Bookmark this page or copy and paste URL to Email message

Inland Forest Research Council Collection

NAU.MS.272

Historical Note

The Inland Forest Resource Council (IFRC) collection was donated by Erwin Kulosa manager of the Southwest Forestry Services. Prior to working for the IFRC, Kulosa also worked for the Western Wood Products Association and the Federal Timber Purchasers Association. Although the bulk of the material is from Kulosa's work for the IFRC, material does exist from his employment with the other two organizations.

The Inland Forest Resource Council (IFRC) was the Rocky Mountain organization for the National Forest Products Association. Serving as a federated association, the IFRC represented the member companies within its region. These member companies included all aspects of the forest product industry.

Each of the basic activities of the IFRC was assigned to a committee. These basic activities included forest conservation, research, statistical information, transportation, governmental relations, lobbying, trade promotion, engineering, credit rating services and public relations. Kulosa also served on several U.S. Forest Service committees that dealt with timber management issues.

Scope and Content Note

This collection of documents represents Kulosa's work for different aspects of the forest product industry. This material has been organized according to Mr. Kulosa's original filing scheme.

The collection is significant because it represents primary documentation of the forest product industry during a period of heightened environmental awareness and interest in public land issues on the part of the American public. This interest manifested itself in the passage of such laws as the Endangered Species Act, legislation about clean air and water and the evaluation of roadless areas. All of these issues had a direct impact upon the forest products industry.

Of particular interest are the minutes and documents from meetings where strategy for the promotion of timber products and advocacy for forest product companies were discussed. It was the opinion of the forest products industry that there was a credibility gap with both the press and the public, and so a public relations campaign was initiated in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Additional items which were generated by the United States Department of Agriculture are included, promoting the forest and some environmental issues.

Another main theme documented in the collection is the growing strength of the environmental community and the reaction of the forest products companies to this change. Many appeals of timber sales occurred as a direct result of a stronger environmental community. The Roadless Area Review and Evaluation (RARE) process began in the early 1970s with RARE I and continued through the 1980s with RARE II. There are many published items that are kept intact with notes and additional informational material which reflects the Federal Timber Purchasers Association's analysis of these studies. Also, the passage of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 resulted in major policy shifts toward the timber industry.

The collection documents the working relationship between members of the forest products industry and the United States Forest Service. Minutes from several Forest Service standing committees -- the Industry committee, the management committee, the regional road committee and general work committee -- can be found in the collection.

Another significant aspect of the collection are the documents relating to timber sales. These documents include records of sale, timber appraisals and prospectuses. This material gives exact locations and specifications for logging sales in the forests of Arizona and New Mexico.

Finally the collection contains documentation on many New Mexico and Arizona forest product companies and how these companies interacted with the Forest Service. For example brochures and material from the Navajo Forest Products Industry can be found in series five. Documents on building roads and sawmills can be found in series six.

Organization

Restrictions

Restrictions

None.

Copyright

It is the responsibility of the user to obtain permission to publish from the owner of the copyright (the institution, the creator of the record, the author or his/her transferees, heirs, legates, or literary executors). The user agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Arizona Board of Regents for Northern Arizona University, its officers, employees, and agents from and against all claims made by any person asserting that he or she is an owner of copyright.

Related Material

Access Points

Administrative Information

Credit Line

Inland Forest Research Council Collection, NAU.MS.272, Cline Library. Special Collections and Archives Dept.

Container List