US Forest Service fire shirt worn by Melody Starya Mobley
- Issued by
- United States Forest Service, founded 1905
- Manufactured by
- ARI Industries, Inc., American
- Worn by
- Mobley, Melody Starya, American, born 1958
- Date
- 1977-1988
- Medium
- cotton (textile) and aramid with plastic and Velcro (TM)
- Dimensions
- H x W (Flat): 30 11/16 × 15 13/16 in. (78 × 40.2 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 issued uniform fire shirt worn by Melody Starya Mobley. The aramid, yellow, long-sleeved shirt has a standard collar and buttons at the center front with six (6) round yellow plastic buttons. There are two (2) front pockets, one at each front side chest. Each pocket closes with a flap that fastens at the center with a strip of velcro. The cuffs also have velcro closures. The shirt is not lined. A white manufacturer's label is sewn at the interior center back neck black printed text that reads [SHIRT, MAN’S, / FIRE RESISTANT (ARAMID) / GS-08S-33957 / USDAFS INT. SPEC. 5100-0091C / ARI INDUSTRIES, INC. / 14 ½ X 32 (SMALL) / 8415-00-233-5818]. The back of the shirt and sleeves are plain.
- Place used
- Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, Washington, United States, North and Central America
- 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
- 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
- 2019.80.15.1
- Restrictions & Rights
- No Known Copyright Restrictions
- Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.