National Forests in Oregon Maps, 1910-1989

Overview of the Collection

Creator
United States. Forest Service.
Title
National Forests in Oregon Maps
Dates
1910-1989 (inclusive)
1921-1965 (bulk)
Quantity
4.5 cubic feet, including 375 maps, (17 map folders)
Collection Number
MAPS USFS
Summary
The National Forests in Oregon Maps consists of maps of all the national forests in Oregon prepared by the U.S. Forest Service. The collection includes maps of the entire forests, ranger districts, and wilderness areas. The maps depict key landscape features, forest roads, campsites, ranger stations and lookouts, recreational sites, and main roads near each forest. Forest reserves were established in Oregon in the early 1890s; many of these reserves became National Forests in the early 1900s after the establishment of the U.S. Forest Service.
Repository
Oregon State University Libraries, Special Collections and Archives Research Center
Special Collections and Archives Research Center
121 The Valley Library
Oregon State University
Corvallis OR
97331-4501
Telephone: 5417372075
Fax: 5417378674
scarc@oregonstate.edu
Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

Languages
English

Historical NoteReturn to Top

Prior to the establishment of individual National Forests, the state of Oregon had several forest reserves that had been formed in 1891-1893. The largest reserve, Cascade Range Forest Reserve, was established in 1891. In 1905 the forest reserves were transferred to the management of the Department of Agriculture, who then formed the United States Forest Service to manage these National Forests.

Despite petitions by local citizens to dissolve the Forest Reserves, the Reserves persisted until 1908, when they were split up into several National Forests. Many were just renamed from a reserve to National Forest. However, the 4.5-million-acre Cascade Range Forest Reserve was divided into the Oregon, Cascade, Umpqua, and Crater National Forests. Some of the forests were further divided through the 1930s so that the portions of the Oregon and Cascade National Forests west of the crest of the Cascades were split and renamed into the Mt. Hood and Willamette National Forests. Areas to the east were divided into the Deschutes and Paulina National Forests. While some of the above forests have maintained their original National Forest names, many have been renamed and combined since they were initially formed.

The National Wilderness Preservation System was established by the Wilderness Act in 1964. Within Wilderness Areas, human activities are limited to scientific study and non-mechanized recreation. Areas within the National Forests that were already designated as "wilderness" or "wild" became part of the system in 1964; in Oregon, this included the Diamond Peak, Eagle Cap, Kalmiopsis, Mount Hood, Mount Washington, Strawberry Mountain, and Three Sisters Wilderness Areas. The Mount Jefferson Wilderness Area was established in 1968.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The National Forests in Oregon Maps consists of maps of national forests in Oregon prepared by the U.S. Forest Service. The collection includes maps of the entire forests, regional maps depicting all the forests in Oregon, some Ranger District maps, and maps of wilderness areas and the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail. Several of the forests extend into California or Washington. The maps provide details such as location, condition, and road numbers for forest roads, campsites and recreational sites, Ranger and lookout stations, key land features, streams, towns in the surrounding vicinity, and main highways in the regions, as well as the National Forests' boundaries. The maps also have the legal townships, ranges and sections, corresponding to the Public Land Survey System. Some maps also include information provided by the Forest Service to those visiting the forests such as what do if lost, how to drive on forest roads, and other potentially valuable information. The maps vary in scale from 1 inch=2 miles to 1 inch=5 miles scale. The maps are arranged by the current forest name.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Preferred Citation

National Forests in Oregon Maps (MAPS USFS), Oregon State University Special Collections & Archives Research Center, Corvallis, Oregon.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

This collection is arranged in 3 series. I. Indexes and Regional Maps, 1918-1982; II. National Forests Maps, 1910-1989; and III. Wilderness Areas, 1964-1979.

Acquisition Information

The maps were transferred from the Oregon State University Libraries' historic and storage maps collections to the Special Collections & Archives Research Center in 2013 to form this collection.

Related Materials

The Special Collections & Archives Research Center holdings include extensive materials pertaining to forests and forestry in Oregon and the Northwest. Maps and other materials documenting national forests in Oregon are available in the Gerald W. Williams Collection (MSS WilliamsG) and Donald B. Zobel Collection of Historic Forestry and Vegetation Maps (MAPS ZobelMaps). The Siuslaw National Forest Aerial Photographs (P 292) include aerial images of the forest made in the early 1970s.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Series I:  Indexes and Regional Maps, 1918-1982Return to Top

16 sheets

Series I consists of maps depicting the locations of national forests in the Pacific Northwest Region (District 6) in Oregon and Washington as well as maps of the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail in Oregon, also known as the Oregon Skyline Trail.

Container(s) Description Dates
map-folder
1
Regional Maps
11 sheets
Maps of the Pacific Northwest Region (District 6) issued in 1918, 1921, 1936 (2 copies), 1940, 1951 (3 copies of one edition and one copy of a different edition), 1961, and 1982.
1918-1982
8
Pacific Crest Trail
5 sheets
Include trail maps and logs, descriptions of the trail, and instructions for hikers.
1950-1971

Series II:  National Forests Maps, 1910-1989Return to Top

339 sheets

Series II is comprised of maps of National Forests in Oregon arranged alphabetically. Most of the maps are of the entire forest; some maps of Ranger Districts are also included. Larger maps of the Crater, Mt. Hood, and Willamette National Forests are housed in a separate folder from the other maps of that forest.

Container(s) Description Dates
map-folder
2, 17
Crater
6 sheets
The Crater National Forest was established in 1908 from parts of the Cascade, Klamath, and Siskiyou National Forests and the entire Ashland National Forest. In 1932, the name was changed to Rogue River National Forest. The 1911 map of the Crater National Forest is housed in a separate folder.
1911-1934
3
Deschutes
25 sheets
Includes a 1915 map of the Paulina National Forest and maps of the Bend, Crescent, Fort Rock, Metolius, and Sisters Ranger Districts.
1915-1971
4
Fremont
20 sheets
1915-1977
1
Klamath
2 sheets
1951-1968
5
Malheur
21 sheets
1911-1982
6, 17
Mt. Hood
25 sheets
The 1924 map is housed in a separate folder.
1913-1982
7
Ochoco
27 sheets
Includes maps of the Big Summit, Paulina, Prineville, and Snow Mountain Ranger Districts.
1911-1989
9
Rogue River
21 sheets
The Rogue River National Forest was named the Crater National Forest until 1932.
1938-1985
10
Siskiyou
28 sheets
1914-1975
15
Siuslaw
30 sheets
1915-1975
16
Umatilla
32 sheets
Includes 1910 and 1912 maps of the Wenaha National Forest, the original name of the Umatilla National Forest, and a map of the Walla Walla Ranger District.
1910-1986
11
Umpqua
17 sheets
1911-1974
12
Wallowa-Whitman
39 sheets
1911-1980
13, 17
Willamette
42 sheets
Includes maps of the Blue River, Lowell, McKenzie, Oakridge, Rigden, and Sweet Home Ranger Districts as well as maps of the Santiam National Forest, an early name of the Willamette National Forest. The 1911, 1919, and 1947 forest maps are stored in a separate folder.
1911-1979
1
Winema
4 sheets
1962-1971

Series III:  Wilderness Areas, 1964-1979Return to Top

Container(s): Map-folder 14

20 sheets

Series III consists of maps for 8 Wilderness Areas in Oregon -- Diamond Peak, Eagle Cap, Kalmiopsis, Mount Hood, Mount Jefferson, Mount Washington, Strawberry Mountain, and Three Sisters. In addition to maps, the sheets include descriptions of the wilderness areas and trail logs.

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Forest reserves--California.
  • Forest reserves--Oregon.
  • Forest reserves--Washington (State)
  • Trails--Oregon.
  • Wilderness areas--Oregon.

Corporate Names

  • United States. Forest Service.

Geographical Names

  • Deschutes National Forest (Or.)--Maps.
  • Diamond Peak Wilderness (Or.)--Maps.
  • Eagle Cap Wilderness (Or.)--Maps.
  • Fremont National Forest (Or.)--Maps.
  • Kalmiopsis Wilderness (Or.)--Maps.
  • Klamath National Forest (Calif. and Or.)--Maps.
  • Malheur National Forest (Or.)--Maps.
  • Mount Hood National Forest (Or.)--Maps.
  • Mount Hood Wilderness (Or.)--Maps.
  • Mount Jefferson Wilderness (Or.)--Maps.
  • Mount Washington Wilderness (Or.)--Maps.
  • Ochoco National Forest (Or.)--Maps.
  • Pacific Crest Trail--Maps.
  • Rogue River National Forest (Or. and Calif.)--Maps.
  • Siskiyou National Forest (Or. and Calif.)--Maps.
  • Siuslaw National Forest (Or.)--Maps.
  • Strawberry Mountain Wilderness (Or.)--Maps.
  • Three Sisters Wilderness (Or.)--Maps.
  • Umatilla National Forest (Or. and Wash.)--Maps.
  • Umpqua National Forest (Or.)--Maps.
  • Wallowa National Forest (Or.)--Maps.
  • Wallowa-Whitman National Forest (Or.)--Maps.
  • Whitman National Forest (Or.)--Maps.
  • Willamette National Forest (Or.)--Maps.
  • Winema National Forest (Or.)--Maps.

Form or Genre Terms

  • Forestry maps.
  • Maps.

Other Creators

  • Corporate Names
    • United States. Forest Service. North Pacific District. (creator)
    • United States. Forest Service. Pacific Northwest Region. (creator)