Gareth C. Moon Papers, 1941-1993

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Moon, Gareth C., 1923-2000
Title
Gareth C. Moon Papers
Dates
1941-1993 (inclusive)
Quantity
2.0 linear feet
Collection Number
Mss 603
Summary
The collection contains former Montana State Forester Gareth C. Moon’s personal papers and materials related to the preparation of his book, A History of Montana State Forestry (Mountain Press Publishing Company, 1991).
Repository
University of Montana, Mansfield Library, Archives and Special Collections
Archives and Special Collections
Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library
University of Montana
32 Campus Dr. #9936
59812-9936
Missoula, MT
Telephone: 406-243-2053
library.archives@umontana.edu
Access Restrictions

Researchers must use collection in accordance with the policies of Archives and Special Collections, the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, and The University of Montana-Missoula.

Languages
English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Gareth C. Moon was born in 1923 and raised in eastern South Dakota. He was a veteran of World War II, serving with the United States Marines in the South Pacific. Prior to the war, he worked on a logging crew in Idaho forests. He graduated from The University of Montana School of Forestry in 1949. During this time, he worked for the United States Forest Service on the Lolo National Forest where he cruised timber and fought forest fires. He was appointed Montana State Forester in 1954 and served in that post for the next twenty-six years. He was State Land Commissioner from 1980 until 1982, when he retired for health reasons. Moon died in 2000.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The collection contains former Montana State Forester Gareth C. Moon’s personal papers and materials related to the preparation of his book, A History of Montana State Forestry (Mountain Press Publishing Company, 1991). The personal papers include correspondence, Moon’s compositions for Freshman English, certificates and awards, and one photograph. One item of note is a typewritten copy of a narrative written by Moon’s grandfather, Abraham Ledieu, a French-Canadian who came to the Montana territory prior to 1820. In the narrative, Ledieu recalls his exploits with western exploration and hunting parties in the Montana territory and his work carrying mail to Fort Union and surrounding outposts.

The collection also contains materials related to Gareth C. Moon’s history of Montana State Forestry. These materials include clippings, correspondence, manuscript drafts, and twenty audiocassette tape recordings of Moon discussing the history of Montana forestry. The recordings were typed into narrative form by Mike Moon and probably became the basis for his publication. The collection includes a draft of the manuscript from 1985 and another draft with a foreword completed in 1988, that was published as a book in 1991

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

Researchers are responsible for using in accordance with 17 U.S.C. and any other applicable statutes. Copyright transferred to The University of Montana

Preferred Citation

[Name of document or photograph number], Gareth C. Moon Papers, Archives and Special Collections, Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, The University of Montana-Missoula.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Acquisition Information

The collection was donated by Gareth C. Moon, Sr., in 1986 and by Gareth C. Moon, Jr., in 2001.

Processing Note

Publications were removed from the collection during processing.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1/1 Themes written by Gareth C. Moon in Freshman English 1946
1/2 Correspondence 1941-1975
1/3 Correspondence 1955-1970
1/4 Correspondence 1972-1993 and undated
1/5 Retirement correspondence 1982
1/6 Miscellaneous papers 1972-1981
1/7 Miscellaneous certificates and awards 1949-1985
1/8 Land Commission Appointment 1980-1981
1/9 Ted Schwinden Inauguration Program 1981
1/10 Report of the Timber Supply Ad Hoc Committee for Missoula Economic Development Corporation 1988
2/1 Abraham Ledieu, autobiography undated
2/2 Photographs, miscellaneous 1980 and undated
2/3 Clippings, miscellaneous 1991 and undated
2/4 Re: Tom Vars Retirement undated
2/5 George Darrow 1989-1990
2/6 Western Wood Products Association 1993
2/7 Materials and correspondence pertaining to history of Montana Forestry 1986-1992
2/8 History of State Forestry, receipts 1985
2/9 History of State Forestry, correspondence, news releases 1957-1968
2/10 History of State Forestry and miscellaneous 1938-1976 and undated
2/11 "Montana State Forestry: A History" circa 1985
2/12 "Montana State Forestry: A History" circa 1985
Box
3 “A History of Montana State Forestry,” incomplete print-out from floppy disk and floppy disk [manuscript of book published by Mountain Press Publishing Company, 1991], undated Office of the State Forester/Montana, annual reports, 1954-1968
4 Twenty 60 minute audiocassette tapes labeled #1-20, “History of Montana Forestry,” narrated by Gareth C.Moon, “given to Mike Moon for typing” undated
OS 5 Photograph-Forest Insect Laboratory, United States Forest Service, by Philip C. Johnson 1960
OS 5 Certificates 1950-1970

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Forest policy -- Montana
  • Forests and forestry -- Montana--History
  • Frontier and pioneer life --Montana

Corporate Names

  • Montana. State Forester
  • University of Montana-Missoula--Alumni and alumnae

Geographical Names

  • West (U.S.)--Discovery and exploration

Form or Genre Terms

  • Personal papers -- Montana

Occupations

  • Foresters -- Montana.

Titles within the Collection

  • A History of Montana State Forestry

Other Creators

  • Personal Names
    • Ledieu, Abraham