Preliminary Inventory Of The Records Of The National Park Service
(Record Group 78)

Inventory

RECORDS OF THE UNITED STATES COMMISSION FOR THE CELEBRATION OF THE TWO HUNDRETH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BIRTH OF JOHN MARSHALL

John Marshall was born September 24, 1755. By a joint resolution of August 13, 1954 (68 Stat. 702), Congress designated September 1955 as "John Marshall Bicentennial Month" and established the United States Commission for the Celebration of the Two Hundredth Anniversary of the Birth of John Marshall to plan and carry out appropriate activities by the Federal Government.

There were 19 members of the Commission. The President of the United States, the President pro tempore of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives were ex officio members. The other members were appointed—eight by the President and four by each of the other ex officio members from their respective houses of Congress. Chief Justice Earl Warren served as Chairman and Conrad L. Wirth, Director of the National Park Service, as Executive Officer of the Commission. The members served without compensation other than reimbursement for their expenses.

The Commission encouraged and assisted community organizations, bar associations, schools and other groups throughout the United States in planning commemorative programs. It also prepared and issued publications and publicity material and cooperated with the Post Office Department in the issuance of a commemorative stamp.

The Commission expired on December 31, 1955. Until 1957, Edmond C. Gass, who had been administrative assistant for the Commission and who then served in a similar position for the Woodrow Wilson Centennial Celebration Commission, handled correspondence concerning the Commission. The records of the Commission were maintained by the Park Service.

325.CORRESPONDENCE AND OTHER RECORDS. 1955-57. 2 ft.

Arranged for the most part by subject or type of record. Some of the correspondence is arranged by groups of correspondents.

Included are letters received, copies of letters sent, memoranda, reports, minutes and agendas of meetings, programs, drafts of proposed publications, copies of publications, press releases, clippings, photographs, sample form letters, mailing lists, estimates and justifications, requisitions, and vouchers.

326.PHOTOGRAPHS. 1955. ca. 150 items. 2 in.

Photographic prints and negatives relating to Marshall and the Supreme Court, including portraits of Marshall and other Chief Justices. Many were intended for inclusion in publications, and many were reproduced from collections of the Library of Congress and other depositories.

RECORDS OF THE JAMESTOWN-WILLIAMSBURG-YORKTOWN CELEBRATION COMMISSION

By a joint resolution of August 13, 1953 (67 Stat. 576), Congress established the Jamestown-Williamsburg-Yorktown Celebration Commission to develop and execute plans for the celebration in 1957 of the 350^th anniversary of the founding of Jamestown, "the flowering of Colonial Virginia culture and statesmanship at Williamsburg on the eve of and during the Revolution," and the victory at Yorktown on October 19, 1781. The Commission consisted of six persons appointed by the President, two Members of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate, two Members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker, and the Director of the National Park Service (who served as executive officer). The President selected Robert V. Hatcher as Chairman of the Commission.

The Commission was organized on April 27, 1954. The Commission office was established at Williamsburg. Stanley W. Abbott, Superintendent of Colonial National Historical Park, was the first Administrative Director. He was replaced by Col. H. K. Roberts on November 23, 1954. Alonzo T. Dill began service as Assistant Administrative Director on February 22, 1955. Mr. Dill conducted most of the correspondence of the Commission.

The Virginia 350^th Anniversary Commission, established by the State, assumed principal responsibility for the events scheduled during 1957, particularly those of the 8-month-long Jamestown festival. The Federal Commission concentrated on historic preservation and interpretation. It cooperated with the State Commission and with the National Park Service ion historic reproductions, archeological studies, a publication and exhibition program, the microfilming of colonial records, and publicity work.

During 1958 the Commission's records were moved to Colonial National Historical Park. The Commission submitted its final reports on December 30, 1958. This reports was published, entitled The 350^th Anniversary of Jamestown. The records of the Commission for 1959 and 1960 relate chiefly to the distribution of the final report.

327.CORRESPONDENCE AND OTHER RECORDS. 1954-60. 6 ft.

Arranged for the most part alphabetically by subject and thereunder chronologically.

Included are letters received, copies of letters sent, minutes, reports, memoranda. lists, schedules, maps, plans, photographs, programs, brochures, copies of publications, press releases, and clippings.

RECORDS OF THE BATTLE OF NEW ORLEANS SESQUICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION COMMISSION

By a joint resolution of October 9, 1962 (76 Stat. 755), Congress established the Battle of New Orleans Sesquicentennial Celebration Commission to develop and execute plans for the observance of the 150^th anniversary of the Battle of New Orleans. The Commission consisted of six members appointed by the President, eight Members of the Senate, eight Members of the House of Representatives, and the Director of the National Park Service (who served as executive officer). The President designated Maj. Gen. Edward S. Bres (Ret.) as Chairman.

The Commission was organized on April 23, 1963. The Chairman took charge of work in Washington, D. C., and the Vice Chairman Martha G. Robinson, directed activities in New Orleans. The celebration was held January 1-8, 1965. The Commission also sold commemorative medals, published a series of booklets, and sponsored an essay contest for high school students.

The resolution establishing the Commission also authorized the Secretary of the Interior to acquire specified land for addition to Chalmette National Historical Park, the site of the battle. Before the celebration the Park Service undertook extensive restoration work in the park.

The Commission submitted its final report on November 30, 1965, but it maintained an office in Washington until April 1966. The report has been published under the title Battle of New Orleans Sesquicentennial Celebration, 1815-1965.

328. CORRESPONDENCE AND OTHER RECORDS. 1963-66. 1 ft.

The records are arranged for the most part alphabetically by subject and thereunder chronologically.

Letters received, copies of letters sent, minutes, memoranda, reports, lists, congressional bills, maps, plans, brochures, clippings, press releases, "Notes on the Establishment and Development of Chalmette National Historical Park" (compiled by Major General Bres), and other records maintained in the Washington office of the Commission. Some correspondence of Major General Bres for the years 1961-62 is included.

329."BACKGROUND FILES" OF EDWARD S. BRES. 1956-63. 2 in.

Arranged chronologically.

Letters received, copies of letters sent, congressional bills, maps. clippings, and other records of Major General Bres relating to the sesquicentennial and Chalmette National Historical Park.