Gerald W. Williams Collection on Smokey Bear, 1933-1995

Series 1 is comprised of materials documenting the 1994-1995 "Happy Brithday Smokey" campaign and traveling exhibition. The campaign celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Smokey mascot and attempted to spread wildfire danger awareness through a cross-country traveling exhibit. Materials include an activity book, a poster, and several pamphlets; an exhibition manual; an exhibit guest book; two short video recordings celebrating Smokey; recordings of television news coverage of the 50th birthday event; and an interview with Smokey artist Rudy Wendelin. The series also includes a photograph album containing more than 450 photographic prints, 100 slides, and 3 contact sheets featuring photographs of the exhibition and events in Atlanta, Dallas, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., Chicago, Las Vegas, Denver, Seattle, Cody (Wyoming), Portland (Oregon), and Phoenix. Additionally, more than 200 loose color photographic prints and negatives are included in the collection, many of which duplicate the content found in the album.

Series 2 is comprised of materials generated by the United States Forest Service and the Advertising Council promoting wildfire prevention. The series includes color slides of fire prevention posters (including several predating the Smokey campaign and one featuring Woodsy Owl); a Smokey Bear graphic art guide; photocopies of graphics used in the book Guardian of the Forest; and wearable pins, buttons, and patches. The series also contains photographic prints, negatives, and slides depicting the mascot's appearance at Oregon's Timberline Lodge, a photo-op with Lady Bird Johnson, the original living Smokey bear, a promotional drawing for the National Zoo, and other images featuring Smokey.