Archive Record
Metadata
Title |
George Davis papers |
Collection |
ADKX Library: Manuscript Collection |
Object Name |
Manuscript |
Scope & Content |
George D. Davis was an ecologist on New York's Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller's Temporary Study Commission on the Future of the Adirondacks (TSCFA) from 1968-1971 and was Director of Planning and then Assistant Director for the Adirondack Park Agency (APA) from 1971-1976. These papers consist of correspondence and related material created or collected while Davis was a member of Governor Rockefeller's TSCFA; correspondence, publications, minutes, and consulting records created or collected while he was Director of Planning or Assistant Director of the APA; and a 1976 interview of Davis. These papers are arranged into three series. Series 1 consists of correspondence and related material created or collected by Davis while he was a member of Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller's Temporary Study Commission on the Future of the Adirondacks. Series 2 consists of correspondence, publications, minutes, and consulting records created or collected by Davis while he was Director of Planning and then Assistant Director of the Adirondack Park Agency. Also included in this series are reports, notes, correspondence, and papers regarding Davis' work for the Hudson Basin Project's Land Use-Natural Resource Task Force. Series 3 includes 4 audiotape reels of an interview of Davis conducted April 5, 1976 by William K. Verner, Curator of the Adirondack Museum, at Blue Mountain Lake, N.Y. |
Call Number |
MS 76-011 |
Catalog Number |
1976.220.0001-0004 |
Creator |
Davis, George D. |
Date |
1967 - 1976 |
Year Range from |
1967 |
Year Range to |
1976 |
Dates of Creation |
1967 - 1976 |
Extent of Description |
4.2 cu. ft. of textual records; 4 audiotapes |
Physical characteristics |
3.13 linear ft. (9 boxes); 5 notebooks; 4 audiotapes |
Admin/Biographical History |
George D. Davis was born in 1942 in Oneida, New York, son of Pearl Floyd and K. Virginia (Connolly) Davis. He received his Bachelor of Science in Forestry in 1964 from the State University of New York College of Forestry in Syracuse, N.Y. and completed graduate work in conservation at Colorado State University and Cornell University. He married Anita Face Rines in 1976 and the couple had five children. Davis served as Forester and Assistant District Ranger of the United States Forest Service at both the Routt National Forest, Steamboat Springs, CO and the Roosevelt National Forest, Estes Park, CO (1964-1968). He was an ecologist on New York's Governor Nelson Rockefeller's Temporary Study Commission on the Future of the Adirondacks (TSCFA; 1968-1971), Director of Planning and then Assistant Director of the Adirondack Park Agency (APA; 1971-1976), and director of the Adirondack Council. He also was co-chairman for the Wild Areas Panel for the National Heritage Program, U.S. Department of Interior, and a member of the Land Use-Natural Resource Task Force for the Hudson Basin Project. He left the region to serve as Executive Director of the Wilderness Society in Washington, D.C. (1976-1977) and later served as Assistant Director of Recreation Management Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture. He authored and co-authored many works regarding the Adirondack Mountain Region including "Man and the Adirondack Environment" (1977), "The Unfinished Agenda" (1977), "Meeting Recreational, Park, and Wilderness Needs" (1975), "State Land Use Controls-The Adirondack Experience" (1973), and "The Commission Form of Government-Is the Public Involved?" (1971). |
System of arrangement |
The papers are arranged into three series: Temporary Study Commission on the Future of the Adirondacks correspondence and related papers; Adirondack Park Agency correspondence and related papers; and Interview tapes and transcript. |
Notes |
Series 1: Temporary Study Commission on the Future of the Adirondacks correspondence and related papers. Dates: 1968-1971 Volume: 1.6 cu. ft. of textual records Arrangement: The correspondence in box 1 is arranged chronologically; otherwise, there is no apparent arrangement scheme for the material. Scope and Content Note: This series forms part of the George Davis papers and consists of correspondence to and from Davis while he was member of New York's Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller's Temporary Study Commission on the Future of the Adirondacks (TSCFA). Also included are memoranda from the State of New York Executive Chamber and between members of the TSCFA, staff member and advisor lists, staff biographies, and interim reports of the TSCFA. Additionally, this series consists of press releases, reports on issues, recommendations, goals, and policies of the TSCFA. There are notes regarding expenses, notes and background information regarding the State Forest Preserve and other park histories and policies, lists of studies by the commission, and contract costs. Minutes from advisors meetings are included as well as copies of related legislation, statements from New York State conservation organizations regarding reports and recommendations of the commission, and material collected by Davis relating to a proposed Adirondack Mountains National Park (AMNP). Also included are studies and reports produced by the TSCFA regarding many Adirondack Forest Preserve issues including: legislation, outdoor recreation, and wilderness areas; transportation, game management, and pollution; aircraft and boat regulation, forest resources, and land ethics and values; land holdings, mapping, and water resources. The AMNP material includes newspaper clippings, related articles, correspondence, maps, reports, and statements from conservation organizations regarding their positions on an Adirondack National Park. The series is contained in boxes 1-5. Box // Folder // Description // Date 1 // 1 // Correspondence// Jan. 1969-May 1970 1 // 2 // Correspondence// May 1970-Mar. 1971 2 // 1 // Adirondack Park proposal // Sept. 1968-Apr. 1970 2 // 2 // Studies and contracts // 1968-1969 2 // 3 // Records regarding a proposed Adirondack Mountains National Park: newspaper clippings; related articles; correspondence; map; report; statements from conservation organizations // 1967 2 // 4 // Studies and contracts; press releases notes; and interim reports // 1968-1969 2 // 5 // Employment records // 1970-1971 2 // 6 // Advisors meetings: correspondence; minutes; statement of the Adirondack Mountain Club, Inc. // Nov. 1969-Feb. 1971 2 // 7 // Adirondacks History: notes and article copies // 1969-1970 2 // 8 // National Park Management: background notes; book, "Man and Nature in the National Parks, Reflections on Policy"; field reports; handbook on Natural Resources Management // 1967-1969 2 // 9 // LUNR-Air Photo Center: notes and related correspondence // 1968-1969 2 // 10 // Federal Policies: correspondence // 1969-1970 3 // 1 // Legislation: copies of proposed bills; legislative acts; amendments; notes; memoranda // 1971 3 // 2 // ASC (Adirondack Study Commission) support: letters from individuals and organizations regarding the work of the Temporary Study Commission; related newspaper clippings // 1971 3 // 3 // Goals and Policies // 1970 3 // 4 // Final Report Information: "Brief Summary of the Final Report of the Governor's Temporary Study on the Future of the Adirondacks" // 1970 3 // 5 // Implementation Study; bond budget program; proposed 10-year development in Forest Preserve Counties // 1970 3 // 6 // Allagash: notes and report regarding a study at Allagash, Maine // 1970 3 // 7 // "Studies on Federal Policies and Procedures," ASC Study No. 11, John F. Shanklin, Consultant // 1969 4 // 1 // "Recommended Policy in Administration of the Forest Preserve as Related to Public Recreational Opportunity," compiled by Woodford and Petty // ca. 1970 4 // 2 // Compilation of field reports regarding outdoor recreation studies // 1969 4 // 3 // "Creation of an Adirondack Park Agency for the Control of Land Use and Development," ASC Study 7D, by Jan Z. Krasnowwiecki and E. M. Risse // 1969-1970 4 // 4 // Air and Water Pollution [report] // 1970 4 // 5 // Aircraft and Motorboat Regulations 7H [ASC Study] // 1970 4 // 6 // Constitutionality of Public Campsite Construction on Forest Preserve Land [ASC Study #7] // ca. 1970 4 // 7 // Forest Resources [Study #3] // 1969 4 // 8 // Land Ethics articles [report] // ca. 1970 4 // 9 // Land Values [Study 7K; related statistics; memorandum; correspondence; case studies] // 1969-1970 4 // 10 // Land Ownership Adjustment [Study 7C] // 1969-1970 4 // 11 // Detached Parcels 7I // 1970-1971 4 // 12 // Private Land Inventory: study #7A; compilation of reports; related background information; statistics // 1969-1970 4 // 13 // Mapping Program report // 1969 4 // 14 // Wild land inventory and classification proposal // 1970 4 // 15 // Wild Life Resources: study #2; studies; reports; related articles // 1969-1971 4 // 16 // Wild River: legislative proposal; related correspondence; notes; articles // 1970-1971 4 // 17 // Adirondack Wilderness study // 1969 4 // 18 // Wilderness Study: related correspondence; newspaper clippings; notes // 1969 4 // 19 // Wilderness Management: background information // 1970 4 // 20 // Outdoor Recreation Study #5; related articles; reports; correspondence // 1969-1970 4 // 21 // Water Resources Study #4 // 1970 4 // 22 // Motorized Vehicle Regulation 7J // 1970 4 // 23 // Recreation: report and statistics // ca. 1970 4 // 24 // Condemnation of Town Roads 7M [notes] // 1970 4 // 25 // "Scenic Easements ASC Study 7F," by Bowmar // 1970 5 // 1 // Reports by George Davis: "Field Reports. ASC-Study 7B" // 1969 5 // 2 // Reports by George Davis: "Proposed Gooley Club Association Sub-development" // 1971 5 // 3 // Reports by George Davis: personal presentations and papers // 1969-1970 5 // 4 // Reports by George Davis: field reports // 1969 5 // 5 // Reports by George Davis: "Sample Forest Preserve Management Plans" // 1971 Series 2: Adirondack Park Agency correspondence and related papers Dates: 1971-1976 Volume: 2.1 cu. ft. of textual records Arrangement: The correspondence in boxes 6 and 7 and the notebooks A-E are arranged in a chronological order. Scope and Content Note: This series forms part of the George Davis papers and consists of correspondence to and from Davis while he was Director of Planning and then Assistant Director of the Adirondack Park Agency, (APA). Also included in this series are reports, notes, correspondence, and papers regarding Davis' work for the Hudson Basin Project's Land Use-Natural Resource Task Force. Copies of papers and articles Davis wrote, speeches he delivered, and records of his consulting work are also included. Titles include "Environmental Impact Survey: Cidco Development, Township 19, Town of Altamont, Franklin County, New York" (speech, 1971) "Private Land Use and Wilderness, They Must Integrate" (paper, 1973), and "The Adirondack Park Agency-Private-Property Rights vs. The Public Interest" (paper, 1975). Also included are six notebooks consisting mainly of APA meeting minutes and newspaper clippings from New York State and regional newspapers covering APA activities and Adirondack legislation. The series is contained in boxes 6-8. Box // Folder // Description // Date 6 // 1 // Correspondence; notes; reports; "The 1968 Deer Season in the Moose River Recreation Area" // Nov. 1971-Dec. 1971 6 // 2 // Correspondence; notes; reports; memorandum to task force members; "Unit Plans Adirondack Park (Tentative Plan for drafting management plans)" // July 1972-Dec. 1972 6 // 3// Correspondence; notes; reports // Jan. 1973-July 1973 6 // 4 // Correspondence; notes; reports // July 1973-April 1974 6 // 5 // Correspondence; notes; reports // May 1974-Oct. 1974 7 // 1 // Correspondence; notes; reports // Nov. 1974-Mar. 1975 7 // 2 // Correspondence; notes; reports // Apr. 1975-Oct. 1975 7 // 3 // Correspondence; notes; reports; "The Adirondack Park and the Adirondack Park Agency, 1976 and Beyond" // Oct. 1975-Apr. 1976 8 // 1 // Hudson Basin Project: reports; notes; correspondence // 1972-1974 8 // 2 // Hudson Basin Project: draft reports; correspondence // 1974 8 // 3 // Hudson Basin Project: occasional papers // Mar. 1975-Aug. 1975 8 // 4 // Articles; talks; consulting records // 1971-1976 Notebook A: APA-newspaper clippingsAug. 1969-Sept. 1972 Notebook B1: APA-[Meeting] minutesSept. 1971- Dec. 1972 Notebook B2: APA-[Meeting] minutes Jan. 1973-Jan 1974 Notebook C: APA-[Meeting] minutesJan. 1974-June 1974 Notebook D: APA-[Meeting] minutesJuly 1974-Dec. 1974 Notebook E-APA meeting minutesJan. 1975-Mar. 1976 Series 3: Interview tapes and transcript Date: April 5, 1976 Volume: 0.5 cu. ft.: 4 audiotapes; newspaper clippings; minutes; interview transcript Scope and Content Note: This series forms part of the George Davis papers and consists of an interview (on four audiotape reels) conducted at the Adirondack Museum, Blue Mountain Lake, N.Y., April 5, 1976, by William K. Verner, curator of the museum at the time. The interview records a discussion between Verner and Davis about the history of the Temporary Study Commission on the Future of the Adirondacks and the Adirondack Park Agency. The discussion touched on a number of topics relating to the environment including issues of legislation, private and public land use, and the Fisher Law [(Section 480) a tax incentive program designed to encourage the preservation of open space owned by private landowners in exchange for tax breaks]. The repository also has available a transcript of the interview and notes taken by Verner regarding topics discussed. In these notes, marginal numbers indicate footage readings as registered on the Tandberg full track tape recorder counter. This series is contained in box 9. Audiotape reels digitized thanks to a 2019 grant from the Northern New York Library Network. Digital copies saved on Library_LF_Repository server. Original audiotape stored in Audio Cabinet Box // Folder // Description // Date 9 // George Davis, Assistant Director of the Adirondack Park Agency interviewed by William K. Verner, Curator of Adirondack Museum, Blue Mountain Lake, N.Y. [4 audiotape reels; transcripts; notes] April 5, 1976 |
Search Terms |
Adirondack Park Agency (N.Y.); Land use.; Nature conservation--New York (State)--Adirondack Mountains.; New York (State). Temporary Study Commission on the Future of the Adirondacks.; Land use--Government policy--New York (State)--Adirondack Park.; Land use--New York (State)--Adirondack Park--Planning.; |
People |
Davis, George D. Verner, William K. |
Access Conditions |
There are no restrictions regarding the access to and use of the material. |
Archivist's Notes |
This collection's description was enhanced as a part of the New York State Archives Environmental History Virtual Research Collection Project, 2004. The National Endowment for the Humanities provided funding for this project. |
Finding Aids |
An inventory is also available at the repository |
Related Items |
Show Related Records... |
Related units of description |
See also: MS 72-21 Temporary Study Commission on the Future of the Adirondacks records; MS 75-10 Association for the Protection of the Adirondacks (Schafer/Crocker); MS 83-1 Association for the Protection of the Adirondacks; MS 83-17 Association for the Protection of the Adirondacks, Presidents papers 1953-1962; MS 76-10 Adirondack Park Agency-Richard Lawrence papers; MS 76-12 Adirondack Park Agency; MS-77-20 Adirondack Park Agency; MS 80-2 Adirondack Park Agency, Adirondack Museum Library, Blue Mountain Lake, N.Y. |
Archival History |
George D. Davis donated the papers in 1976. |