Nathan J. Hayes Papers, 1927-1958

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Hayes, Nathan J., 1887-1966
Title
Nathan J. Hayes Papers
Dates
1927-1958 (inclusive)
Quantity
0.1 linear feet, (2 folders)
Collection Number
Mss 475
Summary
Nathan J. Hayes was an employee of the Montana State Forestry Department (present-day Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation) near Missoula, Montana for over 30 years. This collection consists of his field notebook from 1927 and 1928 as well as two newspaper clippings about his career published in the late 1950s.
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
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Nathan J. Hayes was born August 13, 1887 in Viroqua, Wisconsin. In 1909, he moved to Montana. Hayes began work as a chopping foreman south of Anaconda on the first timber sale made by the U.S. Forest Service. Hayes married Mary C. Rasmussen of Missoula on March 13, 1916; they had one son. Hayes served as a corporal in the U.S. Forestry Division of the army during World War I. After the war, he continued his work with the U.S. Forest Service at the Ten Mile Ranger Station and Georgetown Lake until 1925.

In 1926, Hayes became an employee of the Montana State Forestry Department, which today operates under the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation. He eventually assumed the position of Greenough district state forester in Montana. Hayes worked in the Blackfoot Valley throughout his career, headquartered near Sperry Grade. He worked under three state foresters during his 32 years of service. Hayes retired from the State Forest Service in 1957, at the age of 70. Hayes died March 12, 1966.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

This collection contains one 2.75” x 5.5” notebook that Hayes used primarily to record information relevant to his work with the Montana State Forest Service. This complimentary notebook is from the Missoula Mercantile Company, and has a 1926 and 1927 calendar printed inside the front and back cover. The notebook contains tables, diagrams, descriptions, and formulas used to identify log defects and determine log value. Hayes included a table of decay determination for saw logs, five points the sealer should remember when making deductions for defects, rules for log scaling, Knoff and Lancaster’s 1895 rule for figuring board feet, methods for making cull deductions on a percentage basis, and Scribner’s decimal “C” log rule. The collection also contains two newspaper clippings, dated 1957 and 1958, regarding his retirement from Montana's Forestry Department.

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 not transferred to The University of Montana.

Preferred Citation

Nathen J. Hayes Papers, Archives and Special Collections, Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, The University of Montana--Missoula.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Acquisition Information

The donor and the date of donation of this collection are unknown.

Processing Note

The actions of the original processors are unknown. In 2002, the collection was re-described. In 2024, the Archives corrected previous description of Hayes' work with the U.S. Forest Service. Although Hayes did start his career with the U.S. Forest Service, he spent the majority of his career with the Montana Department of Forestry, and all of the materials in this collection were created during his tenure with the state office.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Folder
1 Hayes’s notebook 1927-1928 and undated
2 Newspaper clippings 1957-1958

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Forests and forestry--Mensuration
  • Forests and forestry--Valuation
  • Logging--Montana

Corporate Names

  • United States. Forest Service--Officials and employees

Occupations

  • Foresters--Montana.