Research and Education
in the National Parks

National Park Service Research and Education in the National Parks

PART II
HISTORY OF EDUCATIONAL MOVEMENT

BRANCH OF RESEARCH AND EDUCATION IS ESTABLISHED

Acting upon the above recommendations of the Educational Advisory Board and the Committee on Study of Educational Problems in National Parks, the Park Service established a Branch of Research and Education in Washington to coordinate the various educational phases of park work. Accordingly, on July 1, 1930, Dr. Harold C. Bryant, a biologist, was appointed assistant director , in charge of all educational activities, and Dr. Wallace W. Atwood, Jr., assistant in charge of work relating to the earth sciences. A year later Verne E. Chatelain was appointed assistant in charge of historical and archeological developments, thus rounding out the Washington office educational personnel as it was originally conceived by the advisory board.

With this recognition of park educational work and the completion of the individual studies within the parks, the main work of the Educational Committee was completed and the group disbanded February 21, 1931.

In the same year Dr. John C. Merriam, chairman of the Advisory Board since its establishment, resigned his position and membership on the board due to increased work in other activities. Dr. Hermon C. Bumpus was appointed to the chairmanship and shortly there after Dr. Waldo G. Leland was selected to fill the vacancy caused by Dr. Merriam's resignation. The board continues to function, meeting at least once annually to consider park educational problems, to make recommendations relative to those problems presented by the Director of the National Park Service, and to report on field studies conducted by its members.

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Last Modified: Sat, Feb 16 2002 10:00:00 pm PDT
http://www.cr.nps.gov/history/online_books/bryant-atwood/resedu2d.htm