Historic Photograph: Conserving Oklahoma’s Forest Lands

When people think about conservation in Oklahoma, they are usually not thinking about trees, but about a third of our state is forested and conservation professionals have long worked to protect timber resources just as they work to protect farm and range lands. This photo from the National Archives provides a historic snapshot of the conservation partnership to protect Oklahoma’s forest lands.

This photo was taken near Idabel Oklahoma in the Little River Soil Conservation District on October 3, 1946. The caption reads: "Cypress tree 42 feet in circumference at base. Borings made by the U.S. Forestry Services [sic] show that this tree, said to be the oldest in Oklahoma is 2,000 years old. Left to Right: Earl J. Hayes, Robert Stiles (owner) and Z.T. Morgan. Hayes & Morgan are Soil Conservation Service technicians. Photo by E.W. Jenkins." Photo scanned from the Records of the Soil Conservation Service, General Photographic File, National Archives and Records Administration, College Park, Maryland.