Manufactured by
Auburn Sportswear, Inc., American, founded 1986
Worn by
Mobley, Melody Starya, American, born 1958
Subject of
United States Forest Service, founded 1905
Cleveland National Forest, American, founded 1908
Date
1982-1986
Medium
ink on nylon with metal
Dimensions
H x W (Flat): 29 × 21 1/16 in. (73.6 × 53.5 cm)
Caption
Melody Starya Mobley was the first African American female forester of the USDA Forest Service (USFS), serving from June 1977 until her retirement in March 2005. She also was the first African American woman to graduate (in 1979) from the University of Washington College of Forest Resources (later renamed the School of Forest Resources in the College of the Environment). During her 28 years with the USFS she served in national forests all over the country. Most notably for this collection, she served in Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest in Washington state from 1980-1982, Cleveland National Forest in Southern California from 1982-1986, held a temporary assignment in Klamath National Forest in Northern California, and finally served in Ocala National Forest in central Florida from 1986-1987. From 1988 until her retirement in 2005 she served in the USFS headquarters in Washington, D.C. In the mid-1990s, Mobley was given a temporary detail to the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest in Nevada where she served as Deputy Forest Supervisor.
Description
United States Forest Service windbreaker worn by Melody Starya Mobley. The medium sized, dark green, nylon jacket has full-length sleeves, elastic wristbands, a turn down collar, two (2), large front side pockets, and a drawstring hem. The jacket closes at the center front with six (6) dark green snap buttons. Over the proper left breast is the printed gold logo of the U.S. Forest Service, a shield with a pine tree at the center with text surrounding the tree. At the top is slightly arched text that reads [FOREST SERVICE]. Below and on either side of the tree is [U] and [S]. Printed text along the bottom of the reads [DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE]. Sewn to the collar is a white tag with sizing, materials, manufacturing information, and washing instructions printed in black text. The back of the jacket is blank.
Place used
Cleveland National Forest, San Diego County, California, United States, North and Central America
Klamath National Forest, Siskiyou County, California, United States, North and Central America
Ocala National Forest, Florida, United States, North and Central America
Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, Nevada, United States, North and Central America
Classification
Clothing - Fashion and Historical
Type
jackets
uniforms
Topic
Agriculture
American West
Clothing and dress
Government
Labor
Nature
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Melody Starya Mobley
Object number
2019.80.10
Restrictions & Rights
No Known Copyright Restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5a439986c-2950-4b78-b730-9dd62408f0c4

Cataloging is an ongoing process and we may update this record as we conduct additional research and review. If you have more information about this object, please contact us at NMAAHCDigiTeam@si.edu

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