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)

The 1961 regulations condensed the seven current badges to three: superintendent, rangers, and other uniformed personnel requiring a badge. Gone were the small round badges of the superintendent and assistant superintendent. Instead theirs and the ranger badges were of the same design, with the former being gold filled and the latter oxidized sterling silver. Sterling silver had been used to alleviate the unsightly appearance presented when the plating wore off the brass as before. Both had NATIONAL PARK RANGER on the top. Chief rangers now utilized the same badge as the rangers.

These 3 badges were authorized by the 1961 Uniform Regulations, although they probably began to be issued in 1960. They replaced the 7 styles being used at that time by rangers in the NPS. While at first glance they appear to be the same design as those issued previously, there are subtle differences. Left to right: Superintendent & Asst. Superintendents (gold filled); Rangers (oxidized sterling silver); All other NPS personnel requiring a badge (oxidized sterling silver) NPSHC-HFCA Y55

The third badge only had NATIONAL PARK SERVICE on the top and was used to replace all of the other badges utilized by uniformed personnel requiring this insignia.

At first glance, the new badges appeared to be the same as those previously used. However, now the eagle faced to the right and the circle surrounding it read UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR instead of NATIONAL PARK SERVICE/DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR.

Department of the Interior Length-of-Service pins. All of the pins have a bronze finish with a colored enamel background. 10 years-white; 20 years-red; 30 years-blue; 40 years-green; 50 years-black NPSHC

The new regulations were approved in November, 1959, but were not released to the field until December 2, 1959, becoming effective on January 1, 1961. All of the above badges were probably introduced in the interim year.

Some of the uniform ornamentation came in for change as well. Even with the new star panels, the sleeves of the older employees had a very cluttered appearance. So it was decided to eliminate all current National Park Service length-of-service decorations and replace them with a lapel pin used by the Department of the Interior. This pin came in ten-year increments with each advance having a different color as well as numerical designation. (10 = white, 20 = red, 30 = blue, etc.)

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