Established in 1933 as one of President Franklin Roosevelt's governmental "New Deal" agencies designed to stimulate the depressed national economy, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) employed 3.4 million men over a period of 9 years in a variety of projects throughout the United States. The camps resided on public lands managed by the federal and state government and the projects primarily entailed land improvement efforts such as the development of park infrastructure, erosion control measures, road building, and reforestation. There were a total of 4500 camps nationwide with about 300 in Oregon.
Originally described as part of the Gerald W. Williams Collection, these materials were separated in 2016 from the Williams Collection to form this new collection.
This collection is open for research.
Gerald W. Williams Collection on the Civilian Conservation Corps (MSS CCC), Oregon State University Special Collections and Archives Research Center, Corvallis, Oregon.
The OSU Special Collections and Archives Center has several collections documenting Camp Arboretum, the CCC camp that resided from 1933 until 1942 on the site of Peavy Arboretum in the McDonald Research Forest. These collections include the
The Gerald W. Williams Collection on the Civilian Conservation Corps consists of 11 series: 1. Publications, 1933-2012; 2. Reports, 1938-1982; 3. Newspaper Clippings, 1933-1986; 4. Photographs, 1933-2001; 5. Ephemera, 1933-1941; 6. Artifacts, 1933-1938; 7. Architectural Drawings, 1933; 8. Maps, 1933-1941; 9. Sound Recordings, 1983; 10. VHS Videotapes, 1993-1999; and 11. DVDs, 2005-2008.
The Gerald W. Williams Collection on the Civilian Conservation Corps consists of materials acquired by U.S. Forest Service Historian Gerald W. Williams that document the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) program in Oregon and other states. This collection is made up of publications, photographs, newspaper clippings, maps, architectural drawings, artifacts, DVDs, sound recordings, and VHS videotapes that reflect the CCC program during its operation from 1933 to 1942 as well as in later decades in oral histories with CCC enrollees. Documentation of everyday life and activities in the CCC camps can be found in camp newsletters, photographs, newspaper clippings, and artifacts. Recollections by CCC enrollees are captured in some of the publications, newspaper clippings, reports, sound recordings, VHS videotapes, and DVDs. These items also contain contextual information about the overall history of the CCC program and its impact upon the country.
Oregon CCC Camps documented in this collection include: Camp Belknap, Mist, Camp Kerby, Fall Creek, Odell Lake, Camp Gunter, Camp Nehalem, and Camp Cascadia.
Series 1 is made up of publications documenting the CCC that were published during the program's operation and later as historical studies with CCC enrollees. In addition to newsletters published at various Oregon CCC camps, this series includes: books, brochures, newspapers, magazines, and a manual.
Milton Harr
Ned H. Dearborn
Ray Hoyt
The Center for Research Libraries.
National Association of Civilian Conservation Corps Alumni
CCC Vancouver Barracks District newspaper. Vol. 4, No. 78. July 15, 1940
The National Weekly Publication of the Civilian Conservation Corps. Ten issues published from November 8, 1941 through January 10, 1942 document the changes that were underway at the CCC prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor and the immediate impact on the program in late 1941 and early 1942.
A photocopy. Yearbook contains photographs depicting CCC projects in Oregon. McKenzie River area.
Cover story and "newsmaker" of the week is Robert Fechner, CCC director. Vol. 33, No. 6. February 6, 1939
For the Vancouver Barracks CCC District, Ninth Corps Area with headquarters at the Vancouver Barracks, Washington. This District covered Oregon and the Columbia River Basin in Washington and included 28 companies of enrollees.
Series 2 is made up of reports addressing CCC activity in Oregon parks, the Klamath National Forest, and Wisconsin. There is also a study of the financial administration of the CCC program in New England.
R. W. Bower
Statistical Department of the New England Council.
The State Parks Commission and the Oregon State Planning Board
R. B. Goodman
Series 3 consists of clippings from various newspapers and other publications featuring stories about events in Oregon CCC camps, poems by CCC enrollees, and accounts from enrollees recalling their experiences. About half of the clippings were published in the U. S. Forest Service publication
Series 4 is made up of photographic images depicting CCC camps throughout the U.S. and reunions of enrollees. In addition to group shots, there are views of enrollees working on projects, camp facilities, and examples of logos and posters publicizing the program. The photographs number 36 prints and 222 slides.
Oversized prints.
Series 5 contains camp member lists, service documentation from various CCC enrollees, a discharge certificate, and other paper-based ephemera.
Discharge certificate for John Iskerk from Camp Long Lake (Wisconsin). Certificate in poor condition.
Series 6 is made up of lapel pins, patches, and buttons worn by CCC enrollees and camp staff. This series also includes coinage used for exchange at the camps and a board game inspired by the CCC program "The Forest Ranger Game in Connection with the CCC Camps."
Series 7 consists of a set of architectural drawings outlining the details for a CCC camp oriented toward reforestation projects. Numbering 13 sheets in total, the drawings contain construction details and building specifications for various camp structures.
Series 8 is made up of three maps of the continental United States depicting the location of CCC camps throughout the country, the number of enrollees in each state, the types of public land where the camps resided, and the location of CCC central repair shops.
Series 9 is made up of two cassette sound recordings containing interviews with CCC enrollees at the 1983 Oregon State Fair.
Tape 1 of 2.
Tape 2 of 2.
Series 10 contains five films on VHS videotape about CCC camps in the Pacific Northwest, Virginia, Michigan, and the program's nationwide impact.
Northwest Interpretative Association. Original production by the U.S. Forest Service (8:20)
Original produced in 1933. (10:27)
Forgotten Films.
Episode of "Living in Virginia." WVPT Video Library
A recording of a Bill Moyers program. Also includes other Moyers' shows "World War I-U.S. Home Front" and "World War I-Airplanes and Aces."
Series 11 contains 2 DVDs produced by the U.S. Forest Service about the Civilian Conservation Corps program.