Herman E. Baggenstoss South Cumberland State Park records

Record Group

Identifier: RG-0000-0066

Staff Only

Content Description

The Herman E. Baggenstoss Collection details the creation of the South Cumberland Recreation Area from its inception as the Grundy State Forest on April 10, 1935 after its purchase from the Tennessee Land Company. It also details the effort of the Grundy County Conservation Board to make the county more sustainable in ways such as lobbying for landfills and appropriate solid waste removal. Included in this collection are maps of the South Cumberland Recreation Area, photographs of the areas within in the South Cumberland Recreation Area along with Baggenstoss and colleagues, contracts between the State of Tennessee and Grundy County regarding park management, reports and minutes from meetings of the Grundy County Conservation Board, newspaper clippings about subjects relating to conservation, articles such as ones arguing against the amenities at Savage Gulf, brochures about the park and natural areas, studies on state parks and their offerings, statistics such as ones regarding weather and park visitors, correspondence between Baggenstoss and others such as government officials and journalists, nature specimens including two undated and unnamed leaves, and memorabilia such as the Re -Leaf Tennessee Project to encourage children to nurture trees. Items included in this collection have information from various organizations such as the Grundy County Conservation Board, the Tennessee Department of Conservation, and the Tennessee Valley Authority.

Dates

1935 - 1992

Biographical / Historical

Herman E. Baggenstoss, a conservationist, was born at Tracy City, Tennessee on October 29, 1903. He was the son of Swiss settlers, of whom operated a bakery in the city. He was educated in local schools and at Falls Business College in Nashville. He studied forestry at the University of the South. Baggenstoss served in the United States Navy Seabees during World War II. In the 1930s, Baggenstoss was the superintendent of the Civilian Conservation Corps Grundy Camp. He was owner and editor of the Grundy County Herald and the Dunlap Tribune as well as being active in the Baggenstoss family bakery business. In 1935 he began his conservation efforts by helping raise funds for and lobby the legislature for the creation of the Grundy State Forest. He helped organize the Grundy County Wildlife Federation, served as Executive Secretary and President of the Tennessee Federation of Sportsmen, the forerunner of the Tennessee Conservation League. He was the president of the American Forest Association, Forest Famers Association, Tennessee Outdoor Writers Association, and “Keep Tennessee Green.” He was founder and Chairman of the Grundy County Conservation Board and was instrumental in raising interest in acquiring Savage Gulf, Hawkins Cove and numerous other wild and scenic areas for the South Cumberland Recreation Area and fiercely advocated for their preservation. Mr. Baggenstoss continued to be active in conservation issues until his death in 1992.

Extent

1 Cubic Feet

4 Oversize folder

Language of Materials

English

Subjects

Annual reports Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Botanical specimens Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Camp sites, facilities, etc Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Climatic changes Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Conservation of natural resources Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Forests and forestry--Tennessee Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Grundy County (Tenn.) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Natural resources surveys Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Natural resources--Management Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Parks -- Tennessee Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Trails -- Maps Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
black-and-white photographs Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
maps (documents) Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus