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 year 1968 saw a huge emblematic shakeup in the National Park Service as well as the Department of the Interior.

Prior to World War II, while there was a steady stream of hardy visitors that drove to the national parks, a large number visited the western parks by railroad. Even though the parks, for the most part remained open with reduced staffs during the war, [42] the hostilities and resultant restrictions on pleasure travel, cut visitation drastically. Some of the parks were even used as training grounds or rest areas, with Yosemite having a hospital for the wounded GIs.

During the War park appropriations were slashed to the bone. Ten years after the war they were still a million dollars below the 1940 level, even though a number of new parks had been established. The automobile had come into its own and visitation to the park system was up three-fold. Time and traffic were turning the nation's parks into a shambles, sanitation was deplorable and the other utilities were taxed to the utmost.

This was the park system confronting Conrad L. Wirth when he became NPS director in 1951. Wirth initiated a ten-year program in 1956, entitled Mission 66, to revitalize the parks. This was "a comprehensive, long-range program undertaken to assure the American people that their priceless heritage of national parks, monuments, and historic shrines would be developed in a manner in keeping with their greatness, yet fully protected for the enjoyment and inspiration of future generations." [43] Facilities and exhibits showing the history and rationale of the parks were standardized. The target date for the completion of these improvements was 1966, the fiftieth Anniversary of the National Park Service.

These two emblems were designed by Chermayeff & Geismar, Associates, New York. The top one was used in an exhibit entitled PARKSCAPE designed to celebrate the NPS' 50th Anniversary and completion of MISSION 66 in 1966. Director Hartzog attempted to replace the arrowhead with this emblem. Secretary Udall adopted the bottom emblem as the new Department of the Interior seal in 1968. Both proved to be very unpopular in the field and only lasted until 1969. NPSHC-HFC RG Y55

An exhibit entitled PARKSCAPE was erected in 1966 to celebrate the Service's birthday. This exhibit featured a conservation logo designed by Chermayeff and Geismar Associates, a well known New York design firm. It consisted of three triangles enclosing three balls. The former represented trees and mountains and the latter cultural remains. The same firm later designed a new seal for Interior with which Secretary Stewart L. Udall later supplanted the buffalo.

Following closely on the heels of Mission 66, Director George B. Hartzog, Jr. (1964-1972) came forth with a new agenda titled Parkscape U.S.A. One of it's facets was the upgrading and modernization of the image of the National Park Service image. Hartzog had become enamored with the logo used in the Parkscape exhibit and adopted it for his new program.

Hartzog used the occasion of an article in the July, 1966 National Geographic about the National Park System to launch his new program. At the time he assured employees that the Parkscape symbol would supplement rather than supplant the arrowhead.

However, when Secretary Udall adopted the new Interior seal in 1968, Hartzog seized the opportunity to replace the arrowhead with the Parkscape symbol. With the buffalo gone from the Interior seal, he rationalized, the arrowhead with its buffalo was no longer relevant. Field reaction to this move was unenthusiastic. The representational arrowhead was far better liked than the abstract Parkscape symbol.

Nevertheless, boards were made up by Chermayeff & Geismar showing how the new symbol would look on various articles of clothing, as well as on vehicles and signs.

Design boards made by Chermayeff & Geismar to illustrate the appearance of the new emblem on the National Park Service ranger uniform. Two styles were proposed. NPSHC-HFC RG Y55

When these uniform drawings were shown around, the favorite response seemed be that they would make the ranger look like a "Trekkie." [44]

On March 3, 1969, Acting Director Edward Hummel sent a memorandum to all regional directors ordering the removal of the arrowhead shoulder patch. "In keeping with the Director's desire to act positively on field suggestions, it has been decided that effective June 1, 1969, Service emblem shoulder and cap patches will not be worn on any National Park Service garments," he wrote.

However, before this unpopular directive could be implemented, Secretary Walter J. Hickel reinstated the buffalo seal. Hartzog thereupon reinstated the arrowhead as the official NPS emblem and continued its use as a patch in a memorandum dated May 15, 1969. Perhaps as a gesture to the few supporters of the Parkscape symbol, he simultaneously ordered its retention as the official NPS tie tack.

Since then the arrowhead has continued to be worn on the uniform and to enjoy strong acceptance among Service employees.

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