Cover Page

Preface

Introduction

The Developing Years

Photofile

Bibliography

Notes

Appendix A

Appendix B

Appendix C

National Park Service Uniforms The Developing Years 1932-1970	Number 5
The Developing Years (continued)

Fort McHenry National Monument, Interpreting history with children, 1950's. This ranger is wearing the soft cap sans coat that was authorized for hot eastern parks. NPSHPC-WASO-R-681

There were a number of changes to the new uniforms, the majority of which effected mainly the standard uniform. The new standard uniform now consisted of:

Hats - The standard hat and cap remained the same, with the sun helmet becoming standard in those areas wearing the new "sun-tan" uniform.

Coat - The coat was now to be belted, with a bellows back and only three buttons; patch pockets (without bellows); two pleated breast pockets; back vent was to extend up to the belt; all outside pockets to have flaps fastened with small Service buttons; similar in style to the naval aviators' working uniform. Coat was to be made from 16 to 22-ounce forestry green elastique cloth, except in hot climates where conditions required a lighter weight uniform for comfort. Then 12-ounce gabardine or tropical worsted cloth could be used. Padding and sleeve lining were to be eliminated in the lighter coats.

Trousers - Trousers were to be of the standard "field cut" as used by officers of the armed forces, without cuffs. Drawing shows them to be the same as previously worn, with the exception of the cuffs and the back pocket flaps being rounded instead of scallop-cut. Materials were to be the same as the coat.

Breeches & boots - Breeches and boots were eliminated as uniform articles with Amendment No. 2 on July 3, 1947. Employees possessing these articles were allowed to wear them "so long as they are serviceable and presentable," but no new ones were to be ordered. (This was not entirely true, rangers that patrolled on horse back still wore these)

Shoes, shirt, tie, overcoat and raincoats remained the same.

The "Death Valley" uniform was now classified as the "sun-tan" uniform and the regional director could authorize it to be worn in "any area administered by the National Park Service in which the summer temperatures are extreme". Each application to wear the special summer uniform was to be scrutinized very carefully by the regional directors to make sure there was sufficient justification. All uniformed employees of a given area were to be uniformly attired. The only change in the regulations governing this uniform was the change of the material name from "sand tan" to "sun-tan." The fatigue and winter sports patrol uniforms remained the same as before.

The new regulations included new badges covering everything that had been suggested up until the uniform committee had been disbanded in 1942. These included different badges for: superintendent, assistant superintendent, chief ranger, ranger, park warden, park guard, and park guide. Superintendent and assistant superintendent remained the same, and while the others retained the same design, they were now oxidized silver plated brass, instead of nickel-silver, except for chief ranger, which was gold plated brass. The plating must have been very thin, since all those examined show considerable wear over the high relief.

These five badges were authorized by the 1947 Uniform Regulations. Superintendents and Asst. Superintendents retained the small round badge in gold and nickel-plate, respectively, previously in use. The chief ranger badge was gold plated and the others were silver plated with an oxidized finish. All used brass as the base metal. Left to right: Chief ranger; Ranger; Park Warden; Park Guard; Park Guide NPSHC

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Last Modified: Wed, Feb 7 2001 11:30:00 pm PDT
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