Cover Page

Preface

Introduction

In Search of an Identity

Photofile

Bibliography

Notes

Appendix A

Appendix B

Appendix C

National Park Service Uniforms In Search of an Identity 1872-1920	Number 2
In Search of an Identity (continued)

Earnest Britten, c. 1900. Britten was ranger-in-charge at Sequoia National Park from 1900 until 1905 when he elected to go with the Forest Service, at which time Walter Fry was appointed to his position. NPSHPC - HFC/91-25

The year 1905 also saw the appearance of Walter Fry, one of the first new rangers after the separation and an early advocate of uniforming the ranger force. Fry transferred from Sequoia's construction department to the rangers. A few months later, because of his higher schooling, he was promoted to replace Ernest Britten, who had elected to go with the new Forest Service. This promotion made him ranger-in-charge during the summer and acting superintendent during the winter months when the Army was absent. [7]

Even after the departmental separation of the parks and the forest reserves, rangers in the parks still considered themselves forest rangers. Acting Secretary of the Interior Thomas Ryan sought to overcome this habit in an October 2, 1905, letter to Fry: "It is observed that in your official communications to the Department you designate yourself as a Forest Ranger. Such designation is erroneous, your official title being Park Ranger, and official papers should be signed that way." [8] Even so, the park rangers still thought of themselves as forest rangers for some time thereafter.

Continue

Last Modified: Wed, Dec 13 2000 11:30:00 pm PDT
http://www.cr.nps.gov/history/online_books/workman2/vol2c4.htm