DearMYRTLE - CCC Civilian Conservation Corps

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CCC Civilian Conservation Corps

From: Rhonda Houston rfhouston@mindspring.com
DearMYRTLE,
Below is the research I have done concerning the CCC and how to find each state's information. At the library you will have to request via interlibrary loan "The Civilian Conservation Corps Camp Papers: A Guide" ISBN 0-932486-37-1.

THESE LINKS ARE FROM JAMES F. JUSTIN'S CC WEBSITE -

Online CCC Museum http://members.aol.com/famjustin/ccchis.html
Email James F. Justin with any questions. famjustin@aol.com
How to research the CCC - Getting Started, Getting Times and Place of Service Next Step, What Did The Camp Do?
http://members.aol.com/famjustin/cccgov.html
Miscellaneous Federal Government Records - http://members.aol.com/famjustin/cccdesig.html
CCC Alumni Groups and Museums - http://www.cccalumni.org/ (National parks are often the central gathering place of the CCC alumni groups. They are also often the site of the CCC Museums.)
CCC Records or Logs - http://www.cccalumni.org/

DearRHONDA,
THANK-YOU for your extensive research, which has been summarized in this column. The CCC Civilian Conservation Corp was similar to the WPA in that it provided employment during the 1930s depression era in the United States. From http://www.cccalumni.org/history1.html we read "CCC enrollees throughout the country were credited with renewing the nation's decimated forests by planting an estimated three billion trees from 1933 to 1942. [...]

In what would later be called "The Hundred Days," President Roosevelt revitalized the faith of the nation with several measures, one of which was the Emergency Conservation Work (ECW) Act, more commonly known as the Civilian Conservation Corps. With this action, he brought together two wasted resources, the young men and the land, in an effort to save both. [...]

By April 1934, the Corps, now on a firm foundation, faced the beginning of its second year with near universal approval and praised of the country. This young, inexperienced $30-a-month labor battalion had met and exceeded all expectations. The impact of mandatory, monthly $25.00 allotment checks to families was felt in the economy of the cities and towns all across the nation. More than $72,000,000 in allotments was making life a little easier for the people at home. In communities close to the camps, local purchases averaging about $5,000 monthly staved off failure of many small businesses."

Ol' Myrt suggests going to the Library of Congress website http://www.loc.gov where one can search the American Memories Project to find multi-media info about CCC projects. Some of these projects are part of the "Built in America" collection, but do not limit your review to this collection http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/collections/habs_haer/index.html

It was in this collection that you'll find specific references to CCC projects, some jointly with the National Parks service or the US Forest Service. Each of these collections include period photos, sketches and typed descriptions of the projects, including this sampling of projects:

Hornet Ranger Station, Four Horse Barn, Forest Service Road No. 50002, Council vicinity, Adams County, ID
Chattanooga National Military Park Tour Roads, Chattanooga vicinity, Hamilton County, TN
Mount McKinley Headquarters, Employee Residence, McKinley Station, Yukon-Koyukuk District, AK
Parsons Nursery, South side of U.S. Route 219, Parsons vicinity, Tucker County, WV
Grand Canal, North side of Salt River, Tempe, Maricopa County, AZ
J. Clark Salyer National Wildlife Refuge, Dam 326, Along Lower Souris River, Kramer vicinity, Bottineau County, ND

In my research, ol' Myrt here debunked a mistake in her understanding of the CCC as being a youth only organization. "[...] the President issued Executive Order 6129, dated May 11, 1933, authorizing the immediate enrollment of about 25,000 veterans of the Spanish American War and WW1, with no age or marital restrictions." See: http://www.cccalumni.org/history1.html

Myrt knows of several individuals who were in the CCC. How about writing a summary of your work, including a photo taken at that time? If you send me a copy, I'll make another column featuring your experiences.

Happy family tree climbing!
Myrt :)
DearMYRTLE,
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