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Aaron Parley Christiansen daybooks

 Collection
Identifier: UUS_COLL MSS 094

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of the soft bound daybooks of Aaron Parley Christiansen. Christiansen was a career Forest Service Ranger. These particular daybooks cover the period from 1915- 1921 when Christiansen was an assistant Forest Ranger on the Uintah Forest. Stationed out of Nephi, Utah, the books contain a log of his work activities in the field and in the office. In essence these records were a time card. The books contain an excellent account of the duties of a Forest Ranger in the early twentieth century.

Working the Uintah National Forest, Christiansen was required to keep a daily log of his activities and these books represent that record. Some of the subject matters that are mentioned in the books are timber sales, grazing leases, road building, fighting forest fires and reseeding projects. Christiansen spent a great deal of his time in the field primarily working out of the Salt Creek Ranger Station, many of the entries were noted from the Salt Creek area. Of particular interest are the comments concerning Forest Service philosophy and of Christiansen's philosophy about conservation.

The books number 15 in total and were turned in on a monthly basis to his supervisor. The words "examined by" followed by an initial appear throughout the books. The book after being scrutinized would be returned to Christiansen, many times he would then enter another month in to the book. This accounts for alternated months appearing in the same book.

Dates

  • Creation: 1915-1921

Language of Materials

Collection materials are in English.

Restrictions

Open to public research.

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 Utah State University Libraries, its officers, employees, and agents from and against all claims made by any person asserting that he or she is an owner of copyright.

Permission to publish material from the Aaron Parley Christiansen daybooks must be obtained from the Special Collections Manuscript Curator and/or the Special Collections Department Head.

Biographical Note

Christiansen was born July 17, 1889 in Ephraim, Utah, and died in Logan, Utah, in 1950. He began his career with the United States Forest Service in Nephi and, in 1939, transferred to the Cache National Forest. He was stationed in Logan, Utah from this point until his death in 1950.

Extent

1 box (.5 linear feet)

Abstract

The daybooks of Christiansen are a daily log of his activities as an assistant Forest Ranger in the Uintah Forest. There are fifteen books in total covering a six year period from 1915-1921. Each book accounts for one to two months of work. Some of the subject matters that are mentioned in the books are timber sales, grazing leases, road building, fighting forest fires, and reseeding projects. Christiansen spent a great deal of his time in the field primarily working out of the Salt Creek Ranger Station; many of the entries were noted from the Salt Creek area. Of particular interest are the commentaries concerning Forest Service philosophy and of Christiansen's philosophy of conservation.

Arrangement

Arrangement: Chronological.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The papers in this collection were donated by J. Arbon Christensen. He wrote and broadcast each transcript for radio station KVNU during the 1960s and 1970s. The papers were donated to USU on March 4, 1996, with the help of Milton Abrams, the former director of Merrill Library.

Title
Guide to the Aaron Parley Christiansen daybooks 1915-1921
Author
Finding aid created by Special Collections and Archives.
Date
©2008
Description rules
Finding Aid Based On Dacs (Describing Archives: A Content Standard, 2nd Edition)
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding guide is in English in Latin script.
Sponsor
Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant, 2007-2008

Revision Statements

  • September 3, 2008.: Template information was updated to reflect Utah Manuscript Association best practices.
  • 2009: Template information was updated to reflect Archives West best practice guidelines.

Repository Details

Part of the Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections & Archives Repository

Contact:
Merrill-Cazier Library
Utah State University
3000 Old Main Hill
Logan Utah 84322-3000 United States
435 797-8248
435 797-2880 (Fax)