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Warren H. Bolles collection

 Collection — Box: 1
Identifier: MG 521

Content Description

Warren H. Bolles, class of 1926, memorabilia such as a photograph album, two camp logs (journals), and two tree volume measurement notebooks.

Dates

  • Creation: 1922-1939

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research.

Biographical / Historical

Warren Huntington Bolles was born on December 13, 1899 in Collins, New York to John and Harriet (Merill) Bolles. As a young child, Warren had a love for the outdoors. He participated in hunting, trapping, fishing, and other activities. In 1916, during World War I, he was a part of the Farm Cadet program. This program allowed farm boys to be released from school early in order to work. When he was accepted, Warren's high school career was terminated, which left him with a ninth grade education.

In 1919, with encouragement from his mother, Warren wrote to the New York State Ranger School located in the Adirondack Mountains to request admission. This was a branch of the forestry school in Syracuse, New York. He was accepted, and began attending in March 1920. Warren graduated from the school in December 1920, and left for Ogden, Utah after receiving a job offer letter from the United States Forest Service (USFS).

After a year of working the entry level position, Warren took the Forest Rangers' examination given at Emmett, Idaho on October 25, 1921 - and passed. He then accepted a ranger job on the Toiyabe National Forest, which at that times was the largest forest in the USFS Region IV.

In September 1922, Warren made his way to Moscow, Idaho to attend the University of Idaho to complete a Forestry degree. Due to his age and experience, he fell into a special student category and could work off needed credits. At that time, twenty students were enrolled alongside him in the forestry school. He completed his degree in 1926, and in March of that year, had taken the Junior Forester Civil Service examination. He ranked second out of 160 forestry graduates who had taken the exam.

Warren traveled to many different duty stations throughout his Forest Service career. As a Forester, he also adopted many different roles. He was on the front lines of forest fires, was camp cook and lookout, measured the volume of trees, completed stand exams, and much more. He even published research and other articles in academic journals, newspapers, and magazines. His personal life was also a success. He married Ella Cretors in March 1942, and they had three daughters, Mary, Beth, and Jeanne. Warren H. Bolles passed away in 1996 in Oregon when he was 97 years young.

Extent

1 Cubic Feet

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Includes two tree volume measurement notebooks, a forestry engineering road booklet, two camp logs with daily entries, and a scrapbook.

Arrangement

Materials left in original order.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Warren H. Bolles was in touch with the former Head of Special Collections, Terry Abraham, in 1987. From this letter (found in scrapbook), it seemed his intention was to donate the items to the department at a later date.

In 2013, Mary A. Scott donated the current collection items to the department.

Separated Materials

The two dance cards, 1926 Idaho Forester issue, "An Alum" College of Forestry, were not found during the processing. They were removed from the original accessioned collection for unknown reason. Location of these items are unknown.

Bibliography

Information for the Biographical/Historical came from the & Life History of Warren Huntington Bolles.
Title
Guide to Warren H. Bolles collection
Status
Completed
Author
Finding aid prepared by Sara Szobody.
Date
2022
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid written in English.

Repository Details

Part of the University of Idaho Library, Special Collections and Archives Repository