Cover Page

Preface

Introduction

Ironing Out the Wrinkles

Photofile

Bibliography

Notes

Appendix A

National Park Service Uniforms Ironing Out the Wrinkles 1920-1932	Number 3
Ironing Out the Wrinkles (continued)

First official rendering of the 1928 pattern National Park Service uniform. This drawing was made during the controversy concerning the changing of the collar ornaments. At that time, the shield shaped ornament had the inside track, or at least the draftsman apparently thought so, since he incorporated that style into the drawing. NPSHC-HFC/RG Y55

Official drawing of the National Park Service Uniform, 1928. This drawing was approved by Acting Director Arno B. Cammerer on December 31, 1928. NPSHC - HFC/RG Y55

Minor Raymond Tillotson, superintendent, Grand Canyon National Park 1927-1939. Tillotson also served as Director of the Southwest Region 1940-1955. He served on a number of Uniform Committees. National Archives / 79-SM-48

The 1928 regulations were considerably different from those of 1923. Not only was there only one uniform for the Service, the only people authorized to wear badges were the superintendents, custodians, and rangers. With motorcycles coming into use in the parks, special clothing was designated for the use of those rangers. Perhaps the biggest change, other than the officer system, was the elimination of the sleeve insignia for all but the rangers. Since the matter of the collar ornament was still up in the air, the regulations specified only that this insignia be the "standard Park Service device."

The question was broached again as to what kinds of service counted for the length-of-service stripes. Superintendent Minor R. Tillotson of Grand Canyon felt that any service within the parks, no matter in what capacity, should count. Cammerer's reply laid this to rest: "I am sure the only tenable ground is to allow stripes for service in the National Park service only, as a member of such Service. To do otherwise would be confusing, and not fair to those who have actually spent the greatest number of years in the Service. It could not be argued that if one of us were to go into the army we would have service stripes for 25 or 30 years Government service outside of the army recognized. The same should hold in our organization." [25]

In December 1928 Tomlinson forwarded to the director's office for approval a revised copy of the uniform drawing. Copies were made and distributed to the field offices and the various uniform manufacturers. Along with the information pertaining to the uniform was a rendering of the ensemble.

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