Paul Smith Experimental Forest historical photo archive

Project Title:  View help for Project Title Paul Smith Experimental Forest historical photo archive

Summary:  View help for Summary This data publication contains a collection of photos from the archives of the former Paul Smith Experimental Forest (PSEF) in Paul Smiths, New York. This collection contains all photos on file with the USDA Forest Service from the opening of the experimental forest in 1948 until its close in 1960. The Paul Smith Experimental Forest covered about 2300 acres and was the site of long-term stand-level silvicultural experiments in northern conifer (e.g., spruce, balsam fir, eastern white pine, and eastern hemlock) and mixedwood (softwood-hardwood mixtures, e.g. spruce, eastern white pine, sugar maple, and yellow birch) forests. These experiments included a Compartment Management Study (CMS) and Cutting Practice Level (CPL) Study. The CPL Study included "high-order," "good," "fair," and "poor" cutting practices. Silvicultural treatments and systems studied in the CMS included uneven-aged management such as selection and other types of partial harvesting with 10-, 20- and 30-year cutting cycles, even-aged management such as shelterwood and commercial clearcutting, and a control. Timber stand improvement methods, including thinning and crop tree release, were also investigated. Much research was conducted on control of competing hardwoods through cultural treatment, including with chemicals. Some residual old-growth forest was present on the experimental forest in both managed and control stands. In addition to the photos, this package also includes a 1954 map showing the compartment layout in relation to the Paul Smith Experimental Forest boundary, roads, water bodies, and built infrastructure.

Original Distribution URL:  View help for Original Distribution URL https://www.fs.usda.gov/rds/archive/catalog/RDS-2025-0034

Subject Terms:  View help for Subject Terms biota; farming; economy; environment; society; transportation; Ecology; Ecosystems; Environment; Plant ecology; Landscape ecology; Environment and People; Impact of people on environment; Forest & Plant Health; Animal damage; Botany; Human effects; Forest Products; Forest products industry; Pulp & paper; Wood properties; Wood utilization; Inventory; Monitoring; Analysis; Resource inventory; Natural Resource Management & Use; Agroforestry; Forest management; Timber; historical photographs; shelterwood; regeneration; farm forest; clearcutting; tree length logging; logging; horse skidding; salvage logging; reproduction; second growth forests; initial stand photo; pre-harvest; harvest; post-harvest; plot; personnel; signage; road; pond; stump; old growth; log deck; hardwood; blowdown; logging damage; chainsaw; softwood; equipment; sawtimber; field tour; pulpwood; slash; canopy gap; timber cruise; swamp; transition; suppression; browsing; vehicle; wildlife; selection cutting; New York; Paul Smith Experimental Forest

Geographic Coverage:  View help for Geographic Coverage New York (state)

Time Period(s):  View help for Time Period(s) 1948 – 1960

Collection Notes:  View help for Collection Notes DOI: https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2025-0034 Authors: Roach, Skylar K. ; Buchanan, Anna G. ; Kenefic, Laura S. Publication year: 2025 (Downloaded 2026-05-30)