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)

Thomas J. Allen, superintendent, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, 1928-1931. Image appears to have been taken when he was either chief ranger or assistant superintendent at Rocky Mountain National Park. NPSHPC - Thomas J. Allen Collection - ROMO/911

In November 1930 Superintendent Thomas Allen of Hawaii National Park suggested that the Service authorize bow ties to be worn with the uniform. He thought that they were "more practical and present a neater and more consistent appearance with park uniforms." He stated that it was hard to find green ties and unless everyone bought from the same store and batch, each one was a different shade. "Here in Hawaii men discard their coats a great deal and it is the custom of a great proportion of them to wear bow ties," he continued. "I find the reasons for this to be that ready tied bows are always neat, there are no ends to flap in a breeze, and they are cheaper than four-in-hands. My impression now is that a standard ready tied green bow would be an improvement in the appearance of park uniforms."

Allen's bow tie suggestion was apparently not pursued, but others shared his concern about the lack of uniformity in ties. "We have green ties prescribed, but I have been in parks where a Superintendent, upon meeting me, wore a red tie with his uniform, making an utterly ridiculous appearance," Cammerer wrote Tomlinson in 1928. A later photograph shows a ranger wearing a tie with small white polka dots on it.

As 1931 began, the push was on to finalize the designs for the new collar ornaments and badges so that they could be issued for the upcoming season. Tomlinson had submitted four designs for the new ranger badge and four designs for a new employee identification badge with a letter of December 6, 1930, to the director's office. Design number 4, favored by the uniform committee, would have a serial number and the name of the park. The numbering of the badges would make them cost more and take longer to produce. The badge was slightly smaller than the current one, and Cammerer thought it should be larger. He wished to have two or three alternate sizes prepared to facilitate the decision, including samples with the buffalo rather than the eagle.

These questions caused Director Albright to decide that the present badge would be continued for the coming season. The existing collar ornaments were also kept in the absence of "inspiration" leading to "something really appropriate." The employee identification badges were held in abeyance for reasons of cost.

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

More parks were being created in the East where the weather was hot and humid during the summer season. The regulation wool uniform with breeches and puttees was totally unsuited for this climate. The 1931 season brought with it a considerable correspondence requesting relief for the rangers assigned to these areas. The breeches and puttees seemed the most objectionable. Most agreed that long trousers, cotton shirts, and some sort of lightweight headgear would be the most appropriate. Materials such as gabardine, white linen, and a khaki-type cotton dyed forest green were suggested. That July, Acting Associate Director Demaray asked the uniform committee to "consider some modification of the uniform regulations that will permit the use of a uniform that would be reasonable for the hot midsummer climate of the East."

Asst. Park Naturalist Yeager, 1931. Yellowstone National Park. Apparently, only rangers were required to wear the full uniform when coming in contact with the public. NPSHPC - YELL/130,185

Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming - Ranger Wayne Replogle, Tower Junction, 1932. Replogle is shown displaying a set of elk horns on his motorcycle at Tower Junction. He is also wearing the motorcycle cap authorized in the 1928 Uniform Regulations. NPSHPC - YELL

The committee offered two solutions to this dilemma: "First, a uniform coat and trousers made of cotton material similar to the khaki used for army and marine corp [sic] uniforms; and second, a coat and trousers made of very light weight forestry serge." For a hat it suggested a lighter weight version of the present hat or "a cap similar in style to the English army officers' cap made of the same material as the summer uniform." Tomlinson went on to say that "in case a summer uniform is adopted for those parks where climatic conditions make it desirable, . . . all members of the organization should be required to wear the same type uniform and . . . no park or monument [should] be permitted to wear anything but the present prescribed uniform except on specific approval of the Director. [29]

Asst. Chief Ranger LaNouse and Ranger Phillip Martindale, 1932, Yellowstone National Park. Martindale is wearing the double-breasted "mackinaw type" overcoat authorized in the 1928 Uniform Regulations. NPSHPC - YELL/130,149

Acting Director Cammerer asked the committee to prepare a drawing and specifications for the proposed summer uniform with "a cotton material similar to khaki" in mind. The committee was to include the "English Army officer's" cap on the drawing. When "something concrete" was arrived at, the superintendents were to be polled in anticipation of there being a conference in the fall. If there was a conference, the uniform could be judged on the basis of the poll. Meanwhile the committee was to try to locate suitable materials. Because the summer was nearly over, Cammerer did not think that the Service should approve any revisions of the regulations until they were "carefully studied, recommended and approved in regular routine." [30]

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