Melody Starya Mobley, American, born 1958 Search this
Subject of:
United States Forest Service, founded 1905 Search this
Medium:
thread on polyester and cotton (textile) with plastic
Dimensions:
H x W (Flat): 30 5/16 × 15 3/16 in. (77 × 38.5 cm)
Type:
shirts
uniforms
Place used:
Ocala National Forest, Florida, United States, North and Central America
Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, Washington, United States, North and Central America
Cleveland National Forest, San Diego County, California, United States, North and Central America
Klamath National Forest, Siskiyou County, California, United States, North and Central America
Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, Nevada, United States, North and Central America
Date:
1977-1995
Caption:
Melody Starya Mobley was the first African American female forester of the USDA Forest Service (USFS), serving from June 1977 until her retirement in March 2005. She also was the first African American woman to graduate (in 1979) from the University of Washington College of Forest Resources (later renamed the School of Forest Resources in the College of the Environment). During her 28 years with the USFS she served in national forests all over the country. Most notably for this collection, she served in Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest in Washington state from 1980-1982, Cleveland National Forest in Southern California from 1982-1986, held a temporary assignment in Klamath National Forest in Northern California, and finally served in Ocala National Forest in central Florida from 1986-1987. From 1988 until her retirement in 2005 she served in the USFS headquarters in Washington, D.C. In the mid-1990s, Mobley was given a temporary detail to the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest in Nevada where she served as Deputy Forest Supervisor.
Description:
United States Forest Service uniform shirt worn by Melody Starya Mobley. The polyester-cotton blend, khaki green, short-sleeved shirt has a standard collar and buttons at the center front with five (5) round khaki green plastic buttons. There are two (2) front pockets, one at each front side chest. Each pocket closes with a flap that fastens at the center with one (1) button. An insignia patch in green and yellow embroidery with the US Forest Service logo is sewn on the top of left sleeve: a shield with a pine tree at the center with text surrounding the tree. At the top is slightly arched text that reads [FOREST SERVICE]. Below and on either side of the tree is [U] and [S]. Text along the bottom of the reads [DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE]. The shirt is not lined. A white manufacturer's label is sewn at the interior center back neck with red embroidered text reads [[Lion’s head logo] LION / THE MARK OF QUALITY / MADE IN U.S.A.]. Text stamped in black ink above the manufacturer's label reads [36 / FS 211]. Text with fiber content, manufacturing information, and care instructions stamped in black ink along the interior left front edge of the shirt that reads [MADE IN U.S.A. / 65% POLYESTHER 35% COTTON / ITEM NO FS 211 RN 18475[?] / 36 CUT NO. 7623 S 11 / PERMANENT MACHINE WASHABLE / USE NO BLEACH-TUMBLE DRY MED. / LITTLE OR NO COOL IRONING ONLY]. The back of the shirt and right sleeve are plain.
