Rock Mesa campaign: how hope, faith and charity saved the Three Sisters Wilderness
Scope and Contents
The collection consists of a history by Ron Eber of the campaign to prevent pumice mining at Rock Mesa in Oregon's Three Sisters Wilderness. The document details the background of the campaign, the actions taken by environmental activists and groups, and U.S. Congressional activity relating to the campaign, as well as detailing U.S. environmental legislation that proved relevant to the campaign. The document also discusses what lessons about enviromental activism the campaign can teach. The document includes a bibliography, and a section with photographs and images of documents relating to the campaign.
Dates
- 2021
Creator
- Eber, Ron (Author, Person)
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
The Oregon Historical Society owns the materials in the Research Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from copyright owners.
Historical Note
In 1961, the firm Sheldon Fay and Associates filed mining claims for pumice rock at Rock Mesa, a lava flow formation in the Three Sisters Wilderness of Oregon. The U.S. Forest Service declared these claims valid in 1963. This prompted Mike McCloskey of the Federation of Western Outdoor Clubs (FWOC) to file an appeal on behalf of Friends of Three Sisters. Over the course of the next two decades, environmental activists and groups including the Sierra Club, the Oregon Environmental Council, and the Oregon Wildlife Federation lobbied the U.S. government to prevent Rock Mesa from being mined. These efforts led to U.S. Congressional hearings and proposed legislation. Ultimately, in 1983 all parties agreed to have the U.S. Forest Service purchase the claims, and the transfer officially occurred on July 26, 1983.
Biographical Note
Ron Eber is a historian for the Oregon chapter of the Sierra Club.
Extent
0.1 Cubic Feet (1 folder in shared box)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
History by Ron Eber of the campaign to prevent mining at Rock Mesa in the Three Sisters Wilderness. From 1963 to 1983, environmental activists and organizations including Friends of Three Sisters, the Sierra Club, the Oregon Environmental Council, and the Oregon Wildlife Federation lobbied the U.S. government to invalidate mining permits that the U.S. Forest Service had granted in 1961 for pumice rock mining at Rock Mesa. In July 1983, the Forest Service purchased all the mining claims.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Ron Eber, February 2022 (RL2022-014).
Creator
- Eber, Ron (Author, Person)
- Title
- Guide to "Rock Mesa Campaign: How Hope, Faith and Charity Saved the Three Sisters Wilderness"
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Jeffrey A. Hayes
- Date
- 2022
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid is written in English.
Repository Details
Part of the Oregon Historical Society Research Library Repository
1200 SW Park Ave.
Portland OR 97205 United States
5033065204
5033065240
libreference@ohs.org