
| Pennsylvania State University |
| University Libraries |
| Special Collections Library |
| Historical Collections and Labor Archives |
| E104 Paterno Library |
| University Park, PA 16802 |
| Phone: 814/863-2505 |
| Fax: 814/863-5318 |
| Email: jpq1@psulias.psu.edu |
| Processed by: | Johanna Rossi |
| Date Completed: | 2001 |
| Encoded by: | Johanna Rossi |
© 2001 Pennsylvania State University. All rights reserved.
| Title: | Lumber Rafting Oral History Collection, 1873-1975 |
| Accession number: | 2001-0113-H |
| Provenance: | Gift of Craig Humphries |
| Extent: | 0.45 cubic ft. |
| Repository: | Pennsylvania State University, University Libraries, Special Collections Library, Historical Collections and Labor Archives, 104 Paterno Library, University Park, PA 16802 |
Unrestricted access
Lumber Rafting Oral History Collection, 2001-0113-H, Historical Collections and Labor Archives, Pennsylvania State University.
The Lumber Rafting Oral History Collection documents the timber industry in North Central Pennsylvania, primarily between 1885-1940. The collection consists of sixty interviews, an article from the Harrisburg Patriot, a list of boat scaffolds in Clarion, and a film entitled The Last Raft, documenting the historical recreation of the last lumber raft, 1939.
The bulk of the collection focuses on the work patterns of the lumber industry, including detailed descriptions of building and maneuvering log rafts on the West Branch of the Susquehanna River to the end of the run in Williamsport or Lock Haven. The collection has descriptions of log transportation using logging roads, horses, sleds and trains (mostly steam engines). Wages, typical dress, work patterns, and social history are included throughout the interviews. Though most of the collection centers on rafting, there is some information on clearing forests, types of lumber used, and cutting logs in the lumber mills.
The collection came with a short film documenting the construction of the last raft to float down the Susquehanna River, 1939.
Samuel A. King was a Professor of History, Penn State-Dubois. Dr. King's research efforts and life-long interest in the lumber rafting heritage of north central Pennsylvania resulted in a collection consisting of transcribed oral history interviews and one short film entitled The Last Raft. Following Professor King's death, the collection reverted to his colleague and friend, Dr. Craig Humphries of the Penn State Sociology Department.
The collection is organized in rough chronological order by date of interview.
Clippings, 1873, n.d.
Box: 1 Folder 01
"Susquehanna Rafting,"
Harrisburg Daily Patriot,
April 9, 1873
Box: 1 Folder 02
Boat Scaffolds - Clarion River
Interviews, 1952-1968.
Box: 1 Folder 03
Mr.and Mrs. Harringer Wash,
June 5, 1952
Box: 1 Folder 04
Edwin Ransom, Clear Creek, Pa.,
September 13, 1961
Box: 1 Folder 05
Edwin Ransom,
September 4, 1962
Box: 1 Folder 06
"Grandpa" Edwin Ransom, Falls Creek, Pa.,
May 4, 1963
Box: 1 Folder 07
Oscar Shawkey, Sigel, Pa.,
July 10, 1963
Box: 1 Folder 08
Warren Lingle, Clearfield, Pa.,
August 15, 1963
Box: 1 Folder 09
V.B. DeWyer,
August 30, 1963
Box: 1 Folder 11
James Rafferty, Grampian, Pa.,
March 22, 1964
Box: 1 Folder 12
Ezra Buskirk, Sabula, Pa.,
March 26, 1964
Box: 1 Folder 13
Charles Berkey, Penfield, Pa.,
March 26, 1964
Box: 1 Folder 14
Bill Dickey, Hepburnia, Pa.,
April 1, 1964
Box: 1 Folder 15
Carl A. Pifer, Dubois, Pa.,
April 3, 1964
Box: 1 Folder 16
Levi "Bud" Connors, Glen Campbell, Pa.,
April 4, 1964
Box: 1 Folder 17
Oscar Shawkey, Sigel, Pa.,
April 10, 1964
Box: 1 Folder 18
George Robbins, Olanta, Pa.,
April 17, 1964
Box: 1 Folder 19
Jess C. Cathcart, Olanta, Pa.,
April 17, 1964
Box: 1 Folder 20
George Robbins, Olanta, Pa.,
April 17, 1964
Box: 1 Folder 21
Oscar Shawkey, Sigel, Pa.,
April 19, 1964
Box: 1 Folder 22
R.C. Ober, Sinnamahoning, Pa.,
April 20, 1964
Box: 1 Folder 23
Simon Pifer, Punxatawney, Pa.,
April 21, 1964
Box: 1 Folder 24
Amos Weaver, Punxatawney, Pa.,
April 21, 1964
Box: 1 Folder 25
Billy Byers, Mahaffey, Pa.,
April 22, 1964
Box: 1 Folder 26
Herbert Kinley, State College, Pa.,
April 23, 1964
Box: 1 Folder 27
Ruben LaVerne Himes, Brookville, Pa.,
April 27, 1964
Box: 1 Folder 28
Henry Asel, Brookville, Pa.,
April 27, 1964
Box: 1 Folder 29
Albert "Bees" Klingensmit, Callensburg, Pa.,
April 28, 1964
Box: 1 Folder 30
Barney McKim, Driftwood, Pa.,
April 1964
Box: 1 Folder 31
Joe Foster, Weedville, Pa.,
May 1, 1964
Box: 1 Folder 32
Jake Fridley, Kane, Pa.,
May 4, 1964
Box: 1 Folder 33
John T. Riley, Boot Jack, Pa.,
May 8, 1964
Box: 1 Folder 34
Mike C. Keenen, DuBois, Pa.,
May 11, 1964
Box: 1 Folder 35
Mr. and Mrs. Albert Eck, Redclyffe, Pa.,
May 13, 1964
Box: 1 Folder 36
Harry Silvis, Redclyffe, Pa.,
May 14, 1964
Box: 1 Folder 37
Millard Bloom, Troutville, Pa.,
May 15, 1964
Box: 1 Folder 38
Bruce Dunn, St. Marys, Pa.,
May 18, 1964
Box: 1 Folder 39
Mike C. Keenen,
May 19, 1964
Box: 1 Folder 40
James Weaver, Big Run, Pa.,
May 20, 1964
Box: 1 Folder 41
Harry A. Miller, Johnsonburg, Pa.,
May 21, 1964
Box: 1 Folder 42
Bert Johns, Dubois, Pa.,
May 22, 1964
Box: 1 Folder 43
Mr. And Mrs. C.S. Hadden, Coolspring, Pa.,
May 23, 1964
Box: 1 Folder 44
Rawley Munn, Penfield, Pa.,
March 24, 1964
Box: 1 Folder 45
William W. Kepler, Sinnamahoning, Pa.,
May 27, 1964
Box: 1 Folder 46
James and John Farrell, Driftwood, Pa.,
May 27, 1964
Box: 1 Folder 47
Sam "Bucky" Bateman, Grant, Pa.,
May 28, 1964
Box: 1 Folder 48
J.O. Davis, Pine Flats, Pa.,
May 29, 1964
Box: 1 Folder 49
Mr. and Mrs.Desra Bellote, Frenchville, Pa.,
June 3, 1964
Box: 1 Folder 50
Mr. and Mrs. Luther V. Dunlap, Olanta, Pa.,
May 29, 1964
Box: 1 Folder 51
Mrs. Anna Melts, Halton, Pa.,
June 4, 1964
Box: 1 Folder 52
Maurice Wrigley, Clearfield, Pa.,
June 10, 1964
Box: 1 Folder 53
A.L. Koozer, Clearfield, Pa.,
June 10, 1964
Box: 1 Folder 54
Clarence J. Miller, Huntley, Pa.,
June 11, 1964
Box: 1 Folder 55
Mr. and Mrs. John W. Mason, Sterling Run, Pa.,
June 11, 1964
Box: 1 Folder 56
Arthur T. Crittenden, Coudersport, Pa.,
June 14, 1964
Box: 1 Folder 57
Mrs. Mattie Smith, Narrows Creek, Pa.,
June 24, 1964
Box: 1 Folder 58
Carl Pifer, Dubois, Pa.,
September 7, 1964
Box: 1 Folder 59
Oscar Dalton, Dubois, Pa.,
February 20, 1965
Box: 1 Folder 60
Charles Berkey, Penfield, Pa.,
March 5, 1965 (2 copies; copy 1 formerly in Folder 10)
Box: 1 Folder 61
Emile Rosengreen, Rolf, Pa.,
July 28, 1965
Box: 1 Folder 62
"Pete" Harris, Dubois, Pa.,
September 29, 1965
Box: 1 Folder 63
Clinton Paine, Brookville, Pa.,
June 12, 1968
Box: 1 Folder 64
Barton Jefferson