The Marian Koshland Bioscience and Natural Resources Library proudly announces the online availability of the Fritz-Metcalf Photograph Collection, nearly 9000 images relating to forestry, conservation, and the lumber industry in California and the United States. The Fritz-Metcalf Photograph Collection can be browsed or searched at http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/BIOS/fmpc/.
Emanuel Fritz and Woodbridge Metcalf were among the first to join the faculty of the new School of Forestry at UC Berkeley in the early years of the last century. They were also avid photographers who together created an extensive collection of photographs documenting their passionate involvement with forestry and the University. Subjects include:
- the activities of the University of California Berkeley’s School of Forestry, including the Forestry Club and Forestry Summer Camp
- forest research, reforestation and conservation
- fire protection, firefighting equipment, and lookout stations
- logging operations, equipment, and lumber mills
- roads, railroads, bridges, and other logging infrastructure
- the University campus
Most of the photographs were taken by Professors Fritz and Metcalf between 1910 and 1960, with contributions by other faculty, students and friends of the University’s School of Forestry. Professor Fritz, a member of the faculty from 1919 until 1954, was a highly esteemed expert on the Coast Redwood. Professor Metcalf , a member of the faculty from 1914 until 1956, was Extension Forester for more than three decades. Both were very active in conservation organizations such as the Save-the-Redwoods League and the California Conservation Council, and both remain revered today. The Fritz-Metcalf Photograph Collection will be a rich resource for those interested in the history of forestry and the University.
Special thanks to Dan Johnston, Xiuzhi Zhou, and Heather Thams for their efforts in bringing the Fritz-Metcalf Photograph Collection digitization project to fruition.