Interviewer
Kim Taylor
Files
Description
James C. Ayers discusses his career as a smokejumper, which started in the 1940s and lasted until 1972. He describes his training at the Nine Mile Ranger Station in Montana, as well as what it was like to fight a fire, from jumping in to after-fire procedures. Ayers talks about his fellow smokejumpers, many of whom were former servicemen, and their off-duty activities, such as going to dances in Missoula. Ayers discusses the impact smokejumping had on the rest of his life, including a focus on physical fitness and how the beauty of the scenery inspired him to pursue art.
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Document Type
Oral History
Subjects
Smokejumpers Montana Biography; Smokejumping Montana History; Nine Mile Ranger Station; Missoula, Montana; University of Montana; Stewart Peak; Bob Marshall Wilderness
Original Date
6-18-1984
Time Period
Twentieth century
Geographic Coverage
Montana
Language
eng
Original Collection
Smokejumpers 1984 Reunion Oral History Collection, OH 133, Archives and Special Collections, Mansfield Library, University of Montana-Missoula
Digital Publisher
University of Montana--Missoula. Mansfield Library
Rights
Copyright to this collection is held by the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, University of Montana-Missoula. Permission may be required for use of this item. For further information please contact Archives and Special Collections: (406) 243-2053 / library.archives@umontana.edu
Oral History Number
OH 133-002
Media Type
Sound; Text
Original Format
1 sound cassette (72 min.) : analog + 1 transcript (19 p. : 28 cm.)
Digital Format
audio/mp3; application/pdf
Run Time
01:16:46 minutes
Local Filename
OH_133_002.mp3; OH_133_002.pdf
Citation
OH 133-002Ayers, James C., "James C. Ayers Interview, June 18, 1984" (1984). Smokejumpers 1984 Reunion Oral History Project. OH 133-002.
https://scholarworks.umt.edu/smokejumpers/32