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)

In 1929 it was decided to have a new badge made for the Service. One of the current ranger badges was forwarded to Chief Landscape Architect Vint for use in preparing the new design. The new badge was designed and a drawing (not found) was forwarded to the director through Tomlinson. Tomlinson's transmittal letter indicates that there were numbers on the face: "The number as seen on the drawing is not very clear on account of the stripes of the shield behind it. It is not believed that the same effect would be found when the design is worked upon metal as the stripes are of a different level than are the numerals and would be less conspicuous than they can be shown in a drawing." Cammerer's transmittal memorandum to Director Albright provides further details: "The design for the badge does not solve the problem. The arrangement provided for the service and department names under the eagle is decidedly amateurish, and has got to be rectified. Of course the desirability of the number accounts for such revision but Vint can do better than the part-circle arrangement. It could be better to have the carrying panels for these names go straight or obliquely across."

Three naturalists at First Chief Naturalist Conference, 1929. This image illustrates the 1928 pattern coat nicely. At this time, there wasn't a regulation covering the hatband. Hall is wearing the hatband, grosgrain, that probably came with the hat. Yeager's hatband appears to be made of fabric, while Harwell is sporting a tooled leather one, similar in configuration to that later adopted by the Service. Left to right: Ansel F. Hall; Dorr G. Yeager; C.A. "Bert" Harwell NPSHPC - CPR #B-126

Cammerer returned the design to Vint with the request that he make up a "half dozen" alternate designs and resubmit them to Tomlinson for his review. Cammerer also relayed Albright's suggestion that perhaps the buffalo from the new Interior Department seal could be used in place of the eagle. "I realize there is something emblematic of Federal authority in the use of the eagle, and the Director has not decided yet that the eagle should not be used," he wrote. "He would merely like you to study the possibility of using the buffalo."

When Tomlinson submitted the badge design to the director, he also included a sample leather hat band prepared by Vint from a design recommended by the uniform committee at the 1929 superintendents' conference at Yellowstone. This consisted of sequoia cones and foliage tooled onto a leather band secured at the left side by ring fasteners. The front had a blank space where the name of the park could be impressed if desired. The uniform committee recommended that "U.S.N.P.S." be used instead. Silver acorns were used as ring ornaments on the sample, but it was thought that sequoia cones would be more appropriate. [26]

Approved 1930 pattern National Park Service Hatband NPS Archives RG Y55

The hatband was approved by the director on January 16, 1930, and estimates were obtained from a manufacturer in San Francisco. The hatband with silver sequoia cone ornaments would cost about $2.00 when purchased in lots of 150 or more. It was decided that it would be most economical for the Service to purchase the die and loan it to the manufacturer when it was desired to have more hatbands made, as was done with the collar ornaments. Because hatbands would be paid for by the employees, they could retain them upon leaving the Service.

Arthur E. Demaray, 1933. Demaray was associate director for many years, finally becoming Director the last 8 months of 1951. NPSHPC - Grant photo - HFC/WASO #273

Because the Landscape Division was having trouble coming up with a satisfactory design for a new badge, Tomlinson, in response to an inquiry from Albright, suggested in March 1930 that the Service try to come up with enough old badges that could be repaired for the coming season. Not enough serviceable badges could be found to cover the parks, so the Service ordered 100 of the present style in June. These differed from the badges in service by being stamped in one piece rather than assembled from two pieces. This economy measure may have resulted from the daily expectation of a new design coming off the drawing board. [27]

A letter from Acting Director Arthur E. Demaray to Tomlinson indicates that ranger badges were then being issued to fire fighters:

Superintendent Eakin at Glacier has just sent in a request for thirty badges for use of the fire protection force during this season. We have only 24 of these badges on hand, of which we are sending him ten. This leaves us with only 14 of the nickel-plated badges on hand, although we have a few of the gold badges of the same design, the latter, however, being for use of the Chief Rangers.

We do not wish to re-order the old style unless absolutely necessary, but we may have to do this should the other parks desire to furnish them to their fire-fighting forces. [28]

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