Cover Page

Preface

Introduction

Breeches, Blouses, and Skirts

Photofile

Bibliography

Notes

Appendix A

Appendix B

Appendix C

National Park Service Uniforms Breeches, Blouses, and Skirts 1918-1991	Number 4
Breeches, Blouses, and Skirts (continued)

Dawn Baumstark, Fort Sumter National Monument, 22 May, 1995. Baumstark is wearing a new maternity "Jumper" and shirt. This is just one of the several styles of new maternity uniforms available to women now. NPSHPC - R. Bryce Workman photo - HFC#98-7

One of the things the women requested was a regulation maternity uniform. In the past, when these were ordered, they usually received a makeshift arrangement such as an extra large man's shirt and a pair of trousers with a stretch panel replacing the fly. Now, instead of looking like they were wearing their father's cast-off clothing, they had an attractive piece of wearing apparel that still denoted them as a ranger.

This crusade not only brought the women rangers parity with their male counterparts, but also had a direct effect on the Class A uniform coat worn by men. Up until now, the Service had dealt with two uniform suppliers. The one for men supplied traditional men's style uniforms, while the other furnished the more stylish garments for women, neither of which carried clothing for the other.

In 1980, R&R Uniforms was awarded the contract to furnish uniforms to both men and women in the National Park Service. The first item of business was to reconcile the size and cut of the various articles of clothing to fit the women. This didn't create a problem until it came to the dress coat. It wasn't thought that the large pleated pockets presented an appropriate appearance, especially on the more endowed women. Consequently, the coat was eliminated from the 1981 catalog while the company strived to create a style of coat that would look good on both sexes, while carrying on the traditional image.

This was resolved by removing both upper and lower patch pockets from the coat and substituting fake pockets consisting of only a pocket flap and button. The coat became available again the following year. This is the coat used today.

Women now had at their disposal all the same uniforms, and accessories as their male counterparts, in all its variations, as well as a couple of items denied the men, namely skirts and maternity uniforms.

As this sampling of uniforms from a R & R Uniform catalog of the 1980s shows, women could now fill their closet with uniforms to cover all occasions, just like the men. 1. Coat and trousers Class "A" dress uniform. 2. Parka for Class "A" uniform. 3. Cardigan sweater. 4. Reversible raincoat (Forest Green on one side, International Orange on reverse). 5. Maternity top and slacks. 6. Long sleeved shirt with skirt. 7. Twill work jacket and cap.

Last Modified: Wed, Dec 20 2000 11:30:00 pm PDT
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