The Journal of Forestry: An Historical Summary of the First Fifty Years

Abstract Two years ago when the Society of American Foresters celebrated its golden anniversary, the occasion was marked by an historical summary of the Society's first fifty years published in the November 1950 issue of the Journal of Forestry. Written by Ralph S. Hosmer, the history recorded not only the development of the Society; it gave appropriate credit to those members whose unselfish contributions through service on the Council, on committees, and on other assignments helped create the profession of forestry. Perhaps the most significant characteristic of the forward-looking attitude of our early foresters was their aggressive faith in the future of their profession. They did not hesitate to form a professional society at a time (1900) when there were less than a dozen professionally trained foresters in the nation. What is even perhaps more remarkable, they established a professional periodical two years later with, according to Dr. Bernhard E. Fernow, "barely over 100 readers." From this parent periodical, Forestry Quarterly, was born the Journal of Forestry. And now the fiftieth anniversary of the Journal marks another significant milestone in the steady, uphill progress of forestry in America. This record of the Journal is not a documented history. Rather, like Prof. Hosmer's account of the Society, it is an historical summary. Its purpose is not to pinpoint minutiae, but rather to emphasize highlights. Every leading article published in the Journal is listed in the permanent index by title and name of author. Not so recorded, however, are those who, oftenly obscurely but usually devotedly, served on the editorial staff. Hence the following historical summary makes mention of those members who contributed their time and talents as editors. For those editors Prof. Hosmer has written a special tribute, as gracious and sincere as it is deserved.