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Marshall C. Edson Papers, 1942-1995

Overview of the Collection

Title
Marshall C. Edson Papers
Dates
1942-1995 (inclusive)
Quantity
1.5 linear feet, (4 boxes)
Collection Number
MSS 155
Summary
Idaho Department of Fish and Game conservation officer Marshal C. Edson, papers, scrapbook and photos of Idaho wilderness, wildlife management; reserach material and drafts of chapters for a planned book about Conservation in Idaho; organizational papers of the Idaho Wildlife Federation and scrapbook documenting a boat trip down the Salmon River (1946).
Repository
Boise State University Library, Special Collections and Archives
Special Collections and Archives
1910 University Drive
Boise ID
83725
Telephone: 2084263990
archives@boisestate.edu
Access Restrictions

Collection is available for research.

Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided, in part, by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities
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Biographical Note

Marshall C. Edson was born in Boise, Idaho, in 1911. He became a conservation officer with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game in 1941 and in 1949 became head of the Public Information Division. He edited the department's magazine, Idaho Wildlife Review, and directed and produced motion pictures on the outdoors. Edson worked for the department for 29 years before moving to the Idaho Water Resources Board, from which he retired in 1974.

Edson served as chairman of the Idaho Public Employee Retirement System Board for almost 12 years. He has been a member of numerous conservation organizations, including the Idaho Wildlife Federation and Poachers Club.

Source: Derived from Edson's biographical sketch in Biographical Information of Poachers Club Members (1994).

Edson died on February 9, 1997, at the age of 85, following a three-year battle with cancer.

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Content Description

Chiefly letters, studies, and reports collected by Edson relating to proposed logging in the Cuddy Mountain Roadless Area of the Payette National Forest (Idaho) and proposed piping of salmon smolt downstream from Idaho (Boylan fish pipeline); together with the organizational papers of the Idaho Wildlife Federation, a scrapbook documenting a boat trip down the Salmon River (1946) and photographs used by the Idaho Wildlife Federation publications.

Additions donated in 2022 include articles and research material (documentation, notes, copies of laws, etc.) for chapters of a book Edson planned to write about conservation in Idaho. He started compiling the material as early as 1980.

Response from Inquiries contains letters from Cecil Andrus, Robert Smylie, Donna Parsons, and Burtt Trueblood.

Chapter II ("Statehood and the First 50 Years") contains material on Soil Conservation; agricultural land data sheet; handwritten notes.

Chapter IV ("Idaho's Living Water") contains a reprint of one of Ernie Day's photos.

Chapter V ("Landmark Legislation") contains notes; list of Poachers' Club members from 1930-1973 ("Always Open Season on Politicians") indicating those deceased as well as the founders; lists of laws.

Chapter VIII ("Wildlife Resources and the Fish and Game Commission") contains handwritten notes; "Report to the Idaho Fish and Game Commission" by Ira N. Gabrielson, President, Wildlife Management Institute. Published by Idaho Fish and Game Commission, January 1953. Several other pamphlets on progress of the Commission. Also, an address by Governor Robert Smylie, "The New Day in Conservation, The Challenge for Tomorrow," given in 1966.

Chapter XIV ("College and University Influence") contains response to Edson's inquiries regarding Idaho Cooperative Fishery Research Unit from Paul D. Dalke, 1981; Wildlife Resources Program, College of Forestry, Wildlife, and Range Sciences of University of Idaho.

"Exploring the Future" contains handwritten draft notes; newspaper clippings; letter from Senator James A. McClure regarding Edson's book project.

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Use of the Collection

Preferred Citation

[item description], Marshall C. Edson Papers, Box [number] Folder [number], Boise State University Special Collections and Archives.

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Administrative Information

Acquisition Information

Gift of Marshall C. Edson, 1996.

Additions donated by Susan Stacy in 2022.

Related Materials

Additional manuscript material relating to Edson is held by the Idaho State Historical Society.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

  • Series 1: Papers

    Papers from Edson's retirement years when he participated in conservation and environmental movements as a citizen activist. Included are single folders of letters, studies, and reports relating to organizational matters of the Idaho Wildlife Federation (of which he was an officer), the issue of logging in the Cuddy Mountain Roadless Area of the Payette National Forest, and the proposal to preserve salmon runs by piping salmon smolt downstream from Idaho (Boylan fish pipeline).

    • Description: Marshall C. Edson: Biographical information
      Container: Box 1, Folder 1
    • Description: Idaho Wildlife Federation
      Dates: 1981-1990
      Container: Box 1, Folder 2
    • Description: Cuddy Mountain Roadless Area, Proposed Logging
      Dates: 1989-1990
      Container: Box 1, Folder 3
    • Description: Boylan Fish Pipeline
      Dates: 1991-1993
      Container: Box 1, Folder 4
    • Description: Idaho Wildlife Federation commemorative booklet planning
      Dates: 1995
      Container: Box 1, Folder 5
    • Description: Exhibits for Pacific Northwest Power Co. and Washington Public Power Supply System
      Container: Box 1, Folder 6
    • Description: 16mm film: taking fish samples at Swan Falls, Idaho
      Dates: 1971
      Container: Box 1, Folder 7
    • Description: Articles about Conservation
      Dates: 1993-1995
      Container: Box 3, Folder 1
    • Description: Concerned Sportsmen for Idaho's Hunting and Fishing Heritage Solicitation Letter
      Dates: 1987
      Container: Box 3, Folder 2
    • Description: History of Pheasants in Idaho
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box 3, Folder 3
    • Description: Transitions: Inland Empire Public Lands Council (January 1991, February 1991, April 1991) Publication
      Dates: 1991
      Container: Box 3, Folder 4
    • Description: Population Bulletin (Population Reference Bureau, June 1953)
      Dates: 1953
      Container: Box 3, Folder 5
    • Description: Refuges 2003: A Plan for the Future of the National Wildlife Refuge System
      Dates: 1991
      Container: Box 3, Folder 6
    • Description: Fish and Wildlife 2000: A Plan for the Future
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box 3, Folder 7
    • Description: Snapshot in Time: Repeat Photography on the Boise National Forest
      Dates: 1993
      Container: Box 3, Folder 8
    • Description: Sustainability Round Table (British Columbia Round Table on the Environment and the Economy)
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box 3, Folder 9
    • Description: Ecology and Economy (Pacific Northwest River Basins Commission)
      Dates: 1973
      Container: Box 3, Folder 10
    • Description: Forest Health and Fire Danger in Inland Western Forests
      Dates: 1994
      Container: Box 3, Folder 11
    • Description: From Rio to the Capitols: State Strategies for Sustainable Development
      Dates: 1993
      Container: Box 3, Folder 12
    • Description: Conservation in Idaho Book Project: Response from Inquiries
      Dates: 1980-1981
      Container: Box 3, Folder 13
    • Description: Conservation in Idaho Book Project: Chapter II, "Statehood and the First 50 Years"
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box 3, Folder 14
    • Description: Conservation in Idaho Book Project: Chapter IV, "Idaho's Living Water"
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box 4, Folder 1
    • Description: Conservation in Idaho Book Project: Chapter V, "Landmark Legislation"
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box 4, Folder 2
    • Description: Conservation in Idaho Book Project: Chapter VI, "Government Organizations"
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box 4, Folder 3
    • Description: Conservation in Idaho Book Project: Chapter VIII, "Fish and Game Commission"
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box 4, Folder 4
    • Description: Conservation in Idaho Book Project: Chapter X, "Wilderness, Wild, and Scenic Rivers"
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box 4, Folder 5
    • Description: Conservation in Idaho Book Project: Chapter XIV, "College and University Influences"
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box 4, Folder 6
    • Description: Conservation in Idaho Book Project: "Exporing the Future"
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box 4, Folder 7
  • Description: Series 2: Scrapbook of a Salmon River boat trip

    Newspaper clippings and photographs of a boat trip down the Middle Fork of the Salmon River in March, 1946. The trip was sponsored by the Idaho department of Fish and Game to count big game.

    Dates: 1946 March
    Container: Oversize drawers 9034, Drawer 1
  • Series 3: Photos

    Fifteen envelopes of mostly 8x10 inch black and white photos of Idaho waterways, canyons, forests, and wildlife. Most images originate photographers from government agencies like the Soil Conservation Service, the United States Forest Service, or the Boise National Forest. Photos are arranged by the originating government agency. These photos were used for publications like the Idaho Wildlife Review.

    • Description: Photos by Marshal Edson

      Thirteen photos, mostly 8x10 in black and white, including scenes of the Idaho State Capitol, Fishing, Loon Creek, Hells Canyon, Sunbeam dam and Canyon Lake in Seven Devils mountain range.

      Dates: 1957, 1971
      Container: Box 2, Folder 1
    • Description: Idaho Wildlife Federation Historical Photos

      Eight black and white photos of Idaho Wildlife Federation members with various Idaho government officials, including Idaho Governor's C. Ben Ross, Robert E. Smylie, Cecil D. Andrus.

      Dates: 1942-1968
      Container: Box 2, Folder 2
    • Description: Wildlife Photos

      Eight black and white photos used in the Idaho Wildlife Review, including images of fishing, duck hunting, park signs and mountain scenes.

      Dates: 1969-1971
      Container: Box 2, Folder 3
    • Description: Group photos

      Four black and white photos, including a group photos of Idaho department of Fish and Game employees, and Idaho Governor Robert Smylie at a ribbon cutting event. Photos are not dated, but might be from the 1950s.

      Dates: about 1950s
      Container: Box 2, Folder 4
    • Description: Photos by the Soil Conservation Service

      Six photos from the Soil Conservation Service, including Idaho waterways and agricultural scenes.

      Dates: 1949-1969
      Container: Box 2, Folder 5
    • Description: Idaho waterways

      Forty-one photos, mostly of waterways in Idaho, including aerial photos, lakes, Elk Creek Drainage, Pack bridge across the Middle Fork of the Salmon River, The Owyhee River, 1964 Orofino flood, Teton Valley, the Upper Bear Valley, William's Lake on the Salmon River, Bear Creek on the Boise River, etc.

      Dates: 1969-1975
      Container: Box 2, Folder 6
    • Description: Idaho waterways and wilderness recreation

      Fourteen black and white photos of scenes in Idaho including American Falls Dam, Potato harvesters in Parma, Hopkins landing in Blackfoot reservoir, Stanly Basin, etc. Photos were taken by various photographers and are labeled as such.

      Dates: 1965-1977
      Container: Box 2, Folder 7
    • Description: Photos by Tom H. Davis

      Five black and white 8x10 inch photos of Idaho forests, timber industry, and petroglyphs.

      Dates: 1973-1974
      Container: Box 2, Folder 8
    • Description: Photos by the Bureau of Reclamation

      Twelve black and white 8x10 inch photos of Idaho waterways, irrigation canals, agriculture, Teton river flood 1962, the Payette Lake, and more.

      Dates: circa 1962
      Container: Box 2, Folder 9
    • Description: Silver City photos by Bob Lorimer

      Four black and white photos of Silver City buildings and a group of people.

      Dates: circa 1974
      Container: Box 2, Folder 10
    • Description: Photos by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game

      Twenty-six black and white photos of fishing, hunting, boating, the Salmon River, the Sawtooth Mountains, the Snake River, etc. All photos taken by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game.

      Dates: 1952-1959
      Container: Box 2, Folder 11
    • Description: Photos by S.V. Gebhards

      Six Photos taken for the Idaho Wildlife Review, including images of rafting, Hyndman Peak, Bruneau River Canyon and more.

      Dates: circa 1970
      Container: Box 2, Folder 12
    • Description: Photos of Idaho landscapes and wilderness

      Thirty photos without captions or credit lines or Idaho scenery including rivers, canyons, Idaho Fish and game workers, farming, logging and boating.

      Container: Box 2, Folder 13
    • Description: Photos by the U.S. Forest Service

      Three black and white photos, Boise National Forest, Boise River South fork, replanted forest near Idaho City.

      Container: Box 2, Folder 14
    • Description: Photos by the Idaho Department of Commerce and Development

      Six black and white, three color, all 8x10 inch photos of Redfish Lake, Bonners Ferry, Bruneau Canyon and other Idaho locations.

      Container: Box 2, Folder 15

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Conservation of natural resources
  • Forest conservation
  • Reclamation of Land
  • Salmon River (Idaho)
  • Salmon fisheries
  • Wildlife conservation

Corporate Names

  • Idaho Wildlife Federation

Geographical Names

  • Cuddy Mountains (Idaho)
  • Payette National Forest (Idaho)

Form or Genre Terms

  • Photographs

Occupations

  • Logging
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