Robert Allen Smith, CCC Man, Company 530, Camp Libby, F-76, Libby, Montana

Biography of Robert Allen Smith

CCC Man, Company 530, Camp Libby, F-76, Libby, Montana

Robert Allen Smith Enrolled in the Civilian Conservation Corps in April of 1939 and served therein into 1940, per the contents of his photo album which I obtained at a paper show in Fort Washington, Pennsylvania, near Philadelphia. From the photographs and papers within, he was from Ohio and returned there after his stint in the CCCs. Among his papers was a multipage newspaper article on Pope John Paul's 1965 trip to America. There is also a family photo that is noted as Robert Allen Smith Confirmation, though he does not appear to be a boy but a young man in the photo. He may have served in North Africa during the war, as his papers also included an article about the death of Free French General Henri Giraud. He also appeared interested in politics, having retained an article about political results of the election in 1964.

Robert A. Smith, also known as Bob or Smitty it seems, was also a musician. There is an autograph like photo in the album that is dedicated "Nice Pianoing Smitty", and the signature is within a stylized drawing of a horn, a trumpet or something similar. There are photos in the album of a parade float for CCC Company 530 on which a man is playing an upright piano. Though the photo is from behind, it looks like the man in the confirmation picture, Robert Smith. The caption for that photo says "Smitty's Band 3 Piece Piano Banjo Guitar".

From the photographs it is clear that the men of Co. 530 were engaged in fire fighting, manning a fire watch tower, and somehow used the lumber mill, perhaps to bring planks to work sites to build bridges or other structures. There are numerous photos of the mill, and a man in the woods with a stake truck and piles of planks. The men also had three rivers nearby for recreation, with swimming in at least one of them (there are also falls and rapids). They came to the camp by train. And Mr. Smith had time on leave to travel on those trains it seems, he taking photos in Utah and having post cards from the Great Northern Railroad and Yellowstone Park. The men also recreated by Boxing, in a nice ring in camp for the occasion. The officer and apparently the foreman also lived in camp rather than in town. Among Mr. Smiths friends were Don Burns, Jack Mason, Bob Mason, and Marion Dee Mason, one of whom was named in the photo captions (unfortunately many are not named). He photographed other men but without captions.

The rest of the album's contents are concerned with his time in the CCC. These include not only many photographs of CCC Company 530 and its camp, Camp Libby, F-76, Libby, Montana, but also post cards and tourism pamphlets for the areas around his camp and his travels to and from it. His interest in the environs around him are further embodied by the only notes he made, which are contained on three small note book pages tucked behind one of the photos, which read as follows below

Pages of notes in album read

April 1939-1940.

Trip (CCC)

I into/auto/just??? Left Canton

Xenia Ohio

Examination

Clothes

Meals

Formation of companies

States - Calif, Wash., Oregon, Idaho, Montana

II States went through

Indiana

Illinois

Wisconsin

Minnesota

N. Dakota

Montana

Idaho

Minnesota St Paul - Large town beautiful arranged - Miss river & Missouri river combine. Hill country & mild climate same as Minneapolis.

North Dakota prairie lands Herds if Western But. Entered dust storm Wild fowl Cactuses.

Indiana - level country for miles Swell farms Roads - wide.

Illinois

Chicago - very large city. The flats similarize streams of NY country. Hills.

Wisconsin

Very hilly country beautiful lakes river and climate was cold.

Libby Montana

2nd largest lumber mill Montana employ 500-600

Mercury - gold

Vermiculite for house installation

Kootenai River

From Canada - Mont. Idaho Wash Canada.

Forests

Covers 1789851 acres land

Not having Mr, Smith's input except for those photos where notes were made on the back, the scenes are left solely to my and your interpretation. However Mr. Smith did excellent work in shooting and preserving the life and work of the men of Company 530. Please review and enjoy and let us thank Mr. Smith for his fine work..

Any information about his company, camp or service would be appreciated.

Robert Allen Smith, Confirmation Picture, 1938 (caption on the back of the photo). I believe he is on the left. Presumably his father and mother are on the right.

Bob and Jack Mason, A Swell Guy. (caption on the back of the photo). As related by a nephew of both men, these are Bob Mason, and Jack Mason, brothers of his grandfather, Marlon Dee Mason, who was also at the Libby CCC Camp.

Don Burns. (caption on the back of the photo). Could be Dan Burns but pretty sure it is Don. Not sure if this photo is at the camp or not. Looks like a farm or ranch, it is possible that the camp did work on private ground here, or that the men had made friends here. Presumably Robert Smith and Jack Mason, with Jack Mason being the swell guy. Not sure if this photo is at the camp or not, the clothes seem civilian yet the background appears to be the camp.

Camp Scene. (caption on the back of the photo). Company 530, Camp Libby, F-76, Libby, Montana, 1939-1940

Camp Signpost. (caption on the back of the photo). Bobtail Creek, Quartz Creek, Pipe Creek to the left. Rexford, Eureka, Gateway, Canada and Camp Libby, to the right. Company 530, Camp Libby, F-76, Libby, Montana, 1939-1940

Infirmary (caption on the back of the photo).From a post card, but I think this is the Camp Infirmary, since that note is hand written on the back. The calendar seems to say 1936 or 1938, given other notes in the Album I think it must say 1938. The calendar is by a company Kooncay ( ? very unreadable, may be Koonetai for the nearby Forest and River ) Merc Co and is a painting of oxen pulling a Conestoga style wagon. The photo on right is a pretty woodlands waterfall, one wonders if it is from the area. The cabinet contains hand labeled bottles and the examination table has on it a steel container and jar which probably has swabs or such. Note the bandages and scissors on the wall, I image cuts and sprains were the standard injury. Also note the clean but crude construction with a two by four and metal cased wire providing the light fixture and the linoleum tile both on the floor and on the counter tops. Company 530, Camp Libby, F-76, Libby, Montana, 1939-1940

Parade Float (caption on the back of the photo). CCC men from Company 530 on a company truck in a parade, presumably in Libby, Montana. Given the warm weather dress of the boys, and the American flags on the front of the truck, this must be a Fourth of July Parade. Two of the boys play music, one a piano and one a guitar, while the rest wave. As Bob Smith was a piano player, its possible he is the man on the piano, looks like him perhaps. I would not be surprised if they all sang as well, but they do not seem to be doing so here. Company 530, Camp Libby, F-76, Libby, Montana, 1939-1940

Water Tower. (caption on the back of the photo). With "Company 530, CCC, F-76, Camp Libby" painted on it. Presumably the camp water tower. Company 530, Camp Libby, F-76, Libby, Montana, 1939-1940

Pack Train (caption on the back of the photo). Company 530, Camp Libby, F-76, Libby, Montana, 1939-1940.

Christmas Menu, (Three pages, Cover, Officers and Staff, and Menu, fourth page was blank. No roster this menu), Company 530, Camp Libby, F-76, Libby, Montana, 1939-1940.

Autograph photo of Jim West, Horn Player, 1941. Dedication is to Smitty, pianist. This must be Robert Smith.

Kentucky Troop Train of October 1939. (caption on the back of the photo). Train is the silver circle to right past the water tower. by Robert Allen Smith.

Great Northern Steam Engine No. 1378. No Caption. Was next to the Troop Train photo, so presumably this is the same train. Looks like a Pacific 4-6-2 locomotive. By Robert Allen Smith.

No Caption. Men looking from window of pullman train car. Same page as prior train photo. Is clearly CCC men on train on way to camp. Not CCC truck backed up to train loading onto train. Perhaps the men's bags or foot lockers.

No Caption. CCC Men walking by and looking from window of pullman train car. Same page as prior train photos. Is clearly CCC men on train on way to or from camp. Note officer directing them.

No Caption. CCC Men walking by train. Same page as prior train photos. Is clearly CCC men on train on way to or from camp.

No Caption. Road in forest covered hills. As in CCC Album presumably is near his CCC Camp in Libby, MT

No Caption. House with Car and signs (illegible). As in CCC Album presumably is near his CCC Camp in Libby, MT, perhaps a staff members home.

No Caption. Car on road next to cars parked in front of factory looking building. As in CCC Album presumably is near his CCC Camp in Libby, MT

No Caption. CCC Men walking by train. Same page as prior train photos. Is clearly CCC men on train on way to or from camp.

No Caption. Man. Note two men near vehicle in background. CCC Staff? As in CCC Album presumably is at or near his CCC Camp in Libby, MT

Density of Pine. (caption on the back of the photo). Note man sitting among wood left center of photo.

Forest Fire, Taken at Night. (caption on the back of the photo).

No Caption. Duck and Ducklings. As in CCC Album presumably is at or near his CCC Camp in Libby, MT

Forest Ranger Plane. (caption on the back of the photo). Looks like a Ford Trimotor, with a partial registration visible of NC96, there would be two more numbers (only 199 were built).

No Caption. Duck and Ducklings. As in CCC Album presumably is at or near his CCC Camp in Libby, MT

Kitchen Camp on Forest Fire. (caption on the back of the photo).

Tower (Caption on back) Fire Tower near Libby Camp

No Caption. Photo of train from side of road, car in foreground

Scene of Camp in Winter (caption on back)

Picture taken November 39 Lieutenant George Anderson of Minnesota of Camp 530 F76 Libby Montana (caption on back). Sign says Officers Quarters. October 1939 Time Magazine in his hands with King Gustav V of Sweden on cover. Story is about a meeting of the Nordic leaders (Norway, Denmark, Finland, Sweden) in Sweden about how they will react to WWII. The gist seems to be they will stand together. Not so much as it turned out.

Camp Libby, (no caption), stone plinth in center behind sign, not sure what if anything is on it.

Men, Walkways and Barracks (No Caption), Co. 530, Libby, MT

Scenery after forest fire (caption on back), Libby, MT

Foreman?, enrollees at barracks door, camp scene (no caption), Co. 530

Camp Building (no caption), staff quarters if I had to guess, foreman perhaps

Fischer River, Don Burns swimming (caption on the back).

Yak River (Caption on back), also called Yaak River.

Flag with Faux? Cannon and Path (No Caption)

No Caption, road in Libby?

No Caption, river rapids near Libby

No caption, looks like bridge into Libby from Camp side

Same bridge, Libby across river

Back of next photo showing Mr. Robert Allen Smith's handwriting

Kootenai River & Trustle (caption). I think this is visible behind Officers Quarters photo with Lt. holding Time Magazine.

Back of photo showing Mr. Robert Allen Smith's handwriting

Scenery Picture (Caption)

City in state of Utah (Caption)

Lumber Mill (Caption)

Tennessee and Tiby (caption) Tiby might be Fiby or Siby, or Tily Fiby Siby.

Writing of names on back above image

Rudolph S. & Jack Brandt (caption)

Rosser & Lancaster Lieut. Quarters (caption) Rosser might be Rossie but no dot for I,fairly sure Rosser

Harrison (caption) no indication which one is Harrison

White jacket suggests Doctor or his Enrollee assitant or a cook or cook assistant (No Caption)

100 Freight Cars (caption) Enrollees in frame, near Libby presumably

Kootenaeni River Scenery Picture (caption)

Scenery Picture (caption)

Bridge and Mountains (no caption)

No Caption, blurry shot of more of Lumber Train

Smith, Piper, Brandt (caption)

Rudolph Stubekney (caption) Last name u may be a, first e may be o, and name may be misspelled in original.

Bob Smith & Jack Brandt (caption)

Snow scene of camp Ray Red Woodrow Jones Sturgeon Nov 21 1940 (caption) The date is penciled in as opposed to rest of note which is in pen, which made me think it a notable date. It was Thanksgiving that year