Historical Note

The Civilian Conservation Corps had a significant and lasting effect on Idaho during its nine year span (1933-1942). It provided jobs and training to over 25,000 Idahoans and over 85,000 other young men resulting in both short-and long-term improvements to public lands.

The wave of legislation passed during the first hundred days of Roosevelt's presidency included the Emergency Conservation Work Act, later known as the Civilian Conservation Corps. This was intended to provide unemployed, single young men between the ages of 18 and 25 the opportunity to work in forests and rural communities throughout the U.S. protecting forest resources, constructing roads, buildings, and national parks, and/or improving soil and irrigation techniques. In return, they would receive $30 per month, of which $25 was sent home to their families, as well as food, clothing, shelter, and educational and vocational opportunities. Young men from eastern states with large populations and little public land made up the majority of CCC enrollees in Idaho.

By August 1933, Idaho ranked third in the nation in numbers of men and camps established, with approximately 19,200 men in 96 camps, although the number of camps in operation gradually declined over the years. Many were bases in charge of a number of spike camps used for temporary projects. Most camps were sponsored by a federal or state agency that outlined projects and oversaw their completion. In Idaho, these jurisdictions fell under National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, Division of Grazing, Soil Conservation Service, or the Bureau of Reclamation. Many camps were seasonal, shifting to warmer locations in the region during the winter months. Virtually every part of the state benefited from CCC activity, with projects that included firefighting, white pine blister rust control, reforestation, irrigation control, constructing roads, bridges, lookout towers, state and national parks, campgrounds, and telephone lines.

The CCC was terminated soon after the U.S. entered World War II. CCC equipment and facilities were used by the army whenever possible, but generally were not made available for local government use. Most camps were disassembled, leaving only foundations and other remnants of their existence. Many camp buildings had been constructed in a manner that allowed for easy disassembly and relocation. The temporary nature of camp buildings and the passage of time have left very little remaining "architecture" of CCC camps, making the materials in MS 683 all the more important to understanding the CCC experience in Idaho.