- 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
- 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.




