Carl R. Dion papers, 1928-1992

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Dion, Carl R., 1914-1993
Title
Carl R. Dion papers
Dates
1928-1992 (inclusive)
Quantity
.63 cubic feet (2 boxes)
Collection Number
4154 (Accession No. 4154-005)
Summary
Papers of a conservationist and arborist in Seattle, Washington.
Repository
University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu
Access Restrictions

The papers are open to all users.

Request at UW

Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was partially provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Conservationist Carl R. Dion was born in Minnesota in 1914. He became interested in forest conservation at the age of 10. Participation in a Boy Scout tree- planting project in 1929 prompted him to contact conservationist Willard Van Name of the American Museum of Natural History. Their friendship lasted until Van Name's death in 1959. Van Name took Dion with him on two expeditions to photograph old growth forest in Yosemite National Park (1931) and what would become Olympic National Park (1932). Dion returned to Yosemite many years later as a professional surveyor (Tuolumne Grove, 1966).

Carl Dion graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1938 with a B.S. in Forestry and a minor in Civil Engineering. In his early career he worked on engineering projects closely linked to forestry and conservation. These included work as as senior foreman with the Civilian Conservation Corps (1938-1940), and as a junior forester (1940-1941), both in Minnesota.

His later work took him farther from forestry. In 1948 he moved to North Richland, Washington, to work as a surveyor for General Electric. After 15 years of civil engineering work in the Tri-Cities and Spokane areas, Dion took a job with the Boeing Aerospace Company in approximately 1963. He was layed off in 1970.

In 1971 Dion became the arborist for the City of Seattle, a position he held until his retirement in 1980. He died in a traffic accident in May 1993.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Dion's papers reflect his interest and activities in forest conservation, primarily during the period 1930-1945. The papers include correspondence, reports, speeches and writings, pamphlets, memos, and news releases.

Throughout his career, Dion remained in touch with Willard Van Name, who sent him copies of his correspondence and articles produced in connection with campaigns to preserve forest lands. Much of the correspondence represents Van Name's efforts to establish or enlarge several national parks. These included tracts in Yosemite, Olympic National Park, Kings Canyon, Calaveras Grove (California), and Admiralty Island (Alaska). This material may be found in "General Correspondence - of Willard Van Name." Also included is material from Dion's work as a junior forester on the Grand Portage Indian Reservation. Names represented in the papers include the U.S. Civilian Conservation Corps, Willard Van Name, and the U.S. Indian Affairs Office, Consolidated Chippewa Agency.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

The creator's literary rights have been transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Preferred Citation

Carl R. Dion Papers. Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries, Seattle, Washington.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

Arranged by type of document.

Acquisition Information

Carl Dion donated these papers in several installments during 1992.

Processing Note

Processing of the papers was completed in May 1993.

Related Materials

Carl Dion greatly valued his experience with the Civilian Conservation Corp and was a persistent advocate of revival of the program, which ceased in 1942. He was a founding member of the National Association of Civilian Conservation Corps Alumni, formed in 1979. His papers relating to that organization were given to the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission, Deception Pass Museum, 7150 Cleanwater Drive S.W., P.O. Box 42650, Olympia, WA 98504-2650.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

 

Biographical information, undatedReturn to Top

Container(s): Box-folder 1/1

CorrespondenceReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Incoming letters
Box/Folder
1/2-7
American Forestry Association
1940
1/2-7
Bathhurst, Effie
1939
1/2-7
Brant, Irving
1940-1941
1/2-7
Chase, Stuart
1937
1/2-7
Clark, Irving M.
1936
1/2-7
Cliff, Edward P.
1940
1/2-7
Cook, Kathrine M.
1939
1/2-7
Drury, Newton B.
1942
1/2-7
Edge, Rosalie (Emergency Conservation Committee)
1937-1941
1/2-7
Kaufert, F. H.
1941
1/2-7
Marshall, Bob
1938-1939
1/2-7
Minnesota Conservation Department
1933
1/2-7
National Park Association
1943
1/2-7
Rowe, Elizabeth
1940
1/2-7
Schmitz, Henry
1939-1942
1/2-7
Schmoe, Floyd W.
1936
1/2-7
Society of American Foresters
1941
1/2-7
Strench, E. F.
1942
1/2-7
Thompson, Ben H. (United States National Park Service)
1938-1940
1/2-7
Toothman, Stephanie S.
1985
1/2-7
United States Forest Service
1942
1/2-7
United States National Park Service
1938-1939
1/2-7
Van Name, Willard
1937-1956
1/2-7
A-Z miscellaneous
1932-1960
Box/Folder
1/8-9
Outgoing letters
1929-1959,1988
1/10-11
General correspondence of Willard Van Name
Includes Irving Brant and Save-the-Redwoods League.
1938-1949

Legal documents, undatedReturn to Top

Container(s): Box-folder 1/12

Report: Mapping and Cruising the Tuolumne-Merced Sequoia, 1966Return to Top

Container(s): Box-folder 1/13

Speeches and WritingsReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1/14
Our Trip to Duluth
1928
1/14
World Human Population
1992
1/14
The Story of Pineclift
1954

Legislation, undatedReturn to Top

Container(s): Box-folder 1/15

MemorandaReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
2/1-2
By Dion
1935
2/1-2
By Others
1935-1945

Pamphlets, undatedReturn to Top

Container(s): Box-folder 2/3

Maps, undatedReturn to Top

Container(s): Box-folder 2/4

Photographs (copies), 1931Return to Top

Container(s): Box-folder 2/5

News releases, 1937-1956Return to Top

Container(s): Box-folder 2/6

Clippings, undatedReturn to Top

Container(s): Box-folder 2/7

Subject FilesReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
2/8-9
Civilian Conservation Corps Revival
1964-1992
2/10
Olympic National Park
1938-1946
2/11
Save the Porcupine Mountains
1941
2/12
Yosemite National Park Sequoias
1966

United States Indian Affairs Office, Consolidated Chippewa Agency, 1940-1941Return to Top

Container(s): Box-folder 2/13

Regarding Junior Ranger position at Grand Portage Reservation, Minnesota.

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Civil engineers--Washington (State)--Seattle--Archives
  • Conservationists--Washington (State)--Seattle--Archives
  • Forest conservation--United States
  • Foresters--Minnesota--Archives
  • Foresters--Washington (State)--Seattle--Archives
  • Forests and forestry--Minnesota
  • National parks and reserves--United States
  • Protected areas--United States

Personal Names

  • Dion, Carl R., 1914-1993--Archives
  • Van Name, Willard Gibbs, 1872-

Corporate Names

  • Civilian Conservation Corps (U.S.)
  • United States. Office of Indian Affairs. Consolidated Chippewa Agency

Geographical Names

  • Grand Portage Reservation (Minn.)

Form or Genre Terms

  • Memorandums
  • Pamphlets
  • Press releases
  • Speeches, addresses, etc
  • correspondence
  • reports
  • writings

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)