The G.I. Bill

Paul M. Dunn: materials for the war packaging programs. I can't think of any other specific results. It really was in the formative period, getting started in 1941, and as you know, research in any area takes many years to come up with anything productive or worthwhile; so it was in the embryo stage and has developed considerably since then. Funds were provided through a Severance Tax that was initiated in 1946 and 1947 whereby a tax was levied on logs harvested and a certain portion of that was assigned to forest research; also a portion to fire protection.

Royal Jackson / Jennifer Lee: Was there a name for this program? Was there a name for that tax?

Paul M. Dunn: Generally called a Severance Tax. A log harvesting Severance Tax. The money was used for products research, for forest management research, and for fire protection under the State Board of Forestry. I should mention that in the beginning the Forest Management Research and fire protection programs were assigned to the State Board of Forestry, and the Forest Products Research was assigned to Oregon State University through the School of Forestry.

Royal Jackson / Jennifer Lee: That was a hat that you wore as School Dean, also Director of that program?

Paul M. Dunn: That's right. Later there was some encouragement for all of that research - forest management and products research - to be under the supervision of the University. In about the late 1950's the Forest Management Program with a sizable staff over at Salem was transferred to the University and that has resulted in the present Forest Research Laboratory program.

Royal Jackson / Jennifer Lee: Your years then as Dean were from 1942 to what year?

Paul M. Dunn: To 1955. And then Dean McCulloch was made Dean.

Royal Jackson / Jennifer Lee: In those years right after the war you must have seen a lot of change at OSU as well as in the School of Forestry.

Paul M. Dunn: Oh, yes, fantastic changes, not only in enrollment but in programs and in students, and in buildings, and other aspects of the University.

Royal Jackson / Jennifer Lee: What specifically in the School of Forestry? What enrollment changes occurred?

Paul M. Dunn: Enrollment grew to four or five hundred during the peak years; in fact, the first peak was when the veterans returned in 1946, 1947, and 1948. They received funding through the G.I. Bill. Many of them had been former students in Forestry, and had returned to complete their .degree programs. They were an excellent group of men