Ferguson, A. Claude mss., ca.
1970-2009
Papers of Claude Ferguson at the Lilly Library, Indiana University,
Bloomington, Indiana
Summary Information
Repository
Lilly Library (Indiana University, Bloomington)
Lilly Library
Indiana University
1200 E. Seventh St.
Bloomington, IN 47405-5500
Phone: 812-855-2452
Fax: 812-855-3143
Email: liblilly@indiana.edu
Creator
Ferguson, Claude, 1923-
TitleFerguson, A. Claude mss., ca.
1970-2009
Collection No.
LMC 2753
Extent
13,000 items
Language
Materials are in English.
Abstract
The Ferguson, A. Claude mss., ca.
1970–2009, consist of the correspondence, collected subject files, writings and
legal records of Claude Ferguson, a career employee of the U.S. Forest Service who
was instrumental in the creation of the Charles C. Deam Wilderness area, Indiana's
only Federal Wilderness area, in the Hoosier National Forest.
Access Restrictions
This collection is open for research.
Biographical Note
Claude Ferguson was born on January 13, 1923, the second child of Carl and Mary
Willie Boles Ferguson. Ferguson joined the U.S. Forest Service in 1940, as a Fire
Lookout in the Mark Twain National Forest in Missouri while still in high school. He
served three years in the U.S. Navy during World War II, returning to the Mark Twain
as a Forestry Aid following his release from the Navy. He obtained a B.S. degree in
Forestry with distinction from the University of Missouri in 1952. In 1966, he
became Forest Supervisor of the Wayne (Ohio) and Hoosier (Indiana) National Forests
with headquarters in Bedford, Indiana.
Beginning in April, 1970, when confronted with increasing pressures to permit the
development and use of off-road vehicle trails in the Hoosier National Forest,
Ferguson "met the test of his lifetime" and "deviated from the norms of the U.S.
Forest Service articulated by Herbert Kaufman in
The Forest
Ranger
, to become a government guerrilla against the organization he
loved," working through the media and the courts to halt the destruction of this
pristine wilderness area and leading to legal fallout with the U.S. Forest Service.
In addition to his years in the service of forest defense, Ferguson was an
accomplished spoon player and a scholar of the Bright Hope Furnace Ledger, a 1835
daily sales ledger for the Bright Hope Iron Furnace company store in Greene County,
TN which Ferguson transcribed.
Arrangement
The collection is organized into the following series: I. Subject Files; II. Legal
Files; and III. Bright Hope Furnace Ledger.
Scope and Content Note
The Subject Files series includes correspondence, clippings, publications, and notes
relating to various environmentally and personally significant topics. Legal Files
encompass the correspondence, clippings, and reports surrounding Ferguson's legal
battles with the U.S. Forest Service. The Bright Hope Furnace Ledger series collects
Ferguson's notes and research regarding his transcription of the ledger, as well as
contextual information about the locations and individuals mentioned within the
ledger and the typescripts themselves.
Related Material
Deam Wilderness mss., also located at the Lilly Library, Indiana
University, Bloomington, Indiana.
Charles C. Deam papers, located at the University Archives, Indiana
University, Bloomington, Indiana.
Administrative Information
Acquisition Information
Acquired: 2011
Usage RestrictionsPrior arrangements are not necessary before coming to the Library, however,
patrons from out of town are encouraged to communicate with the Library in
advance of their visits to ascertain availability of materials.
Photocopying permitted only with permission of the curator.
Preferred Citation
[Item], Ferguson, A. Claude mss., Lilly Library, Indiana University, Bloomington,
Indiana.
Container List
Series:
I. Subject Files
Includes correspondence, clippings, publications, and notes relating to
various environmentally and personally significant topics.
Box 1
Bedford City Plan Commission
Between Outings
(2 folders)
Boy Scouts of America
(2 folders)
Childhood Memorabilia – includes sewing cards, certificate of
graduation from 3rd grade
Clippings 1976
Clippings 1977
Clippings and Pamphlets 1978
Clippings 1995
Clippings Related to Ferguson
Clippings – Miscellaneous
Collins Mining
Container Legislation
Correspondence A-Z
Environmental Quality Awards 1976
Forest Service Chemicals
Hoosier Conservation
(4 folders)
Hoosier National Forest Plan
(2 folders)
Box 2
Indiana Conservation Council, Inc.
IU Lecture
IU Oral History
Izaak Walton League
Management Improvement Committee
Maps and Guides
Marble Hill and Nuclear Waste
Maumee Wildlife
Michael Frome
National Forest Press Releases
Nature Conservancy
ORV 1999
Park Publications
Personal Records
Photographs
Programs
Saddle Lake – includes photograph
Sassafras Audubon Society
Timber Management
Trapping
Water Quality and Watershed
Wayne-Hoosier Organization Study
(2 folders)
Wild Turkey
Wild Turkey Federation
(2 folders)
Writings by Ferguson
Series:
II. Legal Files
Subseries:
Correspondence and Clippings
Box 3
Affidavits
Agency
American Motorcycle Association (AMA) Involvement
Appeal
Appeal 1976
Appeal Working Papers
Appellant Briefs
Appellant Exhibits
(2 folders)
Attorney General
CBS
Concerned Citizens for Nebo Ridge Association
(CCNRA)
Charges and Findings
Civil Actions
Civil Service Commission (CSC)
Classification Case
Code of Ethics
Cravens
Box 4
Executive Order
Exhibits and Legislation
(3 folders)
Fire and Aviation Management
Forest Service Evidence
(2 folders)
Government Accountability Project (GAP)
Girton Departure
Indiana Conservation Council, Inc. (ICCI)
Indiana Daily Student (IDS)
Interrogatories
(2 folders)
Izaak Walton League
Law Photocopies
(3 folders)
Legal Expenses
Mitchell Ridge Road
Montagne Case
National Wildlife Fund (NWF)
Box 5
Office of Investigation
ORV Case Conclusion
(2 folders)
Personnel Change Actions
Pleadings
Reassignment
Rebuttal 1970-1977
(2 folders)
Rebuttal to Nebo Ridge
Rebuttal to ORVs
(2 folders)
Rights and Regulations
(2 folders)
Sandor and Gaze
Secretary of Agriculture
(2 folders)
Spoons
Staff Meetings
(2 folders)
Box 6
Whistleblowers
Miscellaneous 1970-1971
(2 folders)
Miscellaneous 1976-1978
Miscellaneous
(9 folders)
Subseries:
Reports
Box 7
Appendix I – Analysis of OI Report following investigation of
charges by A. Claude Ferguson of harassment, fraud, deceit and
defamation of character of 6/3/75
(2 folders)
Appendix II – A. Claude Ferguson sworn statement to special
agent Turn of USDA-OI of 6/3/75
(harassment, fraud, deceit and defamation of
character)
Appendix III – A. Claude Ferguson sworn statement to special
agent Turner, USDA-OI, of 6/4/75
(charge of wrong-doing on part of certain Forest Service
officials)
Appendix IV – A. Claude Ferguson response to original charges
to Forest Service, November, 1974
(3 folders)
Charges of Evidence
(3 folders)
Ferguson Affidavit, 8 June
1976
Ferguson Affidavit, 7 July
1976
Ferguson Affidavit, 27 July
1976
Box 8
Investigation Report
(3 folders)
Response to Charges – Volume I, 29 October 1975
(2 folders)
Response to Charges – Volume II, 29 October 1975
(3 folders)
Response to Charges – Volume III, 29 October 1975
Series:
III. Bright Hope Furnace ledger
Correspondence A-Z
Maps, Deeds, and Publications
(2 folders)
Box 9
Photocopies of Ledger
(4 folders)
Photographs
