This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
By Trevor Sandgathe
Title: Gerald W. Williams Collection on Smokey Bear, 1933-1995
Predominant Dates: 1993-1995
ID: MSS Smokey
Primary Creator: Williams, Gerald W.
Extent: 1.2 cubic feet. More info below.
Arrangement: The Gerald W. Williams Collection on Smokey Bear is comprised of two series: Series 1. "Happy Birthday Smokey" 50th Anniversary Campaign, 1993-1995 and Series 2. Wildfire Prevention Promotional Materials and Memorabilia, 1933-1995.
Languages of Materials: English [eng]
The Gerald W. Williams Collection on Smokey Bear is comprised of materials collected by U.S. Forest Service historian Gerald Williams relating to Smokey Bear, the Forest Service mascot for wildfire prevention. The collection includes records from the 50th "birthday" of Smokey and materials documenting the history of the Smokey campaign. Included are promotional materials, a design guide, slides and photographs, video recordings, and memorabilia.
The contents of box-folders 1.1 and 1.6 from Series 1, and box-folders 2.1, 2.4, and 2.6 from Series 2, have been digitized and are available upon request.
The Gerald W. Williams Collection on Smokey Bear documents the history of the Smokey Bear mascot and the related United States Forest Service wildfire prevention campaign from 1944-1994. The bulk of the collection is comprised of materials documenting the 1994-1995 "Happy Birthday Smokey" traveling exhibition and campaign which commemorated the 50th anniversary of the Smokey mascot. Included is promotional literature (brochures, a poster, and an activity book), a brief history of Smokey Bear, an exhibit manual, a guest book, a photograph album, loose photographs and slides, video recordings of news coverage of the 50th anniversary event, two short films, and a "50th Birthday" patch.
The collection also includes more than 100 slides of posters featuring Smokey, a design and clip-art guide, photocopies of the "Smokey Says..." graphics from Guardian of the Forest (1971), a radio kit from a 1991 wildfire prevention campaign, and several other photographic prints, negatives, and slides. The collection also contains one videocassette featuring several Smokey Bear public service announcements produced by the Advertising Council and another videocassette with three episodes of The Smokey Bear Show, a cartoon aired from 1969-1971. Also included are two patches and twelve pins/buttons featuring wildfire prevention messages.
The contents of box-folders 1.1 and 1.6 from Series 1, and box-folders 2.1, 2.4, and 2.6 from Series 2, have been digitized and are available upon request.
The Smokey Bear character and campaign were conceived as part of the United States Forest Service's wildfire prevention efforts during World War II. The first Smokey Bear poster was illustrated by Albert Staehle and debuted in August 1944. Later that year, Rudy Wendelin became the official artist for the campaign and further developed the character's physical appearance. In 1947, Smokey's now famous saying, "Remember...only YOU can prevent forest fires" was introduced. The Smokey image gained popularity in 1950 when a black bear cub rescued from a New Mexico wildfire was given the name "Smokey" and housed at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C. as a living symbol for fire prevention.
To date, the Smokey campaign has resulted in thousands of informational items designed to warn against the dangers of wildfires and to teach fire prevention techniques. Products include posters, songs, clothing, children's toys, television specials and televised public service announcements, and even a cartoon show.
More Extent Information: 4 boxes, including 6 videocassette tapes, 233 slides, 3 contact sheets, and more than 650 photographic prints and negatives
Statement on Access: This collection is open for research.
Acquisition Note: These materials were acquired in 2007 by the Oregon State University Archives as part of the Gerald W. Williams Collection (MSS WilliamsG). They now reside independently in the Oregon State University Libraries Special Collections and Archives Research Center.
Related Materials: Other materials relating to the history and work of the United States Forest Service include the the Forest Service Equipment Development Center Photograph Album (P 311), United States Forest Service Video Workshop Videotapes (FV 264), the Gerald W. Williams Papers (MSS Williams), the C. C. Hall Photograph Album (P 301), the George W. Peavy Papers (MSS Peavy), and the Jason S. Elder Forest Service Diary (MSS Elder).
Preferred Citation: Gerald W. Williams Collection on Smokey Bear (MSS Smokey), Oregon State University Special Collections and Archives Research Center, Corvallis, Oregon.
Processing Information: This collection was accessioned as part of the Gerald W. Williams Collection (MSS WilliamsG). It has since been separated from that collection and processed independently.
Finding Aid Revision History: This finding aid was revised on 12/12/2016 to include the "Happy Birthday Smokey" Traveling Exhibit Photograph Album and again on 8/16/2018 to include "The Story of Smokey Bear" and the Advertising Council radio kit. These items were located in the Gerald W. Williams Collection after the initial publication of this finding aid.
Williams, Gerald W.
Advertising Council
United States. Forest Service
Natural Resources
Smokey Bear.
Traveling exhibitions.
United States. Forest Service
Wildfires--United States--Prevention and control.
Contact sheets.
Film negatives.
Information artifacts.
Photograph albums.
Photographic prints.
Slides (photographs).
Video recordings (physical artifacts)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.