Antique Licenses Offer History, Geography Lessons GAIL STROCK Mifflin Co. Correspondent BELLEVILLE (Mifflin Co.) “It’s fascinating how much you learn - history, geography. There’s so much stuff you learn when you start collecting and branching out,” reflects Forrest Kauffman, of Belleville, Mifflin County. Forrest has collected nearly 1,000 (with no duplicates) out-of state hunting and fishing license buttons issued during the mid 20s and -30 s. They’re round, metal buttons with a clear celluloid coating is sued after cloth licenses 6 It’s fascinating how much you learn - history, ge ography. There’s so much stuff you leam when you start collecting and branching out. 5 Forrest Kauffman, Mifflin County Collector (1913-1923) but before paper (during the war). “For example, I’ve learned that it’s hard to find hunting and fishing license buttons from the Depression years. They’re scarce. They only cost $1 then, but peo ple couldn’t afford them. They would have worked all day for a dollar, but couldn’t afford to spend it on a license. They prob ably hunted anyway,” he adds with a laugh. “Here’s some issued for Ha waii,” Forrest says, pointing to The top box shows a complete set of North Car olina county and state hunting licenses from 1927 through 1939. The bottom box shows buttons repre senting the only three years that Georgia issued hunting and fishing li censes. The nonresident li cense for Georgia sells for over $l,OOO. Lancaster FjUj^mg Hawaii issued hunting licenses up until 1948 or 1949. Forrest Kauffman shows that some of these were issued for the Territory of Hawaii. hunting buttons labeled with a T. H. for Territory of Hawaii and the dates 1935-36. “What did they hunt?” Perhaps one of the most fascinating in Forrest’s col lection is a certain paper license folded and kept in a square framed button called a window frame. Some states switched to this design when metal became scar ce during the war. The paper hunting license contained the 4 It’s fascinating how much you learn - histo ry, geography. There’s so much stuff you learn when you start collecting and branch ing out. 5 name and pertinent facts about the hunter. Forrest removes and unfolds this one, which was is sued in Delaware in 1946. In pencil is written a name; Address Middletown, Delaware; Color Negro; Age 17; Weight 147. “The southern states issued these to African Americans in the 30s and 405,” Forrest ex plains. “These are of interest to hunting and fishing license col lectors and to those collecting black memorabilia.” Forest began collecting out-of state licenses when it became harder to find Pennsylvania li censes. Although Forrest has col lected hunting and fishing li censes from every county in Pennsylvania and for nearly every year, that same goal be comes unrealistic when collecting out-of-state licenses. He has one from every county, but not every year. Not all states issued button licenses. Forrest Kauffman “Mississippi and South Caroli na had the county names on them. Most states issued nonresi dent licenses, but they’re pretty scarce. New Jersey issued hunt ing and fishing licenses for aliens, too (non-citizens)” Forrest laughs. “North Carolina issued resident, nonresident, compli mentary, and combination li censes. Georgia only issued but tons for three years - 1934-36. This nonresident one from Geor gia would sell for over $l,OOO. Lancaster Farming, Saturday, March 10,2001-827 (Dest/es* Forrest Kauffman calls this a short complete-set of li censes. It includes resident small game, resident deer, and resident and nonresident fishing licenses. He knows of only one other person who has a complete set for Michigan. “Maryland issued only angling licenses, no hunting licenses. There were special buttons to fish in Deep Creek Lake, Md., which is near the Pennsylvania border. 1 like the graphics on Michigan’s buttons - rabbits, ringnecks, trout, bass, and deer. The Tennessee licenses issued for Reelfoot Lake are hardest to find. “Virginia issued an elk li censes. They sell for $1,200 now, but 1 don’t have any. Florida is sued hunting and fishing license buttons for only one year 1927-28.1 saw one on the Intern et for $l,OOO and it was in bad shape.” Forrest’s collection has grown Kauffman keeps his New Jersey (top) collection of nonresidents hunting and fishing licenses in order by year with spaces allotted for the buttons he still needs. The bottom box displays Delaware nonresident licenses from 1928 to 1938. to include hunting and fishing li censes from other countries, such as Canada, Austria, and Ger many, and game warden identifi cation badges. He promotes the hobby of col lecting by giving stained buttons to kids at trade shows for free. He’s provided information for detailed reference books written about Pennsylvania and Mary land hunting and fishing li censes. He’s also been working on an other kind of collection - tidbits of information that he’s gathered during his fifteen years of collect ing licenses. And the most logical way to store this collection? Pos sibly in book form.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers