Issued by
United States Forest Service, founded 1905
Manufactured by
Boyt Harness Company, L.L.C., American
Thomaston Mills, American
Worn by
Mobley, Melody Starya, American, born 1958
Subject of
Cleveland National Forest, American, founded 1908
Date
ca. 1983
Medium
nylon and metal
Dimensions
H x W (2019.80.8a Flat): 50 3/8 × 12 5/8 in. (128 × 32 cm)
H x W (2019.80.8b Flat): 50 3/8 × 12 5/8 in. (128 × 32 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 snake chaps worn by Melody Starya Mobley. The left leg chap (a) and the right leg chap (b) are constructed from stiff brown nylon that is heavily lined. Each chap is meant to be worn over pant legs and boots up to the thigh and attached to the belt with a fabric strip with adjustable straps that are secured with a snap button and three (3) snap button rings and one (1) snap button post. There are silver-toned zippers at the left and right ankle. Sewn into the top seam are two (2) sets of white tags. The left tags reads [DEPENDABLE / THOMASTON / Fabrics / ® / SINCE 1899 / 100% CORDURA® NYLON / LONG / CARE INSTRUCTIONS / SEE REVERSE] over a graphic logo of a wooden ship wheel. The back has washing instructions and manufacturing information [THOMASTON MILLS, INC. / THOMASTON, GA. 30288]. Below is a second white tag with red embroidered text with a caution warning and wear instructions. The tag to the right has an embroidered graphic logo of a coiled, brown rattlesnake below blue embroidered text that reads [TM / RATTLERS / BRAND] on the front and [MADE / IN U.S.A.] on the back.
Place used
Cleveland National Forest, San Diego County, California, United States, North and Central America
Ocala National Forest, Florida, United States, North and Central America
Classification
Tools and Equipment
Clothing - Fashion and Historical
Type
chaps
uniforms
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
2019.80.8ab
Restrictions & Rights
No Known Copyright Restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd537fb30b2-5a8c-43ae-aea7-d4bf592ee9d6

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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