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)

A year later Acting Superintendent George Allen of Mount Rainier National Park started a long correspondence with the secretary's office concerning uniforms in the park. Allen thought it "desirable that the Rangers at Longmire Springs should be provided with a suitable uniform." If there was not an authorized uniform, could the rangers purchase their own? He figured that because the rangers in the adjacent Rainier National Forest were not uniformed, there would not be any confusion if they purchased Forest Service uniforms and simply changed the buttons, although "an entirely different design would be preferable." [19]

Assistant Secretary Jesse E. Wilson replied that "upon investigation of the matter in the spring of 1908, the weight of opinion of superintendents or employees as to the advisability of prescribing a uniform for general use was found to be against such a course." He said that forcing rangers to purchase uniforms would work an unnecessary hardship on them when the "National Park Service" badge was sufficient identification for "National Park Service employees" and that "no adoption of a uniform for the National Park employees is contemplated at this time." [20] (Wilson's interpretation of field opinion on the subject was clearly questionable.)

It is interesting to note that around this time, as evidenced by Wilson's letter, "national park service" was being used in reference to Interior employees working in the parks even though there was no such official organization.

Forest Service button, 1907. This is the type button worn on uniforms purchased by Sequoia rangers prior to the Department authorizing an official uniform in 1911. Private Collection

Walter Fry was not deterred by the lack of departmental support. Beginning with the 1909 season, the rangers at Sequoia and General Grant began purchasing and wearing "ready-made suits" of "Forestry worsted wool cloth, military cut; also olive drab wool shirts and regulation Stetson hats" from the Fechheimer Brothers Company, and Regal Shoe Company pigskin leggings for patrol duty plus "denim garments" for fatigue. [21] A portrait taken around 1910 of Karl Keller, one of the rangers at Sequoia, shows him wearing a uniform coat with what was termed the English convertible collar, complete with Forest Service buttons and a sprig of sequoia on his sleeve. The only insignia shown is an Army-style U.S. on the left lapel running parallel with the collar. At first it was thought that this was possibly an example of the more casual style (versus the military) of the 1909 Forest Service coat, especially because it was of "forestry" green wool, had Forest Service buttons, and was purchased from the company that furnished Forest Service uniforms. But upon comparison with the order forms from the Fechheimer Brothers Company, the supplier of Forest Service uniforms, it was found not to conform to their drawings. (It had upper pockets and different pocket flaps, among other variances in details.) It probably was a standard design of some kind, but because the picture shows only from the top of the upper pockets, it is impossible to determine what the rest of the coat looked like or its origin. There is always the possibility that it was an original design, but that is doubtful.

Karl Keller, 1910. Ranger in Sequoia NP, 1908-1917?. Keller is wearing one of the uniforms purchased by the rangers in Sequoia prior to one being authorized by the Interior Secretary. Note U.S. on collar, Forest Service buttons and sprig of Sequoia on sleeve. Photograph given to Lawrence F. Cook by Keller's daughter, Erma Tobin. NPSHPC - Hammond photo - HFC/WASO-D-726A

Continue

Last Modified: Wed, Dec 20 2000 11:30:00 pm PDT
http://www.cr.nps.gov/history/online_books/workman2/vol2c7.htm