Agate Fossil Beds Administrative History

Margaret C. Cook Donates the Collection, April 1968

On April 2, 1968, Mrs. Margaret C. Cook signed a bill of sale giving the priceless Cook Collection—Indian artifacts, wearing apparel, works of art, Western gun collection, and the paleontological library—to the National Park Service. The sane terms listed in the March 4, 1963, agreement transferring the collection to the vault at Scotts Bluff were still binding. [46]

The abrupt move was surprising, but intentional, coming on the heels of the unsuccessful acquisition negotiations with the heirs of her life estate. The Park Service welcomed the donation of the collection which was still in storage at Scotts Bluff, but dreaded its potential volume. The scope of the Cook materials far surpassed that which was locked in the vault at Scotts Bluff. Along with the paleontological library and Cook Papers Collection, Margaret C. Cook let it be known that the National Park Service would eventually own every item inside the Agate Springs Ranch House. A May 3 memorandum to Fred Fagergren captures Richard Holder's dilemma:

Mrs. Cook, when approached today, about donating the items without stipulations made it very clear that she expects all of the items of the original agreement to be binding upon us. She does not want any items of the Cook Collection to be transferred anywhere, anytime. She admits that certain items may well be surplus to our needs, but she leaves no doubt in our minds that she intends to be in on any decision, as it relates to a specific item.

Mrs. Cook has the mistaken idea (going back to her relationship with Superintendent Bob Jones) that there is: (1) a firm decision to preserve the house as a museum and (2) firm plans to exhibit in the house, each and every item the Cook family ever owned.

We attempt to dissuade her from this notion at every opportunity, but we are only partially successful. When I drink a cup of coffee at her house, I am often reminded that I'm using a National Park Service cup, because "everything I have is yours."

In retrospect, we believe it is unfortunate that certain verbal and written statements were made during the period of March 1962 to May 1963. This, however, is water under the bridge. We must now either:

(1) live with the situation, and store forever many, many items that do not relate to the story being told, or

(2) determine what we really want, and return the balance to the donor. I do not seriously suggest this course of action (as much as I'd like to). Mrs. Cook could probably react very negatively, and might even involve the Congressional Delegation. [47]

Mrs. Cook was so alarmed by the suggestion (from non-NPS sources) that the Cook Collection might be dispersed throughout the Park System that she made a deeply emotional appeal to Associate Director Howard Baker. Mrs. Cook received immediate assurances that the collection would be preserved under the terms of the 1963 agreement and the April 1968 bill of sale. [48]

Management Assistant Albert E. Werking took up residence at Agate on May 27, 1968, occupying one trailer while Seasonal Ranger William Taylor occupied the other. Werking's move from Scotts Bluff represented the first permanent onsite employee for management, protection, and interpretation of the area. Three days later, the temporary visitor information trailer opened on a year-round basis. The trailer complex was adjacent to the Agate Springs Ranch headquarters area (in front of ranch manager Bud Forsling's house) only until the utilities, access roads, and parking area were constructed at the interim headquarters site. Al Werking's tenure at Agate Fossil Beds was short-lived, however. On July 3, he was notified of his acceptance to a one-year administrative training course with the Canadian Service Commission's National and Historic Parks Branch in Ottawa. Werking left for Canada on July 17, and his position became vacant. With only seasonal assistance present at Agate, Holder contemplated closing the monument to visitors after Labor Day. [49]