Issued by
United States Forest Service, founded 1905
Manufactured by
Reeves Company Inc., American, founded 1959
Worn by
Mobley, Melody Starya, American, born 1958
Subject of
Cleveland National Forest, American, founded 1908
Date
1986-1987
Medium
ink on metal
Dimensions
H x W x D: 13/16 × 2 13/16 × 3/8 in. (2.1 × 7.2 × 1 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 Ocala National Forest name badge worn by Melody Starya Mobley. The gold metallic badge is rectangular in shape with rounded edges. Printed in black across the front is block text that reads [MELODY STARYA MOBLEY / OCALA NATIONAL FOREST]. The badge has a satin finish and a polished border. The manufacturing information is printed in small relief text on the back of the badge that reads [MFG. BY REEVES CO. INC., ATTLEBORO, MASS.]. The back has two (2) lapel pins with gold toned butterfly clutches.
Place used
Ocala National Forest, Florida, United States, North and Central America
Place made
Attleboro, Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States, North and Central America
Classification
Tools and Equipment-Occupational
Type
uniforms
tags
Topic
Agriculture
American West
Government
Labor
Nature
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Melody Starya Mobley
Object number
2019.80.2.2
Restrictions & Rights
No Known Copyright Restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5677bbdd0-75f6-4a62-8f9b-34ad2e88a34d

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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