Windows Into the Lives of the Early Forest Rangers

The Forest Service Headquarters History Collection contains many materials concerning the experiences of the forest rangers of the early 1900's. If you were already a forest officer, you may have received a letter like this one from Gifford Pinchot, Forest Service Chief, to Seth Bullock, Forest Supervisor (1905). If you were an aspiring forest ranger like this candidate above, you'd first have to meet the qualifications for rangers, and then pass a test like this 1908 Ranger Examination. (If you were a real procrastinator, you might end up taking the 1925 Ranger Examination instead.) You might want to study for the exam by reading about Pack Hitches. Not so happy with your Forest Service experience? Maybe you'd write a letter to the Chief like this one containing the Resignation of Fred S. Breen (1908). If you were a little happier, however, or were just trying to make the best of the situation, you might be composing or singing Rangers' Songs. Want to know more? Check out this bibliography of Early Ranger Experiences from materials in the History Collection.

LaLande, Jeff. "The 'Forest Ranger' in Popular Fiction: 1910-2000." Forest History Today (Spring/Fall 2003):2-28.

"Forest Reserves and Forest Rangers." USFS International Programs website: Celebrating a Century of Service: A Glance at the Agency's History, 2005.

Please note that many of these pages contain transcriptions of the original documents, not scanned copies; however, the layout reflects the general style and organization of the originals where possible.