This file relates to the Biltmore Forest School, begun by Carl Schenck with the encouragement and support of George Vanderbilt in 1898. The school continued at Biltmore until Schenck's departure in 1909. The file contains letters of inquiry from prospective students and persons seeking general information on Biltmore Forest School. September 1, 1904- The Secretary of Vanderbilt University asks for a Biltmore Forest School catalogue.

January 11, 1906- Santiago de las Vegas of Cuba requests a Biltmore Forest School catalogue. Included are his business card and a blank form for collecting, marked "H. A. Van Hermann, Plants of the West Indies." Also included is form No. 1237 from the United States Civil Service Commission. It lists cities in which the [Civil Service?] examination can be taken. On the back is a job description marked, "Inspector of Grazing. Forest Service, Department of Agriculture. February 21, 1906."

Correspondence from people seeking employment at Biltmore Estate for themselves or others. July 23, 1902- O. B. Van Horn, General Secretary of the Office of the Young Men's Christian Association, recommends Miss. Charlotte Atkinson as a stenographer in the position formerly held by Mrs. Ketchum.

December 13, 1897- Netherlands American Steam Navigation Company shipping a cask of wine for Dr. Schenck. October 1901- J. B. Vaughan of Elberton, GA sent songbooks to Dr. Schenck.

August 16, 1901- Correspondence regarding [Tract] 213.

August 17, 1908- Dr. Schenck offers "Taft poplar" to A. R. Vinnedge Lumber Company in Chicago, IL.

Correspondence regarding C. A. Schenck & Co. November 21, 1904- Letter from Darlington-Miller Lumber Co. in Galveston, Texas from their Secretary and Treasurer C. S. Vidor.

November 22, 1904- The President of Virginia Polytechnic Institute writes that he is connected with a new school in Amherst County, Virginia that has several thousand acres of wasteland. They would like C. A. Schenck & Co. to give an estimate for a report on the land.

February 8, 1905- The Vaughan Lumber CO. want to know how C. A. Schenck & Co.'s system of estimating timber is different from other, ordinary systems of estimating timber.

October 14, 1902- Offer of deer for sale.

October 30, 1907- W. E. Varnon and Company offers to rent out small houses near Asheville and Biltmore, N.C.

October 3, 1904- The National Hardwood Lumber Association sent Dr. Schenck their "Year Book," which included a list of members.

January 25, 1902- A Manual Arts teacher at Bradley Polytechnic Institute in Peoria, IL. was teaching classes about forestry and logging. Mr. Defenbaugh, Editor of "American Lumberman," suggested writing to Dr. Schenck for slides.

May 1, 1909- Dr. Schenck writes to W. L. Van Horn, Clerk of the United States Senate, Committee on Pensions. Dr. Schenck writes he does not have statistics on reforestation extents. He writes of German reforestation and the results. He writes of the limited reforestation in the United States, saying stumpage prices must be higher to make forestry a better business.

This folder contains miscellaneous correspondence sent to Dr. Schenck.

Correspondence from G. H. Valentine of Hendersonville, N.C. Requests for passes. May 1, 1905- Valentine applies as a stenographer for Dr. Schenck. He was working as a junior partner in the Law Offices of Smith & Valentine.

June 3, 1905- Valentine sent a typewritten letter that Dr. Schenck dictated to him at Biltmore. It was a letter to Prof. Collier Cobb.

Valentine arranging to begin work at the Pink Beds.

July 29, 1905- Valentine did not do very proficient work during his employment trial at the Pink Beds and Dr. Schenck does not want to hire him. Valentine writes of his education. He knew little Latin or mathematics. His father taught him English. His work in Hendersonville did not require perfect typographical work. Dr. Schenck offered him another trial in October.

September 29, 1905- Valentine will report to work on October 24th.

Correspondence from G. H. Valentine. Hendersonville, N.C. July 10, 1906- Valentine now working at the Holmes & Valentine Law Firm. He registered a deed for Mr. and Mrs. Jordan to Mr. Vanderbilt.

November 3, 1906- Valentine selling his father's land.

May 30, 1907- Valentine cannot go to Ducktown, TN., but recommends P. F. Patton for the work there.

December 21, 1908- G. H. Valentine learned that deer are being killed by trespassers on the Valentine land on Queen's Creek. He would like to put the land under control of Estate Rangers.

December 26, 1908- Negative quotes from Dr. Schenck, who says that he has given up on trying to protect fish and game due to lack of public support. "Everyone knows that neither Vanderbilt nor I myself are fishermen, and that we protect the fish and game really for the benefit of the future and not for the benefit of Vanderbilt or Schenck."

Correspondence from Eleanor P. Vance of Biltmore, N.C. January 8, 1904- Dr. Schenck selling lumber to the Boy's Club through her.

April 12, 1904- The baskets sold well. Vance writes, "We find a ready sale for all Estate work.." She will meet with Mr. Fletcher to arrange a supply of baskets to sell to the "tourists now on their way North from the Southern resorts."

September 24, 1904- Would like to exhibit more chairs, or other such crafts, in their sales window.

October 25, 1904- Received Dr. Schenck's pictures of Roycroft furniture. She is showing it to the boys as an example of "simple, well made furniture."

Correspondence from Edith S. Vanderbilt to Dr. Schenck. Bar Harbor, Maine; Biltmore, N.C.; Paris, France and Ireland. September 1, 1901- Mrs. Vanderbilt returning cloth samples to Dr. Schenck. Mr. and Mrs. Vanderbilt picked out cloth they wished to use and for the Rangers' summer uniforms. She hopes to return to Biltmore on September 12th. She enjoyed "all the Pisgah news."

August 22, 1904- Mrs. Vanderbilt writing from Ireland. She thanks Dr. Schenck and the Biltmore Estate Forestry Department for remembering Cornelia's birthday. They hope to return to Biltmore September 15 and will be happy to get home and see friends.

October 3, 1904- Mrs. Vanderbilt cannot remember what day they are visiting Dr. Schenck.

December 13, 1904- Mrs. Vanderbilt writes of Mr. [Kuntz?] of New York City. He is supposed to be "THE" American authority on [Radium?].

January 7, 1906- Ask Mr. O'Kelley to keep the seeds from the Buck Spring Lodge vegetable garden and plant them in the spring. Leave out celery & onions since they did not do well.

November 7, 1906- She would like the "Xmas list" and stringed labels as soon as possible.

November 19, 1906- Arranging to invite employees to the Xmas tree. Employees who cannot come will have tree trimming brought to them.

More on Christmas list and Christmas labels.

January 18, 1909- Dr. Schenck writes he will save some of the best muskrat skins obtained by the trappers that winter. "The lagoon is full of muskrats." The warm winter is hurting firewood sales. Reference to Christmas celebrations at English Chapel on Davidson River, N.C. Dr. Schenck likes the "fine edition of Dickens" that Mrs. Vanderbilt sent. They have arranged a "Dickens evening" with the Wheelers. It is lead by Mrs. Wheeler.

January 30, 1909- Mrs. Vanderbilt's muskrat skins are admired in Paris. She wants more of them.

Correspondence from George Vanderbilt to Dr. Schenck. New York City and Bar Harbor, Maine. October 15, 1901- Please inform the rangers to admit visiting members of the R. R. Association to the Esplanade.

Not dated- Remarks on budgeting. George Vanderbilt asks, "How late in the winter can a decision be made for cutting logs for Looking Glass Lodge without loosing a year?"

September 13, 1902- George Vanderbilt in Bar Harbor, Maine. He received Dr. Schenck's letters. Dr. Schenck may begin on Avery Creek Road. George Vanderbilt approves of Dr. Schenck's free postal delivery plan. Build Avery Creek Road instead of Pink Bed Road. Carry mail with one of George Vanderbilt's teams and use his name. George Vanderbilt writes, "I certainly hope the U. S Leather Co. and the Furniture Co.'s schemes will materialize." Dr. Schenck can buy the acre of ground near the Davidson River Station at a cost of $300 or less. George Vanderbilt agrees with Dr. Schenck's plan of a barn and stable at that point. Dr. Schenck may buy the 140-acre Sycamore Church Tract for $800. $600 may be spent on two mule teams with wagons and harnesses. George Vanderbilt asks if a hunting club was leasing his land would they want to stock the forest with game or deer? Would the leased land be near Buck Spring Lodge or Davidson River? If the lease goes through, George Vanderbilt would want to reserve some fishing rights. A 12-year lease sounds reasonable.

Correspondence to Dr. Schenck from George W. Vanderbilt. New York, New York; Paris, France. February 9, 1903- George Vanderbilt is sending further working plans for the Foresters Lodge. He wrote on Hunt & Hunt, Architects' letterhead. Hunt & Hunt will work with Dr. Schenck on the types and dimensions of lumber to cut. George Vanderbilt would like the same wood as used at Buckspring Lodge.

February 11, 1903- George Vanderbilt telegrams Dr. Schenck to take option on Moore's Creek for 1,000 acres.

August 24, 1903- Personal and business letter to Dr. Schenck from George Washington Vanderbilt at Chateau Plessis-Bouquelon. George Vanderbilt received the copy of Biltmore Forest School students' letter to Gifford Pinchot. [Pinchot had complained to George Vanderbilt about the lack of quality education at Biltmore Forest School.] George Vanderbilt supports Biltmore Forest School. George Vanderbilt asked Dr. Schenck about leasing Pisgah shooting rights, not including use of Buckspring Lodge.

December 9, 1903- Dr. Schenck said Mr. Moore would probably lease Pisgah and Bent Creek shooting rights at $9,000. George Vanderbilt was not happy that Vernon Hill residents were excluded from the Estate every day since November 1st. George Vanderbilt would consider leasing Vernon Hill houses along with shooting rights if the price were right. George Vanderbilt understands why Dr. Schenck is disappointed in their financial deficit. George Vanderbilt hopes the wood cut for Looking Glass Lodge can "soon be sold." Send the money from the logs to Biltmore Office. George Vanderbilt tells Dr. Schenck, "As to your feeling of 'mental and physical bankruptcy' that I can understand too but when a ship is under clouds and a storm threatening that is the last or worst time for the captain to desert the helm." George Vanderbilt says he did not want to make the contract with Mr. Adams [of Brevard Tannin Company]. The tan bark business did not do as well as expected. Dr. Schenck should slow down on repairs and houses for tenants. George Vanderbilt says that he and Dr. Schenck both want to put "all forestrywork on a self supporting basis." George Vanderbilt knows it is hard for Dr. Schenck to be patient and go slowly. George Vanderbilt outlines his financial plans for Biltmore. Dr. Schenck needs to slow down on his expenditures. George Vanderbilt blames himself for the loss of money on Looking Glass Lodge operations. Personal notes on how Dr. Schenck would not forgive himself for "acknowledging defeat." They must fulfill the contract with Adams. "Instead of increasing the complexity of Pisgah work [,] simplify it. At present you are also tired out." George Vanderbilt hopes that Dr. Schenck can get out of his German army work and take an auto trip with Mrs. Schenck and the Vanderbilts. George Vanderbilt writes, "We expect to go home in Sept and will want to go to the woods at once." George Vanderbilt currently with Vicounte d' Osmoys, who had appendicitis. Notes on their stay. George Vanderbilt was reading von Syble's Founding of the German Empire.

December 15, 1903 letter and December 28, 1903 transcription- George Vanderbilt read an article in the Asheville paper about the objections to close Davidson River's road "as a highway." George Vanderbilt gives his thoughts on it.

December 28, 1903 and January 1, 1904- More on leasing hunting rights. George Vanderbilt does not approve of Mr. Wilks' offer.

Correspondence to Dr. Schenck from George W. Vanderbilt. Paris, France; London, England, Naples, Italy; Barcelona, Spain and Biltmore, N.C. January 25, 1904- Dr. Schenck can give Sumner $48 a year for the right of way out of Long Shoals gate.

February 2, 1904- George Vanderbilt would trade Berger property for the Bailey place. He will not sell Penland land east of Hendersonville Road. Notes on a possible sanitarium that could be built nearby. Notes on the "turkey controversy." George Vanderbilt wishes to put turkeys on all farms.

February 16, 1904- George Vanderbilt's telegrams not to "include turkeys in any Biltmore shooting lease."

February 16, 1904- George Vanderbilt heard from Mr. Weston and "received data which changes the aspect of the turkey question." George Vanderbilt says that Dr. Schenck gave him incorrect information on the values of turkeys. George Vanderbilt does not want turkeys included in any shooting lease. George Vanderbilt is upset that Dr. Schenck allowed them to be shot. Sign lease with Mr. Wilks. George Vanderbilt would consider leasing the lagoon [for] fishing . Notes on the locations of shooting areas.

February 19, 1904- Mr. Moore did not sign the lease and his option expired. A club is interested in leasing Pisgah Forest. They are also interested in renting Biltmore Estate but George Vanderbilt says he would only lease [the] deer park long term. George Vanderbilt believes he should lease shooting rights to Mr. Wilks and one or two other people. More on the values of turkeys. George Vanderbilt thinks they are too tame to hunt. George Vanderbilt was writing from Paris.

March 12, 1904 and March 24, 1904- Letter from George Vanderbilt in Barcelona. Letter from Mr. Wilks and instructions to Dr. Schenck for leasing shooting rights to him.

March 12, 1904- Copy of a letter from Mr. Wilks in which he outlines his terms for leasing a house and shooting rights from George Vanderbilt.

March 24, 1904- Telegram from George Vanderbilt, "Accept Wilks."

August 3, 1904- George Vanderbilt writing from London. He will not buy Brooks land at the present price. A one-year loan may be made to Mr. Littlefield. George Vanderbilt expects to be at Biltmore about September 15th.

March 31, 1905- Telegram from George Vanderbilt. He arrived in Naples. He wished Dr. Schenck a happy birthday.

"Friday Evening." George Vanderbilt going to Busbee for lunch. Please send a man ahead "to see that no trees are across the road."

Correspondence from Vansant, Kitchen & Co. Incorporated, Manufactures of Yellow Poplar Lumber. Ashland, KY. Credit ratings on Vansant Lumber Company and W. R. Vansant.

November 10, 1906- R. H. Vansant says W. R. Vansant secured an option on the Highland Forest property. They made an estimate that R. H. Vansant believed was incorrect.

1908- They considered purchasing Biltmore lumber.

Correspondence to Dr. Schenck from Gerard Van Schaick. Brevard, N.C. October 27, 1904- Von Schaick seems to have given up forestry for lumbering. He will work at Avery's Creek. Mr. Graves told William Burbridge that Dr. Schenck "would have a fine a school as there is by the time he arrived in Biltmore."

May 5, 1905- Van Schaick claims a $75 rebate from Biltmore Forest School. Van Schaick did not like Biltmore Forest School. He hired Zachary and Breese to help him collect.

May 18, 1905- Van Schaick did not think his rebate was enough money.

Note: These are Van Schaick's letters that were historicaly filed in Series V. See also his letters in Series S.

Correspondence from Martin H. Vogel of New York, N.Y. Vogel was a New York City attorney. He appears to have shown an interest in Dr. Schenck's work and to have considered investments in Pisgah Forest and Highland Forest.