item 1.27: Jack Lattin, Tape 1, September 23, 1997: Jack (John D.) Lattin interviewed at Cordley Hall, Oregon State University.
Box-Item 1.28: Phil Sollins, September 24, 1997: Interviewed at Corvallis Forestry Sciences Laboratory. Transcribed.
Box-Item 1.29: Susan Stafford, September 25, 1997: Interviewed at Corvallis Forestry Sciences Laboratory. Transcribed.
Box-Item 1.30: Dick Waring, Tape 1, September 26, 1997: Interviewed at Peavy Hall, Oregon State University. Transcribed.
Box-Item 1.31: Dick Waring, Tape 2, September 26, 1997: Interviewed at Peavy Hall, Oregon State University. Transcribed.
Digital File 1: Transcriptionist Briefing, September 29, 1997: A word processing document created by Geier and used to provide guidance to student transcriptionists regarding commonly mentioned subjects, personal names and locations, as well as strategies for interpreting unintelligible phrases.
Box-Item 1.32: Jack Lattin, Tape 2, September 30, 1997: Interviewed at Cordley Hall, Oregon State University. Transcribed.
Box-Item 1.33: Mark Harmon, Tape 1, October 1, 1997: Interviewed at Corvallis Forestry Sciences Laboratory. Transcribed.
Box-Item 1.34: Mark Harmon, Tape 2, October 1, 1997: Interviewed at Corvallis Forestry Sciences Laboratory. Transcribed.
Box-Item 1.35: Lynn Burditt, October 3, 1997: Interviewed at Corvallis Forestry Sciences Laboratory. Transcribed.
Box-Item 1.36: Gordon Grant, Interview 1, October 6, 1997: Interviewed at Corvallis Forestry Sciences Laboratory. Transcribed.
Box-Item 1.37: Stan Gregory, October 7, 1997: Interviewed at Nash Hall, Oregon State University. Transcribed.
Box-Item 1.38: Gordon Grant, Interview 2, Tape 1, October 10, 1997: Interviewed at Corvallis Forestry Sciences Laboratory. Transcribed.
Box-Item 1.39: Gordon Grant, Interview 2, Tape 2, October 10, 1997: Interviewed at Corvallis Forestry Sciences Laboratory. Transcribed.
Box-Item 1.40: Small Watersheds Group Interview, Tape 1, October 16, 1997: Small watersheds group interview recorded at Peavy Hall, Oregon State University. Participants include George Lienkaemper, Fred Swanson, Don Henshaw, Ted Dyrness, Gordon Grant, Al Levno, Ross Mersereau and Max Geier. Transcribed.
Box-Item 1.41: Small Watersheds Group Interview, Tape 2, October 16, 1997: Small watersheds group interview recorded at Peavy Hall, Oregon State University. Participants include George Lienkaemper, Fred Swanson, Don Henshaw, Ted Dyrness, Gordon Grant, Al Levno, Ross Mersereau and Max Geier. Transcribed.
Box-Item 1.42: Julia Jones, October 27, 1997: Interviewed at her home in Corvallis. Transcribed.
Box-Item 1.43: Martha Brookes, November 5, 1997: Interviewed at Corvallis Forestry Sciences Laboratory. Transcribed.
Box-Item 1.44: Robert Griffiths, November 6, 1997: Interviewed at Corvallis Forestry Sciences Laboratory. Transcribed.
Box-Item 1.45: John Cissel, November 7, 1997: Interviewed at Corvallis Forestry Sciences Laboratory. Transcribed.
Box-Item 1.46: Andy Moldenke, November 14, 1997: Interviewed at Cordley Hall, Oregon State University. Transcribed.
Box-Item 1.47: Tim Schowalter, November 18, 1997: Interviewed at Cordley Hall, Oregon State University. Transcribed.
Box-Item 1.48: Riparian Group Interview, Tape 1, November 21, 1997: Riparian group interview Corvallis Forestry Sciences Laboratory. Participants include Linda Ashkenas, Art McKee, Norm Anderson, George Lienkaemper and Max Geier. Transcribed.
Box-Item 1.49: Riparian Group Interview, Tape 2, November 21, 1997: Riparian group interview Corvallis Forestry Sciences Laboratory. Participants include Linda Ashkenas, Art McKee, Norm Anderson, George Lienkaemper and Max Geier. Transcribed.
Box-Item 1.50: Sherri Johnson, November 24, 1997: Interviewed at Corvallis Forestry Sciences Laboratory. Transcribed.
Box-Item 1.51: Steve Eubanks, Tape 1, January 9, 1998: Interviewed at Forest Supervisor's Office, Chippewa National Forest, Cass Lake, Minnesota. Transcribed.
Box-Item 1.52: Steve Eubanks, Tape 2, January 9, 1998: Interviewed at Forest Supervisor's Office, Chippewa National Forest, Cass Lake, Minnesota. Transcribed.
Box-Item 1.53: H.J. Andrews IBP (International Biological Program) Group Interview, Tape 1, February 10, 1998: H.J. Andrews IBP (International Biological Program) group interview at Siuslaw National Forest headquarters in Corvallis. Participants include Jerry Franklin, Dick Waring, Jim Hall, Fred Swanson, Ted Dyrness, Al Levno, Don Henshaw, Martha Brookes, Bill Denison and Max Geier. Transcribed.
Box-Item 1.54: H.J. Andrews IBP (International Biological Program) Group Interview, Tape 2, February 10, 1998: H.J. Andrews IBP (International Biological Program) group interview at Siuslaw National Forest headquarters in Corvallis. Participants include Jerry Franklin, Dick Waring, Jim Hall, Fred Swanson, Ted Dyrness, Al Levno, Don Henshaw, Martha Brookes, Bill Denison and Max Geier. Transcribed.
Box-Item 1.55: Jim Sedell, February 17, 1998: Interviewed at Corvallis Forestry Sciences Laboratory. Transcribed.
Box-Item 1.56: Kermit Cromack, February 17, 1998: Interviewed at Corvallis Forestry Sciences Laboratory. Transcribed.