New York State Division of Forest Protection and Fire Management Forest Ranger Louis C. Curth Subject and Correspondence Files

Roughly by topic and then chronological or alphabetical.

This series documents forest ranger duties, training, and routine activities; policies, procedures, and history; interactions with members of the public and other State agencies; administrative directives and decisions; and public relations. Topics include search and rescue training; procedures; firefighting; law enforcement; administrative duties; ranger and volunteer training and requirements; stewardship of state lands; and park use, safety, and policy.

Record types include minutes; memorandums; correspondence; manuals; publications; search and rescue reports; forest fire reports; photographs; assignments; equipment and supply inventories; case reports; personal observations; complaints; and suggestions; news clippings; maps; publications and press releases; and voluminous notes on various topics.

In July of 2014, retired Forest Ranger Louis Curth donated a substantial amount of materials to the Adirondack Research Library (part of Union College). This was an accretion to a collection he had previously donated relating to research on his 1989 book, The Forest Rangers: A History of the New York State Forest Ranger Force. A substantial amount of the materials considered to be official New York State Department of Environmental Conservation records, rather than Mr. Curth's personal papers or research, were transferred to the New York State Archives.

Some files may contain restricted personal information. State Archives staff will review records and disclose information pursuant to the Freedom of Information Law and Personal Privacy Protection Law.