Mason, David Townsend, 1883-1973

David Townsend Mason, forestry advocate, was born in 1883.

From the guide to the David Townsend Mason papers, 1858-1973, (Oregon Historical Society Research Library)

David T. Mason (1883-1973): professor of forestry at the University of California, manager of the Western Pine Association, executive officer of the New Deal Lumber Code Authority, advocate of sustained-yield forestry management.

From the guide to the David Townsend Mason Papers, 1907-1973, (Manuscripts and Archives)

David Townsend Mason, forestry advocate, was born in 1883.

His education began at Rutgers University where he graduated in 1905. He graduated from Yale University's School of Forestry in 1907. He started his career in 1907 in the Forestry Department of the United States Government. In 1915, he became a professor of forestry at the University of California at Berkeley, where he organized the timber section of the Bureau of Internal Revenue to place a value on timber owned by American taxpayers in the United States and internationally. In 1921 he moved to Portland, Oregon and opened an office as a forest engineer. He is responsible for developing a plan of sustained yield forest management which made an impact on both the private and public timber industry. He also introduced the theory of selective cutting of timber to produce larger yields. He married Evelyn Polleys in 1911 and they had a daughter Georgia. He died in September 1973.

From the description of David Townsend Mason papers [manuscript], 1858-1973. (Oregon Historical Society Research Library). WorldCat record id: 753704548