US Forest Service water canteen with case used by Melody Starya Mobley
date: label: Date
content: ca. 1982
name: label: Issued by
content: United States Forest Service, founded 1905
label: Used by
content: Melody Starya Mobley, American, born 1958
label: Subject of
content: Cleveland National Forest, American, founded 1908
notes: label: Caption
content: 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.
label: Description
content: United States Forest Service issued plastic water canteen with carrying case used by Melody Starya Mobley. The water canteen is comprised of a one quart plastic canteen (2019.80.6.2a), a metal lid (2019.80.6.2b), and a canvas carrying case (2019.80.6.2c).
label: Description
content: 2019.80. 6.2a: The canteen is constructed of white plastic and is roughly rectangular in shape. Along the left edges of the front and the back are relief fill line marks that read [1/4], [1/2], [3/4] and [1 QUART]. Molded relief text on the bottom of the canteen read [SPOKANE, WASH. - Q – 3].
label: Description
content: 2019.80. 6.2b: The canteen has a white metal screw cap. The interior of the cap is threaded. The exterior is ridged.
label: Description
content: 2019.80. 6.2c: The carrying case is a fitted, white, cotton canvas bag. Sewn to the back of the case are two (2) white nylon belt straps that loop over the top to secure the canteen inside, and with snap buttons at the ends that fasten to the front of the case. Black text printed on the front of the case read [U.S. / GOVT.]. There are green paint splatters on the front. The back of the case is plain.
place: label: Place used
content: Cleveland National Forest, San Diego County, California, United States, North and Central America
label: Place used
content: Klamath National Forest, Siskiyou County, California, United States, North and Central America
label: Place used
content: Ocala National Forest, Florida, United States, North and Central America
label: Place used
content: Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, Nevada, United States, North and Central America
topic: label: Topic
content: African American
label: Topic
content: Agriculture
label: Topic
content: American West
label: Topic
content: Cooking and dining
label: Topic
content: Government
label: Topic
content: Labor
label: Topic
content: Nature
setName: label: See more items in
content: National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
label: Classification
content: Tools and Equipment
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Melody Starya Mobley
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of African American History and Culture
identifier: label: Object number
content: 2019.80.6.2abc
objectType: label: Type
content: canteens (vessels)
objectRights: label: Restrictions & Rights
content: No Known Copyright Restrictions
label: Restrictions & Rights
content: Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
physicalDescription: label: Medium
content: 2019.80.6.2a: plastic
label: Medium
content: 2019.80.6.2b: metal
label: Medium
content: 2019.80.6.2c: ink on cotton (textile) with metal and nylon
label: Dimensions
content: H x W x D (Overall): 9 5/16 × 6 1/4 × 2 3/8 in. (23.6 × 15.9 × 6.1 cm)
label: Dimensions
content: H x W x D (2019.80.6.2a): 8 3/4 × 4 1/2 × 2 3/16 in. (22.3 × 11.4 × 5.5 cm)
label: Dimensions
content: H x W x D (2019.80.6.2b): 7/16 × 1 1/4 × 1 1/4 in. (1.1 × 3.1 × 3.1 cm)
label: Dimensions
content: H x W x D (2019.80.6.2c): 10 1/8 × 6 9/16 × 1 3/4 in. (25.7 × 16.7 × 4.4 cm)