Harry Lee Hoffman Jr. Collection 1934-1964, MS. 2583

The Harry Lee Hoffman, Jr., Collection is organized into two sections, the papers of the Maryland Outdoor Life Federation (1934-1950) and the papers of its successor organization, the Maryland Conservation Federation (1950-1964).

The idea for an annual convention of Maryland conservation groups was expressed in 1933 by Merle E. Towner, retiring president of the Maryland State Game and Fish Protective Association. In 1934 this idea was carried out by a convention of sportsmen's groups and garden clubs held at the Emerson Hotel in Baltimore. The success of this convention led to the formation of the Maryland Outdoor Life Federation whose stated purposes were to coordinate and stimulate the efforts of conservation, civic, scientific and outdoor organizations in the interest of the State of Maryland's outdoor life privileges and natural resources.

Annual Report of the President, H. Lee Hoffman, Maryland Outdoor Life Federation, 31 March 1939 (MS. 2583)

H. Lee Hoffman, Jr., who had chaired the first convention, was elected president.

The papers of the Maryland Outdoor Life Federation include meeting minutes, reports, correspondence, financial data and newsclippings. The organization of annual conventions (1936-1937) and exhibitions (1938-1939) is the primary subject. Of particular interest in the 1938-1939 correspondence are letters from Native American Indians who represented tribal life at the outdoor life shows held in the Fifth Regiment Armory in Baltimore.

World War II suspended the Federation's activities for a few years. It was reorganized in 1950 as the Maryland Conservation Federation. The papers in this section include meeting minutes, membership data, financial reports, correspondence, and subject files. A major subject is the Ivy Hill Forest preservation project which the Federation adopted in 1958. Ivy Hill Forest, in northern Baltimore County, had been privately owned by the Hoffman family since 1943 and was intended to serve as a model conservation, education and study area. It was hoped that the Federation would acquire and operate it as such, but in 1960 the project was dropped due to lack of supporting funds. Most of the land was sold to the Baltimore County park system and is now known as Oregon Ridge Park.

In 1964 the Maryland Conservation Federation disbanded and transferred its financial assets to the newly formed Conservation Education Council of Maryland.

HARRY LEE HOFFMAN, JR., BIOGRAPHICAL DATA

MARYLAND OUTDOOR LIFE FEDERATION

Meeting minutes and Reports, 1937-1950

Correspondence, 1935-1937

Correspondence, Feb.-Oct., 1938

Correspondence, Nov.-Dec., 1938

Correspondence, 1939

Correspondence, 1940

Correspondence, 1941

Correspondence, 1942-1945

Correspondence, 1950-1954, n.d.

Financial Data, 1934-1937

Financial Data, 1938-1939

Financial Data, 1940

Conventions/Shows, 1937-1940

The Indoor Outdoor Show, (song), 1939

Newsclippings, 1935-1949 (I)

BOX 2

Newsclippings, 1935-1949 (II)

Newsclippings, 1935-1949 (III)

MARYLAND CONSERVATION FEDERATION

Minutes, 1951

Minutes, Board of Directors, 27 Aug. 1959

Minutes, Executive Committee, 5 Jan. 1960

Minutes, Annual Meeting, 4 Feb. 1960

Minutes, Executive Committee, 24 Feb. 1960

Minutes, Executive Committee, 4 Mar. 1960

Minutes, Executive Committee, 1 Apr. 1960

Minutes, Executive Committee, 27 May 1960

Minutes, Special Meeting, 8 Sept. 1960

Financial Data, 1951-1961

Membership Application Forms, 1951; 1960-1961

Membership Dues, 1951

Membership Lists, 1950-1960

Membership Mailing Labels, 1960

Membership Welcoming Letters, 1951

Membership Welcoming Letters, 1960

Correspondence, 1951-1958

Correspondence, 1959

BOX 3

Correspondence, Jan.-Apr. 1960

Correspondence, May-Nov. 1960

Correspondence, 1961-1964

Correspondence, n.d.

Subject File:

Articles, 1960

Baltimore Regional Planning Council, 1959-1960

Chesapeake Bay Resources Monument, 1950-1951

Conservation News, 1951

Committees and Facilities, 1960

Flyway, 1960-1961

(2 folders)

Form Letters, 1959-1960

Garden Center Therapy, 1960

Gardenews, 1960

Glen Helen (Ohio), 1960

Ideas, 1959-1960

BOX 4

Ivy Hill Forest Preservation

Articles of Incorporation, 1959

By-Laws, [1959?]

General, 1959-1960

Leases, 1959-1960

Meeting Minutes, 1959

Correspondence, 1959-1961

Financial Data, 1959-1960

Maryland House and Garden Pilgrimage, 1960

Medallion Competition, 1950

National Capitol Flower and Garden Show, 1960-1961

National Flower and Garden Show, 1951

Newsclippings, 1950-1960

Open Space, 1959-1960

Organizations to be Contacted, 1959-1960

Outdoor Life Show, 1960-1961

Perkie Party Placemats, 1960-1962

Press Releases, 1951-1960

Publications--Brochure Material, 1959-1960

Publications--Leaflet, 1960

Publications--Membership Folder, 1960

Publications--Proofs and Mock-ups, n.d.

Questionaire, 1960

Radio and TV, 1960

MISCELLANEOUS

OVERSIZE FOLDER

Sketch, Keep Maryland Beautiful sign, 1958

Sketches and plans for Maryland Conservation Federation exhibit at the National Flower Show, 1951

Poster, North American Sports, Garden and Outdoor Life Show, 1939

Poster, Proposed Conservation Memorial at Sandy Point Park, n.d.

SUBJECT HEADINGS

Baltimore Regional Planning Council, 1959-1960

Birds--Protective Associations, 1934-1964

Chesapeake Bay Resources Monument, 1950-1951

Conservation, 1934-1964

Conservation--Societies, 1934-1964

Crewe, Leonard C., Jr. (fl. 1960)

Darling, Jay N. (Ding) (fl. 1950's-1960's)

Denmead, Talbott (fl. 1934-1964

Environmental Conservation, 1934-1964

Fish--Protection, 1934-1964

Fishing--Clubs, 1934-1964

Fleet, A. Gordon (fl. 1934-1964)

Glen Helen (Ohio), 1960

Hoffman, Harry Lee, Jr., 1895-1980

Hopkins, C. A. Porter (fl. 1960)

Indians, 1938-1939

Ivy Hill Forest, 1959-1960

League of Maryland Sportsmen, Inc., 1944-1945

Martin, Glenn L. (fl. 1944-1945)

Maryland Conservation Federation, 1950-1964

Maryland House and Garden Pilgrimage, 1960

Maryland Outdoor Life Federation, 1934-1950

National Capitol Flower and Garden Show, 1960-1961

National Flower and Garden Show, 1951

Natural Resources, 1934-1964

Oregon Ridge Park, 1959-1960

Outdoor Life Show, 1938-1939, 1960-1961

Regional Planning, 1959-1960

Swope, Granville C. (fl. 1934-1964)

Towner, Merle E. (fl. 1934-1964)

Wildlife Conservation, 1934-1964

Zarfoss, C. R. (fl. 1960)

Gardening--Organizations and Societies, 1951-1961