Manufactured by
Unidentified
Used by
Mobley, Melody Starya, American, born 1958
Subject of
United States Forest Service, founded 1905
Mount Baker–Snoqualmie National Forest, American, founded 1897
Date
1980
Medium
wood and metal
Dimensions
H x W x D: 37 × 9 × 2 5/16 in. (94 × 22.8 × 5.9 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
Splitting maul owned by Melody Starya Mobley during her service in the United States Forest Service. The maul head is comprised of solid black steel. It has a single, slightly rounded blade, a round eye, and a flat butt. The center of the maul head is squared. The maul head is stamped with the number [8] next to a circular stamp on the bottom of the head. The rounded handle is solid, polished wood that flares outward at the shoulder, but is otherwise straight. The handle is split at the knob.
Place used
Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, Washington, United States, North and Central America
Classification
Tools and Equipment-Occupational
Type
mauls
Topic
Agriculture
American West
Government
Labor
Nature
Rural life
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Melody Starya Mobley
Object number
2019.80.5
Restrictions & Rights
No Known Copyright Restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd59581a88c-dd32-46c1-9245-dc64437b81fe

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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