Ranger Roll Call, 1930-1939

The tables below list the women working as rangers, naturalists, and guides from 1930-1939 together with their official titles, dates of employment, and the parks where they worked. The tables are organized by year to illustrate how many (or rather how few) women were in uniformed positions in any given year at individual parks and across the NPS.

All positions were temporary unless annotated with a [P] (for permanent) after the woman’s name. WAE means “when actually employed.” This is generally equivalent to today’s subject-to-furlough positions meaning that the women could be laid off when not needed or she may have only worked part time. "Per diem" positions were paid on a daily basis, without formal appointments.

Note that this article is a work in progress and information will be updated as it becomes available.

1930

Table 1: 1930 Women Rangers

Name	Park	Dates	Official Title	Comments
Jeannette Smith	Yosemite	May 25-Aug 20	Park Ranger (Checker)
Enid Michael	Yosemite	Apr 1-Sep 4	Park Ranger (Naturalist)
Florence E. Taylor	Yosemite	Jul 2-Jul 15 and Sep 11-Oct 10	Park Ranger (Naturalist)
Marguerite “Peg” Lindsley Arnold	Yellowstone	Jun 16-Sep 20	Park Ranger (Naturalist)
Herma Albertson	Yellowstone	Jun 16-Sep 30	Park Ranger (Naturalist)
Irene Wisdom	Yellowstone	Jun 17-Sep 18	Park Ranger
Pauline Mead	Grand Canyon	Aug 1-Dec 31	Park Ranger (Naturalist)
Thelma McKinnon	Sequoia	Jun 14-Aug 31	Museum Caretaker
Mary Sullivan [P]	Glacier	Jun 15-Sep 15	Park Ranger (Checker) WAE.	She resigned March 31, 1931 and did not work the 1931 summer season.
Unidentified	Carlsbad Caverns	Summer	Park Guide?	Documented as one of two women in photograph of 1930 ranger-guides in superintendent's monthly report. "The 'guidesses' are in reality First Aid nurses."
Unidentified	Carlsbad Caverns	Summer	Park Guide?	Documented as one of two women in photograph of 1930 ranger-guides in superintendent's monthly report. "The 'guidesses' are in reality First Aid nurses."

1931

Table 2: 1931 Women Rangers

Name	Park	Dates	Official Title	Comments
Jeannette Smith	Yosemite	Jun 15-Aug 31	Park Ranger (Checker)
Enid Michael [P]	Yosemite	Apr 1-Dec 31	Park Ranger (Naturalist), WAE	In 1931 Michael received a permanent appointment, WAE appointment so that she could be partially compensated for the winter research she did into Yosemite plants. She was expected to work about five days per month in the off season.
Marguerite “Peg” Lindsley Arnold	Yellowstone	Jun 16-Sep 16	Park Ranger (Naturalist)	See also 1942.
Herma Albertson	Yellowstone	Apr 30-May 8	Park Ranger (Naturalist)
Herma Albertson [P]	Yellowstone	May 8-Dec 31	Jr. Park Naturalist	Converted to probational appointment.
Pauline Mead	Grand Canyon	Jan 1-May 1	Park Ranger (Naturalist)	Appointment continued from 1930.
Thelma McKinnon	Sequoia	Jun 1-Jun 30	Museum Caretaker	July 1931 report: “A man ranger-naturalist is now on duty at the Giant forest museum in place of a woman. This policy will be continued as it is thought a uniformed man tends to give people a greater sense of appreciation towards the museum and its importance.”
Lila S. Michaelsen	Carlsbad Caverns	Exact dates unknown	Guide	She was working by June 1931. No evidence that she was trained a as a nurse.

1932

Table 3: 1932 Women Rangers

Name	Park	Dates	Official Title	Comments
Herma Albertson Baggley [P]	Yellowstone	Jan 1-Dec 31	Jr. Park Naturalist
Enid Michael [P]	Yosemite	Jan 1-Dec 31	Park Ranger (Naturalist), WAE	Full-time from Jun 1-Oct 1, and five days per month during the rest of the year
Jeannette Smith	Yosemite	May 25-Aug 20	Park Ranger (Checker)
Julia Dean	Carlsbad Caverns	Jul 1-Sep 11	Seasonal Park Ranger	Worked as a nurse. Dean and Yardley are described in a newspaper account as "the first women guides" hired at the park. Other women preceded them so this may be a title issue or is just wrong
Jo Whitt Yardley	Carlsbad Caverns	June-Aug	Seasonal Park Guide?	Yardley and Dean are described in a newspaper account as "the first women guides" hired at the park. Other women preceded them so this may be a title issue or is just wrong
Unidentified	Carlsbad Caverns	November	Per diem Guide	Two unnamed “lady guides” were hired to assist the permanent rangers with Teachers Day activities in November.
Unidentified	Carlsbad Caverns	November	Per diem Guide	Two unnamed “lady guides” were hired to assist the permanent rangers with Teachers Day activities in November.
Unidentified	Carlsbad Caverns	December	Per diem Guide	Two unnamed “lady guides” were hired to assist the permanent rangers Rotary Day in December.
Unidentified	Carlsbad Caverns	December	Per diem Guide	Two unnamed “lady guides” were hired to assist the permanent rangers Rotary Day in December.
Caroline Huston Thompson	Mesa Verde	Summer	Museum Assistant?

1933

Table 4: 1933 Women Rangers

Name	Park	Dates	Official Title	Comments
Herma Albertson Baggley [P]	Yellowstone	Jan 1-Dec 31	Jr. Park Naturalist	Resigned 12/31/1933 to become a full-time homemaker
Enid Michael [P]	Yosemite	Jan 1-Dec 31	Park Ranger (Naturalist), WAE	Full time from Apr 1-Aug 31 and 5 days per month during the rest of the year
Jeannette Smith	Yosemite	Jun 25-Sep 14	Park Ranger
Mary Elizabeth “Betty” Yelm	Rocky Mountain	Aug 28-Sep 9	Park Ranger (Naturalist)
Julia Dean	Carlsbad Caverns	Apr 16-Aug 31	Seasonal Park Ranger (Registered Nurse)	Initially hired on an emergency appointment until her regular appointment came through.
Nora Lee Hemler	Carlsbad Caverns	May-?	Seasonal Park Ranger (Nurse)
Frances Willis	Carlsbad Caverns		Per diem Ranger (Nurse)?	Willis isn't included in the photo of the 1933 ranger-guides in the superintendent's annual report. However, her obituary dates her start to the park as 1933. It's possible that she was hired on a per diem basis to cover for Dean or Hemler when they were on leave. More research is needed. She is also hired as later under her married name (Frances Hodnett).

1934

Table 5: 1934 Women Rangers

Name	Park	Dates	Official Title	Comments
Enid Michael [P]	Yosemite	Jan 1-Oct 20	Park Ranger (Naturalist), WAE	Five days per month from Jan-Apr. Full time May 1-Oct 20. Terminated without prejudice on Oct 20,1934. Recommended refill position on seasonal basis
Julia Dean	Carlsbad Caverns	Mar 30-Sep 3	Park Ranger (Registered Nurse), WAE	She married Carlsbad Caverns ranger Mike Graves on December 23, 1934. Rest of her nursing career spent in public schools
Frances Willis	Carlsbad Caverns		Per diem Guide (Nurse)?	Willis's obituary dates her start to the park as 1933. It's possible that she was hired on a per diem basis. More research is needed. She is also hired as later under her married name (Frances Hodnett)
Gay Rogers	Aztec Ruins	Jun 1-Aug 31	Park Ranger	Husband was a park custodian (deceased)
Mary Elizabeth “Betty” Yelm [P]	Mesa Verde	Jun 1-Oct 14	Museum Assistant	Probational appointment. Subject to furlough each year
Sallie Pierce	Montezuma Castle	Jan 5-?		Became Sallie Brewer when married NPS man
Gay Rogers	Aztec Ruins	Jun 1-Aug 31		Worked for NPS for a season after her husband killed himself
Jane Albritton	Hawai’i	Unknown	Park Ranger	Incorrectly cited as Hawaii’s first woman ranger (but misses Lydia Barrette in 1922). Need to verify dates.

1935

Table 6: 1935 Women Rangers

Name	Park	Dates	Official Title	Comments
Enid Michael	Yosemite	May 1-Sep 30	Seasonal Park Ranger-Naturalist
Virginia Sutton	Mesa Verde	Jun 10-Sep 8	Park Ranger
Mary Elizabeth “Betty” Yelm [P]	Mesa Verde	May 22-Oct 1	Museum Assistant	Returned to duty
Frances Willis	Carlsbad Caverns		Seasonal Park Ranger (Nurse)?	This is the first year that Willis appears in the park's protective force photograph. She is also hired as later under her married name (Frances Hodnett).

1936

Table 7: 1936 Women Rangers

Name	Park	Dates	Official Title	Comments
Enid Michael	Yosemite	Jun 1-Oct 2	Park Ranger (Naturalist)
Virginia Sutton	Mesa Verde	Jun 15-Sep 23	Park Ranger
Mary Elizabeth “Betty” Yelm [P]	Mesa Verde	May 15-Sep 29	Museum Assistant	Returned to duty
Frances Hodnett	Carlsbad Caverns		Seasonal Park Ranger (Nurse)?	Formerly Frances Willis.
Inez Alvey	Carlsbad Caverns		Seasonal Park Ranger (Nurse)?

1937

Table 8: 1937 Women Rangers

Name	Park	Dates	Official Title	Comments
Enid Michael	Yosemite	Jun 1-Sep 2	Park Ranger (Naturalist)
Virginia Sutton	Colonial	Jul 1-Nov 5	Historian Park Ranger	Resigned without prejudice
Virginia Sutton [P]	Colonial	Dec 6-Dec 31	Jr. Park Archeologist	Appointment continued in 1938
Mary Elizabeth “Betty” Yelm [P]	Mesa Verde	May 16-Oct 25	Museum Assistant	Returned to duty
Marguerite "Rita" Walker	Carlsbad Caverns	May 16-?	Per diem Registered Nurse	Unclear how many hours she worked this year. See positions in subsequent years
Lucille White	Carlsbad Caverns	Jun 25-Sep?	Temporary Park Ranger (Nurse)

1938

Table 9: 1938 Women Rangers

Name	Park	Dates	Official Title	Comments
Enid Michael	Yosemite	May 19-Oct 10	Park Ranger (Naturalist)
Virginia Sutton [P]	Colonial	Jan 1-Sep 15	Jr. Park Archeologist
Virginia Sutton [P]	Colonial	Sep 16-Dec 31	Assistant Research Technician	Promotion; Appointment continued into 1939.
Mary Elizabeth “Betty” Yelm [P]	Mesa Verde	May 9-Oct 11	Museum Assistant	Returned to duty. Resigned submitted while on furlough on 1/17/1939 due to marriage
Marguerite “Rita” Walker	Carlsbad Caverns	Mar 13-?	Temporary Park Ranger (Nurse)?	Included in the 1938 protection force photo
Anita "Nita" Armstrong	Carlsbad Caverns	Apr 21-?	Temporary Park Ranger (Nurse)?	She was hired as a per diem nurse on Saturdays and Sundays beginning April 21, 1938. She was still working in August and is pictured in the 1938 Protection Force photo in uniform suggesting she got an appointment beyond the per diem work
Dickie Conoley	Carlsbad Caverns	Exact dates unknown	Temporary Park Ranger (Nurse)?	Also known as Elizabeth Walker, she was the sister of Rita Walker. Included in the 1938 protective force photo

1939

Table 10: 1939 Women Rangers

Name	Park	Dates	Official Title	Comments
Enid Michael	Yosemite	May 2-Oct 26	Park Ranger (Naturalist)
Virginia Sutton [P]	Colonial	Jan 1-Nov 26	Assistant Research Technician	Resigned without prejudice on 11/26/1939.
Jean McWhirt [P]	Mesa Verde	May 12-Oct 13	Museum Assistant	Probational appointment. Subject to furlough.
Georgia Akers	Aztec Ruins	Unknown		Photographed in uniform
Joyce Clubb	Aztec Ruins	Unknown		Photographed in uniform
Zelda Mae Abrams	Aztec Ruins	Unknown		Photographed in uniform
Marguerite "Rita" Walker	Carlsbad Caverns	May 20-Oct 31	Seasonal Park Ranger	Hired as as temporary nurse under emergency field agreement pending the appointment of a probational nurse from the Civil Service nurse register. That appointment ended August 18. The next day she was appointed via a field agreement to seasonal park ranger. Regular appointment approved and effective September 1. Kept on in September. Resigned her position October 31, 1939 (which likely just means that her season was over for the year). See also positions in the 1940s.
Myra Appell	Carlsbad Caverns	Aug 19-?	Seasonal Park Ranger (Nurse)	Initially hired August 19 via field agreement, pending receipt of appointment papers. Regular appointment approved September 1
Dickie Conoley	Carlsbad Caverns		Per diem Guide	Also known as Elizabeth Walker, sister of Rita Walker
Lizzie B. Harris	Carlsbad Caverns	July-?	Guide? (Nurse)

Explore More!

To learn more about women and the NPS Uniform, visit Dressing the Part: A Portfolio of Women’s History in the NPS.


This research was made possible in part by a grant from the National Park Foundation.