- Issued by
- United States Forest Service, founded 1905
- Manufactured by
- Mine Safety Appliances Company, American, founded 1914
- Worn by
- Mobley, Melody Starya, American, born 1958
- Subject of
- Cleveland National Forest, American, founded 1908
- Date
- ca. 1982
- Medium
- satin ribbon on aluminum shell with plastic and nylon interior
- Dimensions
- H x W x D: 6 3/8 × 8 5/8 × 11 5/16 in. (16.2 × 21.9 × 28.8 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 aluminum hard hat worn by Melody Starya Mobley. The MSA McDonald T (model number 994378) adjustable hat for sizes 6 ½-7 ¾ is primarily constructed from molded aluminum. The interior has a dark gray plastic suspension frame with nylon strapping and a padded band at the forehead. At the top center of the padded band are the molded letters [MSA]. Threaded through external clips around the crown is a red satin ribbon tied into a bow at the front. Stamped along the top of the visor is block text that reads [US GOVERNMENT]. Stamped underneath the visor is block text that reads [McDONALD / T / CAP-STANDARD / MINE SAFETY APPLIANCES CO.]. Inside the hat is a white paper adhesive label with model number, patent information, compliance and manufacturer’s information, and a white paper adhesive warning label with care and cleaning instructions.
- 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-Historical
- Tools and Equipment-Occupational
- 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
- 2019.80.1
- Restrictions & Rights
- No Known Copyright Restrictions
- Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.