A library in Beltsville maintains a thorough collection of documents and memorabilia related to the iconic wildfire spokesman Smokey Bear.

Located inside the National Agricultural Library at 10301 Baltimore Ave., the Smokey Bear Collection features 115 linear feet of material, including posters, original artwork, sound recordings, movies and memorabilia.

It’s appropriate that the collection, started in 2012, is located in the greater D.C. area, which has ties to both the fictional and real-life Smokey Bears.

The U.S. Forest Service’s anti-wildfire program first used the Disney character Bambi in its public service announcements, but when that short-term agreement ended, it needed a new character, and staffers created Smokey in 1944.

In 1949, Rudolph Wendelin took over as the lead artist for Smokey Bear, a role he had until he retired in 1973. The Arlington resident helped shape the bear into a more human-looking character with a dignified but approachable personality, and one of the most well-recognized government mascots.

The D.C. area had another connection, too. In 1950, a three-month-old black bear cub found after a wildfire in New Mexico was nicknamed Smokey, generating national attention. The bear was eventually brought to the National Zoo in D.C., where he lived for 26 years as one of the zoo’s top attractions.

The Smokey Bear Collection is open to National Agricultural Library patrons for research purposes only. Appointments are required by contacting the National Agricultural Library at least 24 hours in advance.

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