Bruce J. Zobel Papers 1937-2011 and undated

Summary
Contents
Names/subjects
Using these materials
Please note that some historical materials may contain harmful content and/or descriptions. Learn how we’re addressing it.
Creator
Zobel, Bruce, 1920-2011
Size
206.5 linear feet (318 archival boxes, 11 archival legal boxes, 3 half boxes, 7 oversize boxes, 37 card boxes, 4 flat boxes, 11 cartons)
Call number
MC 00259
Access to materials

Collection is open for research; access requires at least 48 hours advance notice. Because of the nature of certain archival formats, including digital and audio-visual materials, access will require additional advanced notice. Copies of digital files will be provided for use in the SCRC Reading Room upon request.

The Bruce J. Zobel Papers contain diaries, correspondence, speeches, an autobiography, articles, awards, reports, course information, theses proposals, serials, conference and symposia information, research plans, photographs, slides, artifacts, and other materials related to Zobel's career in forestry. Included are materials relating to Zobel's work on the faculty of North Carolina State University as well as work with the Central America and Mexico Resources Cooperative (CAMCORE), the Cooperative Forest Genetics Research Program, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the Marcus Wallenberg Foundation for Promoting Scientific Research in the Forest Industry, the N.C. State-Industry Cooperative Forest Tree Improvement Program, the Southern Forest Tree Improvement Committee, the Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry (TAPPI), Zobel Forestry Associates, and other organizations. Major topics include international forest improvement programs, forest genetics, wood properties, forest management, and tropical forestry.

Bruce J. Zobel (1920-2011) was an internationally respected lecturer, consultant, professor, and expert on forest genetics and forest improvement. His career at North Carolina State University as a professor, head of the North Carolina Tree Improvement Cooperative, and professor emeritus as spanned nearly fifty years, from 1957 to 2004.

Language

Most of the collection is in English. There are materials in other languages, especially German and French. Among the reprints, there are articles in German, French, Swedish, Spanish, Japanese, Portuguese, Korean, Russian, and other languages, as well as in English.

Biographical/historical note

Bruce J. Zobel (1920-2011) was an internationally respected lecturer, consultant, professor, and expert on forest genetics and forest improvement. His career at North Carolina State University as a professor, head of the North Carolina Tree Improvement Cooperative, and professor emeritus as spanned nearly fifty years, from 1957 to 2004. Bruce John Zobel was born on February 11, 1920 in Los Gatos, California, the youngest of August and Emma Zobel's six children. His parents owned a fruit and vegetable farm in the Pajaro Valley in California near Watsonville. The entire Zobel family helped with farm duties, but education remained a priority for all of the Zobel children. Zobel graduated from high school in 1938.

In 1938, Bruce Zobel and his future wife Barbara both attended Salinas Junior College in preparation to attend the University of California in Berkeley. In 1941, the two married, and moved to Berkeley to attend school. In 1942, their first child, Don, was born. The following year, Bruce graduated with a bachelor's degree and joined the Pacific Lumber Company as a logging engineer. He remained in this position until 1944, when he was drafted into the U.S. Marine Corps. In 1945, the Zobels' second child, Kathy, was born.

During his time with the Marines, Zobel worked at Camp Lejeune and helped develop a forestry management program. In 1946, Zobel applied for permanent separation from the Marine Corps and returned home to California to attend graduate school at Berkeley, making use of G.I. Bill benefits. During the time that Zobel pursued a masters and Ph.D. degree, he worked as a Senior Laboratory Assistant in the Forestry School

After receiving both degrees, the Zobels moved to College Station, Texas in 1951 where Bruce took a job with Texas A&M University, the Texas Forest Service, and the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station. He worked as on a tree improvement program for all three employers. In 1952, the Zobel's adopted Lois Jean, their second daughter. Two years later, Julia Ann, another daughter, was adopted.

Zobel's achievements attracted the attention of North Carolina State College (later North Carolina State University) in 1956, and the Zobels moved to the Raleigh area to work for the Tree Improvement Cooperative. In addition to running the cooperative, Zobel taught courses and advised forestry students. He became a respected authority on forest improvement and forest genetics, and was honored with a number of awards (see chronology).

During his career with North Carolina State University, Zobel traveled extensively. These trips offered him the opportunity to meet potential clients for consulting work. In 1979, Zobel retired from NC State University, although he continued to teach part-time as a Professor Emeritus until 2002. Zobel independently consulted for international firms over the next few years, and in 1984, he founded the Zobel Forestry Associates. Zobel served as president and William Ladrach served as general manager. In 1995, Zobel sold his half of the company to Ladrach, but continued to work as an associate.

Oh February 5, 2011, Dr. Zobel passed away in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Chronology of Events in Bruce J. Zobel's Life
February 11, 1920
Bruce J. Zobel born in California to August John and Emma Zobel
June 21, 1941
Married Barbara June Lemon in Carson City, Nevada
1943
Received B.S. in Forestry, University of California, Berkeley
1943-1944
Worked as Assistant to Logging Engr., Pacific Lumber Co., California
1945-1946
Worked as Forestry Officer, United States Marine Corps, Camp LeJeune, North Carolina
1947-1948
Worked as Senior Lab Assistant, University of California
1949
Received Master's in Forestry, University of California, Berkeley
1951
Received Ph.D. in Forestry, University of California, Berkeley
1951-1957
Worked as Silviculturalist, Texas A&M University
1956-1979
Served as Director of Industrial Forest Tree Improvement and Hardwood Programs
1957
Named Associate Professor, North Carolina State University
1960
Named Professor of Forest Genetics, NC State University
1961
Named E. F. Conger Distinguished Professor of Forestry, NC State University
1965
Received Governor's Award for Conservation, North Carolina
1965
Received Award of Merit, Society of Gamma Sigma Delta
1968
Received Barrington Moore Memorial Award (Biological Research), Society of American Foresters
1968
Named Fellow, International Academy of Wood Sciences
1969
Named Fellow, Society of American Foresters
1972
Received O. Max Gardener Award, University of North Carolina (System)
1973
Named TAPPI Fellow, Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry
1973
Received Outstanding Extension Services Award, North Carolina State University
1974
Received Achievement Award, Appalachian Section of the Society of American Foresters
1974
Received the TAPPI Gold Medal, Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry
1975
Joined the Swedish Academy of Agriculture and Silviculture
1976
Received the Bicentennial Award, North Carolina Forestry Association
1979
Received Certificate of Appreciation, American Forestry Association
1979
Became Professor Emeritus
1980
Received International Gamma Sigma Delta Award
1982
Named Man of the Year, North Carolina Forestry Association
1983
Served as Honorary Chairman, CAMCORE (International) Cooperative
1983
Joined Socio Honorario, Association Argentina de Estudios Forestales
1984-1989
Served as member of the Selection Committee for the Marcus Wallenberg Foundation in Sweden
1985
Received Bernard Fernow Award in International Forestry, American Forestry Association
1986
Received Honorary D.Sc., Syracuse University
1986-1995
Served as President of Zobel Forestry Associates, Inc.
1988
Received Sir William Schlict Memorial Medal, Society of American Foresters
1990
Received Top in Efficiency Award, Pizano Company, Colombia
1994
Received the Integer Award, 2nd International Agribusiness Seminar, Monterrey, Mexico for Outstanding Agriculturalist
1995-present
Served as Senior Associate, Zobel Forestry Associates
2004
Received Alexander Quarles Holladay Medal for Excellence, North Carolina State University
Died, February 5, 2011
Died February 5, 2011, Raleigh, NC
Died February 5, 2011

Scope/content

The Bruce J. Zobel Papers includes daily and travel diaries, correspondence, speeches, an autobiography, articles, awards, reports, course information, theses proposals, serials, conference and symposia information, research plans, photographs, slides, artifacts, and other materials related to Zobel's forestry career. Included are materials relating to Zobel's work on the faculty of North Carolina State University as well as work with the Central America and Mexico Resources Cooperative (CAMCORE), the Cooperative Forest Genetics Research Program, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the Marcus Wallenberg Foundation for Promoting Scientific Research in the Forest Industry, the N.C. State-Industry Cooperative Forest Tree Improvement Program, the Southern Forest Tree Improvement Committee, the Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry (TAPPI), Zobel Forestry Associates, and other organizations. Major topics include international forest improvement programs, forest genetics, wood properties, forest management, and tropical forestry. Photographic materials in the collection are primarily images used by Zobel in his teaching and research career and document wood varieties and qualities, forest management, pests, and related issues. The collection also contains a scrapbook of wildflower samples, as well as wood and pine cone samples.

Arrangement

Materials have been kept in their original order as much as possible. Please see the series notes for more information about the arrangement of each series.

The collection is organized into sixteen series:

  • Series 01. Diaries, consists of daily and travel diaries, organized chronologically and by country of travel.
  • Series 02. Correspondence, includes correspondence with Gunnar Nicholson and other researchers on forestry topics.
  • Series 03. Speeches and Presentations, includes speeches and other materials related to the events at which Zobel spoke.
  • Series 04. Biographical Information includes Zobel's autobiography as well as materials related to his education and awards.
  • Series 05. Books and Publications contains materials related to the publication of each of Zobel's books, as well as a list of articles written by Zobel, some of which are organized into this series.
  • Series 06. Professional Activities, includes materials related to the various organizations that Zobel worked with and for during his career.
  • Series 07. Education and Teaching, includes course information and student files related to Zobel's teaching career.
  • Series 08. Forestry Resources, contains a variety of research plans.
  • Series 09. Serials is comprised of forestry-related serials from around the world.
  • Series 10. Reports contains reports on forestry issues from various countries and on multiple topics.
  • Series 11. Conference and Symposia Materials contains materials used in Zobel's forestry research.
  • Series 12. Photographs and Slides contains images used by Zobel in lectures and courses taught.
  • Series 13. Scrapbooks, contains two scrapbooks: one is a collection of wildflowers, the other a retirement scrapbook.
  • Series 14. Artifacts contains plaques, medals, awards, and tributes given to Zobel during his career, as well as some teaching examples of wood and pinecones.
  • Series 15. Card Index contains index cards citing articles on forestry topics.
  • Series 16. Reprints contains full-text reprints of some of the articles referenced by the card index in the previous series.

Use of these materials

The nature of the NC State University Libraries' Special Collections means that copyright or other information about restrictions may be difficult or even impossible to determine despite reasonable efforts. The NC State University Libraries claims only physical ownership of most Special Collections materials.

The materials from our collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to U.S. Copyright law. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used for academic research or otherwise should be fully credited with the source.

This collection may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations. Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living individuals represented in this collection without the consent of those individuals may have legal ramifications (e.g., a cause of action under common law for invasion of privacy may arise if facts concerning an individual's private life are published that would be deemed highly offensive to a reasonable person) for which North Carolina State University assumes no responsibility.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Bruce J. Zobel Papers, MC 00259, Special Collections Research Center, North Carolina State University Libraries, Raleigh, NC

Other finding aid

List of reprints in Series 16, Reprints.

Related material

Source of acquisition

Gift of Bruce J. Zobel, 1998 - 2008, (Accession 2011.0144), June 2011; 2011, (Accession 2011. 0152).

Processing information

Processed by: Juliana Boucher, Valerie Gillispie; machine-readable finding aid created by: Juliana Boucher, Valerie Gillispie; updated by: Cate Putirskis, 2007; Kelly Clark Policelli, April 2009; updated by: Judy Allen Dodson, August 2009; updated by Judy Allen Dodson, June 2011

Please note that some historical materials may contain harmful content and/or descriptions. Learn how we’re addressing it.

Access to the collection

Collection is open for research; access requires at least 48 hours advance notice. Because of the nature of certain archival formats, including digital and audio-visual materials, access will require additional advanced notice. Copies of digital files will be provided for use in the SCRC Reading Room upon request.

For more information contact us via mail, phone, or our web form.

Mailing address:
Special Collections Research Center
Box 7111
Raleigh, NC, 27695-7111

Phone: (919) 515-2273

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Bruce J. Zobel Papers, MC 00259, Special Collections Research Center, North Carolina State University Libraries, Raleigh, NC

Use of these materials

The nature of the NC State University Libraries' Special Collections means that copyright or other information about restrictions may be difficult or even impossible to determine despite reasonable efforts. The NC State University Libraries claims only physical ownership of most Special Collections materials.

The materials from our collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to U.S. Copyright law. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used for academic research or otherwise should be fully credited with the source.

This collection may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations. Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living individuals represented in this collection without the consent of those individuals may have legal ramifications (e.g., a cause of action under common law for invasion of privacy may arise if facts concerning an individual's private life are published that would be deemed highly offensive to a reasonable person) for which North Carolina State University assumes no responsibility.