The Encyclopedia Americana (1920)/Forest Schools

FOREST SCHOOLS. The earliest practical course in forestry in the United States was given in 1897, in the State University of Montana, under Maj. George P. Ahern, U. S. A., who later took charge of the Bureau of Forestry of the Philippine Islands. Major Ahern discontinued the course in the spring of 1898, on account of the breaking out of the Spanish-American War. There were no schools of forestry in this country before 1898. In that year the first effort was made to establish professional instruction in forestry in this country when the Biltmore Forest School was opened at Biltmore, N. C., and the New York State College of Forestry was established in connection with Cornell University. The former school offered a one-year course, supplemented by six months of work in the forest familiarizing the student with the practical problems of the woods. Because of its organization and methods this school remained in a class by itself until its disbandment in 1914. The Cornell school, which offered a four-year course of training and had begun to graduate students, was discontinued in 1903. Instruction was resumed at Cornell in 1911 by the New York State College of Agriculture in connection with the university. A five-year course is offered, leading to the degree of Master of Forestry. The Yale Forest School, which offers a two-years' post-graduate course leading to a Master's degree, was established in 1900. Professional schools of forestry were established not long after, in 1903, at the State universities of Minnesota, Michigan and Nebraska. In the same year the Pennsylvania State Forest Academy was created for the purpose of training men for the Pennsylvania State Forest Service. The attendance is small and limited to residents of the State. Students are appointed after competitive examination, and must serve the State for three years after graduation. In the Pacific States, forest instruction was first given at the University of Washington in 1907. Numerous other colleges and universities established courses, and the rapid growth of instruction in forestry has been phenomenal. At present there are 23 forest schools offering courses leading to professional degrees. These schools are at the University of California, Colorado State Agricultural College, Colorado College, Cornell University, University of Georgia, Georgia College of Forestry, Harvard University, University of Idaho, Iowa State College of Agriculture, University of Maine, Michigan Agricultural College, the universities of Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana and Ohio, Oregon Agricultural College, the Pennsylvania State College, Pennsylvania State Forest Academy, Syracuse University, State College of Washington, University of Washington and Yale University. Twelve of these confer the degree of Master in Forestry upon the completion of post-graduate courses. The Harvard and Yale Forest Schools are graduate schools, requiring for admission a Bachelor's degree from an institution of standing. Ranger courses, fitting men for work as rangers, or guards, and other practical woods work, are offered at Oregon Agricultural and Washington State colleges and the universities of California, Georgia, Idaho, Missouri, Montana, Syracuse and Washington. In addition to these professional and ranger courses, short courses covering the different phases of forestry and related subjects are given in over 40 technical schools, colleges and universities. See Forestry in the United States.