Newly Processed Addition of Hofmann Forest Archives Now Accessible

Photograph of Sawmill at Hofmann Forest, 1938, "Photographs,1938-1946," Box 77, Folder 2

Photograph of Sawmill at Hofmann Forest, 1938, "Photographs,1938-1946," Box 77, Folder 2

The Special Collections Research Center is pleased to announce a newly processed series of materials has been added to the North Carolina State University, College of Natural Resources, School Forests Records.  This new series contains a variety of materials about Hofmann Forest, including correspondence, reports, publications, inventories, photographs, and plot data.

Hofmann Forest research
An example of research conducted in Hofmann Forest, "1958 Species Comparison," Box 53, Folder 3

Hofmann Forest, named for J.V. Hofmann, is a 79,000 acre forest used for timber production and research. Spanning Jones and Onslow counties in eastern North Carolina, it is adjacent to Jacksonville. Hofmann Forest was purchased in 1934 by the North Carolina Forestry Foundation.  The land was gifted to the NC State Endowment Fund in 1977. It has historically been used for research into topics such as forest management and water quality monitoring. In 2013, a plan to sell Hofmann Forest was halted after protests by students, staff, and faculty - this controversy is captured in the Digital Media sub-series.  As of 2022, much of the forest is used for timber production and tree farming, providing funding to the College of Natural Resources. 

Hofmann Forest Boundary Sign
Hofmann Forest Boundary Sign, undated, Box 66, Folder 3

The new series contains materials that illuminate Hofmann Forest’s use as a research forest as well as a commercial forest used by industry.  It contains detailed information including drawings and aerial photographs on specific plots in the forest.  It also contains manuscripts written about Hofmann Forest, inventories of trees, photographs of researchers conducting their work, various reports generated by the Forestry Foundation, and planning documents.  The new series includes the following sub-series: Plot/Tract Data, Research, Administrative, and Digital Media.

Photograph of Hofmann Forest
Workers at Deppe Plantations in Hofmann Forest, 1973, "Photographs 2 of 2, 1939-1997," Box 77, Folder 8

The newly processed materials have not been digitized, but they can be accessed by scheduling an appointment with the Libraries' Special Collections Research Center. Some information about in North Carolina and NC State's long connection with it can be found in our digitized collections. Please contact us at library_specialcollections@ncsu.edu for appointments or any questions. The Special Collections Research Center is open by appointment only. You can also submit a request to use materials, and we will email you with available appointment times.