Research and Education
in the National Parks

National Park Service Research and Education in the National Parks

PART II
HISTORY OF EDUCATIONAL MOVEMENT

HOW THE BRANCH OF RESEARCH AND EDUCATION OPERATES

Administrative activities of the Branch of Research and Education are centered in Washington. The assistant director in charge of the branch organizes and directs all matters pertaining to the conservation and interpretation of the natural phenomena in the national parks and monuments. In association with the two assistants of the branch, he coordinates the work within the office and the educational and research work in the field to assure economical and efficient administration and development.

Responsibility for the educational program rests with the administrative head of the park or monument in which the program is being conducted. The Branch of Research and Education determines all matters of general educational policy and is helpful in planning park educational work. The formulation of specific policies is left to the superintendent and the park naturalist. The organization of the ranger-naturalist staff and the execution of the educational program are duties of the park naturalist.

FIGURE 41.—Announcement of free Government naturalist service at Sprague Creek Camp Grounds, Glacier National Park.

In addition to administrative work, the Washington office educational staff prepares and revises scientific and historical literature dealing with the parks. The assistant director in charge of the Branch supervises the revision of material relating to biology. The assistant in charge of work relating to earth sciences digests special publications on the geology and physical features of the parks, coordinates all geological research projects and prepares useful scientific publications. The assistant in charge of historical and archeological developments coordinates research in these fields and organizes historical material for presentation to the park visitors.

The work of preparing speeches, radio talks, press releases, special magazine and newspaper articles, and maintaining contact with special organizations interested in park publicity is under the jurisdiction of the division of public relations, a section of the Branch of Research and Education. The activities of this division result in dissemination of accurate information regarding the Park Service and the educational work. This division also edits the various park information circulars, scientific bulletins, and special Park Service booklets. With but few exceptions, all this material is published by the Government Printing Office, Washington, D. C.

FIGURE 42.—The historic Moore House in the Colonial National Monument area, Yorktown, Va. The photograph was taken following the 1931 restoration. On October 18, 1781, the American, French, and British commissioners met in this house and drew up the articles of surrender for Cornwallis' Army, thus bringing the Revolutionary war to a successful conclusion.

Recent educational developments have awakened interest in the national parks to such a degree that it has been necessary to materially increase the scope of the publications. Information circulars are being constantly revised and brought up to date and the scientific material is receiving special attention. A series of scientific booklets is being prepared. This task will require several years, but it is hoped that eventually there will be a complete set of educational booklets for each national park. The subjects covered will include geology, biology, archeology, history, and geography. Each booklet will be well illustrated, short, and authoritative, the information being secured through careful research by well-known scientists and members of the Park Service research staff. It is anticipated that this series of scientific booklets will supplement the field-naturalist activities and will fill a definite need in the educational program not only in the parks but throughout the country.

Demand for slides, photographs, and motion pictures has increased tremendously in the past years, with the result that the loan service has been greatly augmented. Visual education material available for free public distribution in 1931 amounted to 2,200 slides (all of them colored), 8,000 photographs, and 31 reels of motion-picture film.

Sound pictures are being requested by schools, clubs, and various organizations throughout the country, desiring to feature the national parks in their programs. It is hoped that funds will be provided for the production and distribution of such distinctly educational films.

The recent transfer of George A. Grant, the official park photographer, from field headquarters to the Washington office should operate to make the photographic department far more valuable to the Service and the public. Mr. Grant has secured several thousand excellent negatives of the parks and is contributing much to the visual-education program.

In developing this work, the public utility operators of the parks materially assisted by donating the sum of $5,000 to be used in purchasing necessary equipment and supplies and for defraying the salary expenses of a clerk to assist in the upkeep of this material. The Service has arranged to continue the work which the operators made possible.

Through the generosity of Dr. Frank R. Oastler, the Service has acquired numerous excellent motion pictures and colored slides of wild animals in the parks. As a result of combined effort there is now available a fine collection of negatives and prints of the chief scenic features and points of educational interest in the parks and monuments.

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Last Modified: Sat, Feb 16 2002 10:00:00 pm PDT
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