US Forest Service badge worn by Melody Starya Mobley
- Issued by
- United States Forest Service, founded 1905
- Worn by
- Mobley, Melody Starya, American, born 1958
- Subject of
- Mount Baker–Snoqualmie National Forest, American, founded 1897
- Date
- ca. 1980
- Medium
- metal
- Dimensions
- H x W x D: 1 5/8 × 1 7/16 × 3/8 in. (4.1 × 3.7 × 0.9 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 badge worn by Melody Starya Mobley. The badge is brass toned and is the logo for the US Forest Service. At the center of the shield shaped badge is the relief depiction of a pine tree. Relief text surrounds 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 along the bottom of the badge is [DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE]. The background of the front of the shield is a small pebble texture. Attached to the back of the badge is a silver toned bar brooch pin with a safety clasp.
- Place used
- Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, Washington, United States, North and Central America
- Cleveland National Forest, San Diego County, California, United States
- Siskiyou County, California, United States, North and Central America
- Ocala National Forest, Florida, United States, North and Central America
- District of Columbia, United States, North and Central America
- Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, Nevada, United States, North and Central America
- Classification
- Tools and Equipment-Occupational
- 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
- 2019.80.4
- Restrictions & Rights
- No Known Copyright Restrictions
- Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.