National Smokejumper Association collection, 1919-2022

Overview of the Collection

Creator
National Smokejumper Association
Title
National Smokejumper Association collection
Dates
1919-2022 (inclusive)
Quantity
17.05 linear feet and 16 Megabytes
Collection Number
Mss 620
Summary
The National Smokejumper Association is an organization dedicated to the preservation of the history of aerial fire management and wildland firefighting. This collection contains reports, correspondence, interviews, personal papers, photographs, films, and publications related to the development of aerial fire management and the activities of smokejumpers.
Repository
University of Montana, Mansfield Library, Archives and Special Collections
Archives and Special Collections
Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library
University of Montana
32 Campus Dr. #9936
59812-9936
Missoula, MT
Telephone: 406-243-2053
library.archives@umontana.edu
Access Restrictions

Researchers must use collection in accordance with the policies of Archives and Special Collections, the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, and The University of Montana--Missoula.

Languages
English.

Historical NoteReturn to Top

The National Smokejumper Association (NSA) is an organization which preserves and shares the history of aerial fire management and provides a forum for those associated with wildland firefighting. Founded in 1992, the NSA maintains a roster of current and former smokejumpers and actively collects the histories of individuals and organizations associated with the development of smokejumping and aerial fire management.

In addition to furthering the legacy of smokejumping, the NSA works to support current and former smokejumpers as well as the forests and rangelands they protect. The organization offers support to smokejumpers and their families through a scholarship program and a "Good Samaritan Fund," offering financial support to those in need. Additionally, the Trails Restoration and Maintenance Projects, organized by NSA members and staffed by volunteers, clears trails in wilderness areas using volunteer teams. Established in 1999 by Jon McBride and Art Jukkala, the program utilizes the NSA's network of former smokejumpers to clear trails of debris, build fences, and restore structures in national forests and parks.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The collection contains reports, correspondence, rosters, personal papers, oral histories, photographs, and moving images documenting the history of aerial fire management. The material in the collection was created by the association itself, by former smokejumpers, or by the U.S. Forest Service. The earliest materials include documentation of the development of parachute jumping during the F Studies – Aerial Control Parachute Jumping experiments of the late 1930s and early 1940s by the U.S. Forest Service. The collection also contains: fire reports from various years including the investigation report for the Mann Gulch fire in Montana (1949); newsletters and magazines published by the National Smokejumper Association; collected interviews, obituaries, and profiles of former and/or pioneer smokejumpers; and numerous magazine and newspaper articles related to the development and history of smokejumping and aerial fire management.

This collection also includes extensive moving image materials. The bulk of these materials are from the documentary Smokejumpers: Firefighters from the Sky (also called The History of Smokejumping: Firefighters from the Sky), produced by Stevan Smith for the National Smokejumper Association. These moving image materials are housed on 8mm, betacam, Mini-DV, VHS, and DVD; they include interviews with smokejumpers and both contemporary and historic footage of fires and training exercises. Additional oral histories conducted by the NSA with current and former smokejumpers are also available in the collection on DVD and many include complete transcripts. Finally, personal papers of individual smokejumpers contribute correspondence, photographs, newsclippings, and the personal journals. Collections related to individual smokejumpers are predominantly from smokejumpers who lived and/or trained in Missoula, Montana.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

Researchers are responsible for using in accordance with 17 U.S.C. and any other applicable statutes. Copyright of some materials transferred to The University of Montana-Missoula. Please contact Archives and Special Collections for details.

Preferred Citation

[Name of document or photograph number], National Smokejumper Association Records, Archives and Special Collections, Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, The University of Montana--Missoula.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

This collection has been divided into seven series:

Series I: National Smokejumper Association Records, 1978-2022, 1.35 linear foot

Subseries 1: Operational Materials, 1978-2010, 0.1 linear feet

Subseries 2: Publications, 1993-2023, 1.25 linear feet

Series II: Smokejumping History, 1919-2009, 2.4 linear feet

Subseries 1: Reports/Handbooks/Manuals, 1940-1994, 0.5 linear feet

Subseries 2: United States Forest Service, 1939-1999, 0.6 linear feet

Subseries 3: General, 1919-2005, 1.3 linear feet

Series III: Smokejumpers, 1938–2005, 0.8 linear feet

Subseries 1: Personal Narratives and Interviews, 1940-2004, 0.3 linear feet

Subseries 2: Collections of Personal Stories, 1990-1995, 0.2 linear feet

Subseries 3: Obituaries, Biographies, and General Information, 1940-2003, 0.2 linear feet

Subseries 4: Photographs, 1949-2005, 0.1 linear feet

Series IV: Miscellaneous Audiovisual, 1939–1940, 1976, 2004, 0.8 linear feet

Series V: Smokejumpers: Firefighters from the Sky Documentary, 1983-2003 and undated, 10.2 linear feet

Subseries 1: Video Log Books, undated, 1.0 linear foot

Subseries 2: Field Tapes and File Tapes, Betacam SP S and L, Corresponding VHS Dubs with Window Code and Rough Edit Tapes, 2000 and undated, 6.0 linear feet

Subseries 3: Other Source Video, DVD, Mini-DV, Betacam SP S, Betacam SP L, and VHS, 1988-2003, 3.3 linear feet

Subseries 4: Video Not Used, 2000, 4 items

Series VI: There I Was! the Smokejumper Storyteller Project Interviews, 2014, 1.0 linear feet

Series VII: Personal Papers of Smokejumpers, 1938-2016, 0.5 linear feet

Subseries 1: Ball, Herman, 1950s, 0.1 linear feet

Subseries 2: Brennan, Robert "Bob," 1938-1942, 0.2 linear feet

Subseries 3: Grenager, Lyle, 1951-1953, 0.1 linear feet

Subseries 4: Kurowski, Ed J., 2016, 0.1 linear feet and 16 Megabytes

Subseries 5: Mathews, Jack, 1986-2001, 0.1 linear feet

Subseries 6: Pickard, Lloyd A. "Chuck," 1946-2005, 0.2 linear feet

Series VIII: Accession 2018-066, 1947-2017, 0.4 linear feet

Custodial History

Prior to the materials coming to Archives and Special Collections, the collection was in the possession of the National Smokejumper Association. Video and video logs in Series V, Smokejumpers: Firefighters from the Sky were held by Stevan Smith until their delivery to the Archives in June 2011. Interviews conducted by John Driscoll for the storytelling series There I Was! were donated by the creator in 2014. National Smokejumper Association Historian Charlie Palmer donated additional Mann Gulch fire photographs in 2016. Personal papers of smokejumpers arrived as donations from their individual creators or from friends and family of the creator.

Acquisition Information

Initial donation was a gift of the National Smokejumper Association Board in 2003.

Future Additions

Additions to this collection are ongoing and will be added by the organization and individual donors.

Processing Note

This collection was originally minimally processed with limited description and rearrangement. In 2016, the majority of the collection was rearranged and redescribed to ease use and access. Copies of the original guide are available at Archives and Special Collections upon request but current folder titles may not reflect the original description. All materials were maintained except oral history transcripts that are already held by the Mansfield Library in OH 133. Photographs were also removed from Bob Brennan's photo album and put in four folders in their original order for preservation purposes.

Related Materials

Eastern Washington University holds meeting minutes and other records of the National Smokejumper Association. Two oral history collections held at the University of Montana's Archives and Special Collections contain approximately 150 oral history interviews with smokejumpers: OH 133, Smokejumper Oral History Project, and OH 163, Civilian Public Service Smokejumpers Oral History Project.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Series I:  National Smokejumper Association Records, 1978-2019Return to Top

1.35 linear feet

This series primarily contains copies of the organization’s newsletter, Static Line, and their magazine, Smokejumper Quarterly. It also includes a report of the Long Range Plan of the organization written in 2002 as well as reunion materials.

Container(s) Description Dates
Subseries 1: Operating Materials
0.1 linear feet
This subseries contains reports, memos, correspondence, and reunion materials generated by the National Smokejumpers Association. There are also negatives of photos from the August 11, 1986 reunion at Camp Paxson at Seeley Lake, Montana, some images are identified.
1978-2010
Box/Folder
1/1
Memos
1993
1/2
Strategic Plan
2002
1/3
Correspondence, Smokejumper History Project
1999-2003
1/4
Reunions, Includes Negatives
1978-2010
Subseries 2: Publications
1.25 linear feet
This subseries contains items published and distributed by the National Smokejumpers Association including their quarterly magazine, trail maintenance reports, and newsletter.
1993-2019
Box/Folder
1/5
National Smokejumper Association Trail Maintenance Reports
2001-2005
1/6
Smokejumper Quarterly
1999-2000
1/7
Smokejumper Quarterly
2001
1/8
Smokejumper Quarterly
2002
1/9
Smokejumper Quarterly
2003
1/10
Smokejumper Quarterly
2004
1/11
Smokejumper Quarterly
2005
2/1
Smokejumper Quarterly
2006
2/2
Smokejumper Quarterly
2007
2/3
Smokejumper Quarterly
2008
2/4
Smokejumper Quarterly
2009
2/5
Smokejumper Quarterly
2010
2/6
Smokejumper Quarterly
2011
2/7
Smokejumper Quarterly
2012
2/8
Smokejumper Quarterly
2013
2/9
Smokejumper Quarterly
2014
2/10
Smokejumper Quarterly
2015
2/11
Smokejumper Quarterly
2016
2/12
Smokejumper Quarterly
2017
27/1
Smokejumper Quarterly
2018
27/2
Smokejumper Quarterly
2019
27/3
Smokejumper Quarterly
2020
27/4
Smokejumper Quarterly
2021
27/5
Smokejumper Quarterly
2022
27/6
Smokejumper Quarterly
2023
electronic_file
Electronic File
Smokejumper Quarterly
1999-2017
Box/Folder
3/1
Static Line Newsletter
1994-1998
electronic_file
Electronic File
Static Line Newsletter
1993-1999

Series II:  History of Smokejumping, 1910-2009Return to Top

2.4 linear feet

This series contains materials that relate to the history of smokejumping.

Container(s) Description Dates
Subseries 1: Reports/Handbooks/Manuals
0.5 linear feet
This subseries contains materials documenting a range of topics related to aerial fire management. Materials include rosters, regulations, training manuals, and fire reports. These materials specifically include copies of the investigation of the Mann Gulch fire and the fire investigation report of the South Canyon Fire on Storm King Mountain. Materials are arranged chronologically.
1941-1998
Box/Folder
3/2
Aerial Fire Control Project Region One
1941
3/3
District #9–Forest Patrol
1941
3/4
Roster of Forest Service Smokejumpers
1941
3/5
Smokejumper Project – Region Six
1943
3/6
Civil Air Regulations
1945
3/7
Static Line, Camp Newsletter
1945
3/8
Roster of Retired Smokejumpers
1945-1981
3/9
Report of the Board of Review, Mann Gulch Fire
1949
3/10
Higgins Ridge Fire, Nez Perce National Forest
1961
3/11
Training Manual Firefighting
1962
3/12
Annual Reports - Siskiyou Smokejumper Base
1971-1980
3/13
United States - Union of Soviet Socialist Republics Exchange, Technical Report Smokejumping/Rappelling
1976
3/14
LOBE Parachute/EAGLE Parachute, Papers by David Gold, SAFE Symposium
1981-1982
3/15
Smokejumper Study, Region Six
1984
4/1
"Mann Gulch Fire: A Race That Couldn’t Be Won," By Richard C. Rothermel
1993
4/2
Report of South Canyon Fire Investigation
1994
4/3
Fire Behavior Associated with 1994 South Canyon Fire on Storm King Mountain, Colorado
1998
Subseries 2: United States Forest Service
0.6 linear feet
This subseries contains materials created by the United States Forest Service about firefighting, smokejumping, and smokejumpers. This subseries is arranged chronologically.
1910-1999
Box/Folder
4/4
Grave Creek-Trout Creek Fire Report, H.P. Barringer
1910
4/5
Various Firefighting and Smokejumping Publications
1912-1945
4/6
History of Smokejumping
1935-1959
4/7
Aerial Delivery of Supplies
1939
4/8
Inventory of Photographs
1939
4/9
Parachute Jumping in Forest Fire Control, Report of Field Experiments
1939
4/10
F Studies, Aerial Fire Control, Memos and Correspondence
January 1940-May 1940
4/11
F Studies, Aerial Fire Control, Memos and Correspondence
June 1940-December 1940
4/12
F Studies, Aerial Fire Control, Memos and Correspondence
1942-1949
4/13
Fire Control Handbook, Region 6, Part III Suppression
1949
4/14
Air Operations Handbook, Part 3, Aerial Cargo
1952
4/15
Specification for Container for Smokejumper Backpack Parachute Canopies
1957
5/1
Timeline and Narrative for Smokejumpers
1965
5/2
Press Release, Smokejumper Bases to be Studied
1984
5/3
C-7 Field Evaluation
April 1994-October 1994
5/4
FS-14 Parachute Report
April 6, 1995
5/5
Escape Routes: An Anecdotal Evaluation
circa 1995
5/6
Aerial Delivered Firefighter Study
October 20, 1999
5/7
Forest Fire Fundamentals Booklet
undated
5/8
United States Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management Smokejumpers
undated
Subseries 3: General
1.3 linear feet
This subseries contains overviews and timelines of smokejumping history. Items include articles, booklets, chronologies, a conference paper, and general histories of several regional smokejumping stations including the North Cascades Smokejumper Base, the California Smokejumpers and the Siskiyou smokejumper base. Materials are arranged chronologically.
1919-2000
Box/Folder
5/9
Articles and Clippings
1919-1989
5/10
Various Publications on Parachutes, Forests, and Fire Prevention
1930-1943 and undated
5/11
Chronology of Aerial Fire Management (Copy from Malcolm Edward Hardy's Masters Thesis)
1946
5/12
Smokejumper Fatalities
1946-2000
10/1
Life Magazine Article on Mann Gulch
1949
5/13
History of Smokejumping Articles
1940s
5/14
Children's Stories
1940s-1950s
5/15
National Geographic
June 1950
5/16
National Geographic
June 1952
5/17
National Geographic
1956
5/18
Articles
1950s
5/19
Newsclippings
1961
10/2
Seattle Times, Sunday Pictorial, Parachuting to Work, A Smokejumper in Action
1966
5/20
National Geographic
July 1968
5/21
Articles
1960s
6/1
Outline History of Siskiyou Smokejumper Project
1979
6/2
Articles
1970s
6/3
History of Smokejumping by Aviation and Aerial Management
1980
6/4
National Geographic
September 1982
6/5
National Geographic
February 1989
6/6
Articles
1980s
6/7
History of Smokejumping
1980s
6/8
Correspondence including Smokejumping Publications Outline
January 26, 1994
6/9
The History of California Smokejumpers
1997
6/10
History of North Cascades Smokejumper Base, By William Moody
1998
6/11
Articles
1990s
6/12
Articles
2000s
6/13
Articles and Clippings
undated
6/14
Miscellaneous, Movie Posters, Various Publication Titles
undated
6/15
Paper by Bruce Van Voorhis
undated
6/16
Untitled History
undated

Series III:  Smokejumpers, 1940-2005Return to Top

0.8 linear foot

This series contains materials relating to individual smokejumpers including personal narratives, interviews, biographies, obituaries, and photographs. These materials are arranged alphabetically.

Container(s) Description Dates
Subseries 1: Personal Narratives and Interviews
0.3 linear feet
This subseries contains the personal stories of smokejumpers.
1940-2004
Box/Folder
6/17
Alexander, Jim "Smoky," Recorded by James Budenholzer
undated
6/18
Derry, Frank, Death
1968
6/19
Dixon, Jerry, "Ten Seconds Over Birch Hill," DVD
1976-2004
6/20
Heintzelman, Jack, Cave Junction Unit
1940s
6/21
Hicks, Brian C., MSO 95, "The Life of a Lowly Rookie"
undated
6/22
Reid, Bob, MSO 57
November 29, 1994
6/23
Rieck, Carroll
May 10, 1994
6/24
Shank, Hank, MSO 47
September 26, 1999
6/25
Stephens, Ronald, Reminiscence, 1947 Water Bomb Project
2015
6/26
Various Recollections
1993-1999
7/1
Veersteeg, Harvey, MSO 53, Personal Stories
2008-2015
Subseries 2: Collections of Personal Stories
0.2 linear feet
This subseries contains collections of personal narratives of smokejumpers assembled for publication and distribution.
1990-1995
Box/Folder
7/2
Civilian Public Service Smokejumpers Life Stories, 1943-1945, Volume 1
1990
7/3
Civilian Public Service Smokejumpers Life Stories, 1943-1946, Volume 2
1991
7/4
Civilian Public Service Smokejumpers Life Stories, 1943-1945, Volume 3
1995
7/5
Static Lines and Canopies: Stories from the Smokejumpers of 1943-1945
1993
Subseries 3: Obituaries, Biographies, and General Information
0.2 linear feet
This subseries contains obituaries, biographies, and other general information about former smokejumpers including newspaper clippings and articles. These materials are arranged alphabetically.
1940-2003
Box/Folder
7/6
Burke, Wilbur "Mick," Funeral Program, Smokejumping Photographs
2000 and undated
7/7
Burton, Ira, Obituary
2003
7/8
Information Summaries, Astronaut Fact Book
1997
7/9
Liston, David, Clipping
2000
7/10
Lycklama, Lester, Background Provided by John P. Ferguson
February 18, 1989
7/11
McPike, H. Roger, Obituary, Photograph, Resume
1998 and undated
7/12
Pilots, Various Materials
1996-1997
7/13
Region 4, Various
1940s
7/14
Rumsey, Walter, Biography
1997
7/15
Search for K. Reed Harrison
December 9, 1993
7/16
Sisler, George K., Congressional Medal of Honor
undated
7/17
Smith, Kenneth Roy, Obituary
August 1997
7/18
Unsoeld, Willi, Biography, Photographs
undated
7/19
Who's Who in Region 4 Smokejumping: 1943-1997
1998
Subseries 4: Photographs
0.1 linear feet
This subseries contains photographs of various smokejumpers and their equipment. These materials are arranged chronologically.
1949–2005
Box/Folder
7/20
Mann Gulch Recovery Crew, Photographs and Negatives
1949
7/21
Unit at Cave Junction
1949-1956
7/22
Summerfield, Ed, Smokejumpers Gear
1950
7/23
Lewis, John S.
1950s
7/24
Public Civil Service Photographs from the 1940s
1999
7/25
Storm King Fireline, Guntar Dambro
2000s

Series IV:  Miscellaneous Audiovisual, 1939–1940, 1976, 1998, 2004Return to Top

0.8 linear feet

This series contains various audiovisual materials including Wilderness Survival Tapes, photos transferred to CD.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
8/1
Wilderness Survival Videotapes
1998
9/1
Photos on CD, North Cascades Smokejumper Base Honored at Seattle Mariner Game
Sept. 2004
9/2
Photos on CD, North Cascades Smokejumper Base and National Forest Service Archives
undated
9/3
Wilderness Warriors Smokejumpers, ESPN (21 min version), 1 Broadcast Videocassette
1989
9/4
Forest Service Experimental Smokejumper Project, Intercity Airport, Winthrop, WA, Film by Ferd Haase
1939 – 1940 Smokejumpers, 1 reel of film, and 1 master DVD copy and 1 DVD use copy of the film created by Photo Magic Video Productions in 2006
9/5
Computers Disks, unidentified
undated
10/1
William Moody, U.S. – U.S.S.R. Exchange Jump, 1 reel of film
1976, and 1 master DVD copy and 1 DVD use copy of the film created by Photo Magic Video Productions in 2006

Series V:   Smokejumpers: Firefighters from the Sky , 1983-2003 and undatedReturn to Top

10.5 linear feet.

This series consists of video components and detailed video logs from the documentary Smokejumpers: Firefighters from the Sky (also called The History of Smokejumping: Firefighters from the Sky) produced by Stevan Smith for the National Smokejumper Association. Raw footage includes interviews with smokejumpers and video logs include complete transcripts of these interviews.

Container(s) Description Dates
Subseries 1 : Video Log books
1.0 linear feet
This subseries contains video logs that include transcripts of interviews and brief descriptions of raw footage with timecodes from the making of Smokejumpers: Firefighters from the Sky.
undated
Box
11
Video log book, part one
undated
11
Video log book, part two
undated
11
Video log book, part three
undated
11
Final edit log book including credit notes
undated
Subseries 2 : Field tapes and File tapes, Masters on Betacam SP S and L, Corresponding VHS Dubs with Window Code and Rough Edit Tapes
6.0 linear feet
This subseries contains raw footage on betacam and VHS dubs of the originals, log books in previous subseries provide an index to the materials from the making of Smokejumpers: Firefighters from the Sky.
2000 and undated
Box
12
Field tapes 1-39, no tape #16, Betacam SP S
undated
13
Field tapes 40-79, Betacam SP S
undated
14
Field tapes 80-119, Betacam SP S
undated
15
Field tapes 120-159, Betacam SP S
undated
16
Field tapes 160-163, Betacam SP S
undated
16
File tapes 1-36, Betacam SP S
undated
17
File tapes 27-31 and 33, Betacam SP L
undated
20
27 VHS Dubs with Window Code for Editing
undated
20
1 Review/Progress Tape Labeled #1 NSA Smokejumper Footage, VHS
2000
20
2 Review/Progress Rough Edit Tapes Labeled #1 NSA Jump/Fire Footage, VHS
2000
20
2 Review/Progress Rough Edit Tapes Labeled "Smokejumpers: Firefighters from the Sky," Part 1 and 2, VHS
2000
Subseries 3: Other Source Video, DVD, Mini-DV, Betacam SP S, Betacam SP L, and VHS
3.3 linear feet
This subseries contains additional source videos for Smokejumpers: Firefighters from the Sky not included in the log books from Subseries 1 including various interview duplicates on DVD.
1988-2003 and undated
Box
17
Redmond Fire, Mini-DV
undated
17
Missoula Rookie #1 and #2, Mini-DVs
undated
17
3 Alaska Fires, Mini-DVs
undated
17
Jack the Ripper Fire, Mini-DV
undated
17
HIPKE Footage, tape 1 of 2 (no 2nd tape), Mini-DV
2000-2002
17
HIPKE Summer, Tapes 1,2, and 3, Mini-DVs
1998
17
Fire, Mini-DV
undated
17
Smokejumping, Mini-DV
undated
17
Pin Fire, 3 man, Mini-DV
undated
17
Smokejumper-MSO, Mini-DV
undated
17
BLM - Exits, Mini-DV
undated
17
Mann Gulch 50th, Mini-DV
undated
17
13 Betacam compilation copy reels of Mini-DVs, Betacam SP S and L
undated
18
3 Betacam reels "Smokejumper Pilot" shot by Missoula Technology Development Center, USDA Forest Service, Betacam SP S
undated
18
4 Betacam reels "Smokejumper Spotter" shot by Missoula Technology Development Center, USDA Forest Service, Betacam SP S
undated
18
1939 Experimental Jumps, 3/4" cassette
undated
18
Bobby Montoya - Idaho City and Gila, Les Peppard, Betacam SP L
undated
18
Bill Poppy's, Betacam SP L
undated
18
Eric Hipke - South Canyon, Betacam SP L
undated
18
Jack the Ripper Fire, Tony Petrelli jump footage, Betacam SP L
undated
18
Sawmill Saddle Fire, Betacam SP L
undated
18
Mann Gulch 50th, Betacam SP L
undated
18
Allen Bell Footage, Part 1, Betacam SP L
undated
18
Allen Bell Footage, Part 2, Betacam SP S
undated
18
Hipke 99, Betacam SP S
undated
18
Interview with Secretary of Interior, Bruce Babbit, Betacam SP S
undated
18
NCSB Memorial, Betacam SP S
2003
18
SJ 8 Mile Ridge Crash, Betacam SP S
2003
18
Ghalor - Early Smokejumpers, Betacam SP S
undated
18
Storm Warning, Sonny Archuleta Concludes, Tony Petrilli, Betacam SP S
undated
18
A, Pick-up Shots, Betacam SP S
undated
18
B, MSO Water Bomb Stills, Betacam SP S
undated
18
C, Son of Pickups, Betacam SP S
undated
18
D, Daughter of Pickups, Betacam SP S
undated
19
U.S. Invasions- Japanese Incendiary Balloons, VHS
undated
19
Allen Bell, BLM-Hollywood, VHS
undated
19
Smokejumper training, Missoula, transfer from 8mm, VHS
1952
19
Smokejumpers, VHS
undated
19
Caribou, VHS
undated
19
Early Jumps with Eagle Parachute - rip cord, VHS
undated
19
Boise Jump Season Highlights, VHS
1999
19
Hipke Fire Video, VHS
1998
19
International Crown Fire Modeling Experiments, Northwest Territories, VHS
1997
19
World Fires Victoria, Where the Fire Meets the People, VHS
undated
19
3 tapes of conscientious objectors discussing their time as smokejumpers during WWII, labeled MCAT 122380, 122411, and 122412 , SVHS
undated
19
Telephone Creek: 1950 Smokejumper Documentary, VHS
undated
19
Storm King Mountain Technologies: Developments in Fire Shelters, VHS
undated
19
Season of Fire, Idaho Public Television, VHS
undated
19
Fire Line, Idaho Public Television, VHS
undated
19
Fire Wars, Nova, PBS, VHS
undated
19
1988 Yellowstone Fires, VHS
1988
22
DVD #1 - Interviews with Marge Kuehn-Tabor, Chuck Flack, and Jim Veitch
undated
22
DVD #2 - Interviews with Mike McMillan, Rod Dow, and Burt Mitman
undated
22
DVD #3 - Interviews with Murry Taylor, Dewey Warner, and Mark Corbet
undated
22
DVD #4 - Interviews with David "Skinny" Beals and Dave Nani
undated
22
DVD #5 - Interviews with Richard Tracy, Lynn Sprague, Robert Kersh, and Cathleen Lowe
undated
22
DVD #6 - Interview with Elmer Neufeld
undated
22
DVD #7 - Interview with Eric Hipke
undated
22
DVD #8 - Interviews with Steve Nemore and Phil and Jake Brollier
undated
22
DVD #9 - Interviews with Neal Hitchcock, Roy Johnson, Rusty Warbiss, Roy Wenger, and Bruce Babbitt
undated
22
DVD #10 - Interviews with Gary "Gramps" Johnson, Jerry Zumwalt, and Gene Hobbs
undated
22
DVD #11 - Interviews with George Cross, Bob Nicol, and Stewart "Lloyd" Johnson
undated
22
DVD #12 - Interviews with Rob and Karen Morrow, Gregg Anderson, and Tony Petrilli
undated
22
DVD #13 - Interview with Wayne Webb
undated
22
DVD #14 - Interview with "Wild" Bill Yensen
undated
Subseries 4 : Video Not Used
4 items
This subseries contains film collected but not used in the making of Smokejumpers: Firefighters from the Sky.
2000
Box
19
Up in Flames, Forest History Society documentary, Betacam SP S and VHS dub
undated
19
Escape: Fire in Mann Gulch, VHS
2000
19
The Rockies, VHS
2000
Subseries 5: Miscellaneous Papers
0.2 linear feet
This subseries contains research and contracts related to the making of Smokejumpers: Firefighters from the Sky.
1983-2003 and undated
Box/Folder
21/1
Contracts and correspondence
1999-2003
21/2
Research
undated
21/3
A Pictorial History of Smokejumping by Stan Cohen
1983
21/4
Newsclippings
2001 and undated
21/5
Videocassette Case Artwork
undated

Series VI:  There I Was! the Smokejumper Storyteller Project Interviews, 2014Return to Top

1.0 linear feet

This series contains interviews of smokejumpers for the There I Was! project conducted by John Driscoll.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
23
Smokejumper Oral Histories Collected in 2014, Binder, Includes Interview Summaries and Releases
2014

Series VII:  Personal Papers of Smokejumpers, 1938-2016Return to Top

0.3 linear feet

This series contains personal papers of former smokejumpers.

Container(s) Description Dates
Subseries 1: Ball, Herman
0.1 linear feet
Herman Ball was a smokejumper who jumped the 1950 and 1951 seasons in Missoula. He was recruited by the Central Intelligence Agency for their operations in Taiwan; he and other smokejumpers trained Chinese nationalist troops in survival tactics and parachuting. This subseries contains photographs of Ball's activities in Taiwan in the 1950s as well as a photograph of Marana Army Air Field in Arizona, a CIA base of operations during the Vietnam War.
1950s
Box/Folder
24/1
Photographs, Training Nationalist Troops, Western Enterprises, Inc., Taiwan, Taipei Guest House, Marana Army Air Field
1950s
Subseries 2: Brennan, Robert (Bob)
0.2 linear feet
Robert J. Brennan was a pioneer smokejumper in the summer of 1941. This collection contains photographs, journals, and a jump log from the Nine Mile camp in western Montana as well as journals from Brennan's previous Forest Service posts.
1938-1942
Box/Folder
24/2
Journals
1938-1942
24/3
Jump Log
1941
24/4
Photographs, Part 1 of 4
1941-1942
24/5
Photographs, Part 2 of 4
1941-1942
24/6
Photographs, Part 3 of 4
1941-1942
24/7
Photographs, Part 4 of 4
1941-1942
24/8
NSA Bumper Sticker and Membership Card
1941 and undated
24/9
Photographs and Slides
1940s
24/10
Oral History
undated
Subseries 3: Grenager, Lyle
0.1 linear feet
Lyle Grenager was a smokejumper out of Missoula, Montana from 1946 to 1951. He was recruited by the Central Intelligence Agency in 1951 to assist with their covert operations in Taiwan to train a resistance force of Nationalist Chinese troops. This subseries includes photos from Grenager's time in Taiwan including playing on the basketball team for the CIA's front company, Western Enterprises, Inc., and meeting the president of the Republic of China, Chiang Kai-shek.
1951-1954
Box/Folder
24/11
Photographs, CIA Activities in Taiwan and China, Western Enterprises, Inc., Lou Rucker
1951-1952
24/12
Photographs, Chinese National Basketball Team Versus Western Enterprises, Inc.
1952
24/13
Photographs, Chiang Kai-shek, Soong Mei-ling, Herman Ball, Lou Rucker
July 11, 1953
24/14
Portrait of Lou Rucker
Lou Rucker was head of the parachute training program in Taiwan. A former colonel in the U.S. Army, he was also Lyle Grenager's roommate at the Taipei Guest House, the first headquarters for CIA operations in Taiwan.
1950s
Subseries 4: Kurowski, Ed J.
0.1 linear feet and 16 Megabytes
Ed J. Kurowski was a smokejumper who jumped his rookie season in Missoula, Montana in the summer of 1961. Kurowski was from Green Bay, Wisconsin and studied forest engineering at the University of Wisconsin. This subseries contains the collective memoir of many smokejumpers who rookied in 1961 in Missoula, Montana; Ed Kurowski compiled, edited, and authored the memoir.
2016
Box/Folder
25/1
The Way We Were: 1961
2016
electronic_file
Electronic File
The Way We Were: 1961
This is an electronic version of Kurowski's memoir, please contact Archives and Special Collections for additional information.
2016
Subseries 5: Mathews, Jack
0.1 linear feet
Jack Mathews was a smokejumper in Missoula, Montana in the summer of 1948. He was recruited by the Central Intelligence Agency and spent his entire career with them. This subseries contains correspondence written by Mathews concerning various aspects of his service as a military advisor in Laos in the late 1950s, clippings of an article he wrote, photographs, and various other correspondence and notes. There is also a detailed letter he wrote to John MacLean about his article on the smokejumpers at Mann Gulch.
1986-2001
Box/Folder
24/15
Correspondence and Background Information
1986-2001
Subseries 6: Pickard, Lloyd A. "Chuck"
0.2 linear feet
Lloyd A. "Chuck" Pickard was a smokejumper in Missoula, Montana who trained in the summer of 1948. He was a squadleader out of Nine Mile in the summer of 1949 and was supposed to jump on the Mann Gulch fire near Helena, Montana, but traded places with Bill Hellman. This subseries includes photographs, Mann Gulch research materials, materials collected by Jack Mathews, and smokejumper reunion materials.
1948-2005
Box/Folder
24/16
Correspondence, National Smokejumper Association Business, Museum of Mountain Flying
2003-2005
24/17
Earl Cooley Letter to Francis Anywaush
May 26, 1987
24/18
Mann Gulch Articles
1949-1993
24/19
Mann Gulch Newspaper Clippings
1949-2003
24/20
National Parachute Jumpers-Riggers Card, Region 1 Signals Card, Smoke Jumpers Athletic Fund Dance
1950
24/21
Philip McVey Materials Collected by Jack Mathews
1986-1999
24/22
Photograph, Chuck Pickard in Police Uniform with Fred Barnowsky, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
circa 1952
24/23
Photographs, Mann Gulch
2003-2005
24/24
Photographs, Mann Gulch Memorial, National Wildland Firefighter Memorial, From Jerry Linton
May 8, 1991
24/25
Photographs, Missoula, Skydiving
1949-1950
24/26
Photographs, Smokejumpers, Montana, Idaho
1948-1953
24/27
Photographs and Articles, Priest River, Coolin Ranger Station, Idaho
1946-1947
24/28
Photographs and Letter, Smokejumper Reunions
1984-2004
24/29
Photographs and Reproductions, Nine Mile, Training
1948-1950
24/30
Reminiscence of Mann Gulch Events
1999
24/31
Smokejumping and Smokejumper Reunion Ephemera
1999-2004 and undated

Series VIII:  Accession 2018-066, 1947-2017Return to Top

0.4 linear feet

This series contains folders of material by or about fifteen smokejumpers. All folders include a 'submittal form' documenting contents and providing context. The materials were compiled and donated for inclusion in the NSA collection by John Driscoll. Driscoll has indicated jump years and base on each folder.

Container(s) Description Dates
file
26/1
Ray G. Beasley
reproduction of photo of Beasley and his wife, Jane, at CIA Headquarters. Invitation to CIA Museum ceremony, 2014.
2014
26/2
Bob Benzie
Map indicating single fire jump of Benzie in 1956. Database printout documenting his activity.
undated
26/3
Walt E. Currie
Three photographs by Driscoll of MSO Alaska Booster Crew, including Currie, 1978
1978
26/4
John Brian Driscoll
Smokejumper patch from 1968 fire season. Signed copy of book: Smokejumpers of the CIA. Color slides dated 1977, identified as "fire season out of Missoula Fire Depot." Photographs identified as "unknown jumpers exiting DC-3, probably NW of Missoula in 1968."
1968-2017
26/5
Lester E. Gahler
DVD: Leap of Faith: CO Smokejumping During World War II. DVD description states: Includes video footage by former CO Smokejumper Lester Gahler.
undated
26/6
Clarence Douglas Getz
Reproductions of photographs. One identified as Silver City Fire Crew either 1959 or 1960. Others identified as "we think this is the Grangeville Fire Crew."
undated
26/7
Gary W. Grandquist
photograph: "10 man Volpar load out of McGrath headed for Canadian boarder." Photo by John Driscoll.
1978
26/8
Lyle D. Grenager
Typewritten notes by Driscoll of interview with Grenager. Typescript of article printed in June 25, 2004 "Clark Fork Chronicle."
2015
26/9
George King
undated photographs: Old Hale Field, first civilian helicopters, ford tri-motor dropping cargo, smokejumper training at Nine Mile. Castle Creek crew (1948).
1948 and undated
26/10
Fred Koons
photos of Fred Koons and George King, and possibly Jerry Linton.
1948
26/11
Gerald J. Linton
photocopies of photographs in other folders in this series.
1948
26/11
Philip R. McVey
original and copy photographs - McVey at Castle Creek on Middle Fork of Clearwater.
1948
26/12
Avery J. "Jack" Nott
original photographs - Pattee Canyon Jump for 20th Century Fox, 1950; Marble Canyon, Arizona jump; Nott and Johnson pilot Larry Florek; unidentified jumpers, planes, and equipment.
1950 and undated
26/13
Richard A. Peterson
Privately published book: Richard Arnold Peterson and Eve Ridgely Chapline Peterson.
2013
26/14
Glenn Smith
photograph of Skeezeck and Smitty, 1949. Smith in truck, undated.
1949 and undated
26/15
Robert H. Sprute
Bound memoir: Smokejumpers, Aerial Firefighters of the West. The Way We Were, 1961. A collection memoir [by] Ed. J. Kurowski. Clipping. Database printout of jumps.
1949 and undated

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Aeronautics in forest fire control--United States--History
  • Mann Gulch Fire, Mont., 1949
  • Parachuting--United States--History
  • Smokejumpers--United States
  • Smokejumping--United States--History

Corporate Names

  • United States. Forest Service