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 Service had expanded rapidly during the previous decade, in both territory and personnel. The matter of uniforms had become so complicated that at the superintendent's January conference it was recommended "that the whole matter of uniforms for Service personnel be studied by the Uniform Committee and a complete report thereon be submitted to the next conference."

It was further determined that the five man uniform committee was no longer adequate and that the committee should comprise Chief of Operations Hillory A. Tolson from Washington and two superintendents or assistant superintendents from each of the Service's four regions: Lemuel A. Garrison of Hopewell Village National Historic Site and Lawrence C. Hadley of Acadia National Park from Region I; David H. Canfield of Rocky Mountain National Park and Charles J. Smith of Grand Teton National Park from Region II; John S. Mclaughlin of Mesa Verde National Park and Hugh M. Miller of Southwestern National Monuments from Region III; and Earnest P. Leavitt of Crater Lake National Park and Guy Hopping of , Kings Canyon National Park from Region IV. The committee members were to canvas their respective regions and submit recommendations for uniform changes to Uniform Committee Chairman John C. Preston, superintendent at Lassen Volcanic National Park. [19]

Lemuel A. "Lon" Garrison. This image was taken in 1957 when he was superintendent of Yellowstone National Park. Garrison later became Uniform Committee Chairman before being appointed a Regional Director. Courtesy Haynes, Inc. #57044

At the conference there was an element that considered the uniform inappropriate in its present form for a "seashore or maritime site, an historical mansion or some of the recreational demonstration areas." Most, however, thought that the uniform was suitable for all of the National Parks and should not be "tinkered" with. Lemuel Garrison considered the "function of the uniform" to be "two fold--first to provide decent presentable work clothing, and second, to identify the wearer as a Park Service employee. With the far flung range of present Service areas, the visitor who has been to Olympic should be able to recognize immediately the same uniform if worn in the Everglades" and "will recognize that the areas are all under the same administration". [20]

This was a reaffirmation of the original principles upon which Horace Albright and Dusty Lewis had pushed for uniforming the Service.

In 1941, several guide positions were established at Carlsbad Caverns and Mammoth Cave national parks and the uniform committee was requested to consider issuing a "Park Guide" badge for them. Acting Director Hillory A. Tolson felt that since the uniform regulations now covered "badges of similar design for "park ranger", "park warden" and "park guard" . . . we should have a badge with the words "Park Guide"..."

Taking this request under advisement, the uniform committee decided that since the other positions were authorized specific badges for their positions, the guides should have their own badge as well and recommended that the regulations be changed to reflect this. [21]

Even though the above was authorized, there is some doubt as to it ever being implemented. Pearl Harbor may have interrupted the process since there are no known examples of a "Guide Badge" struck in the style of badge then being used.

As the year progressed, there was considerable debate over exactly what changes to the uniform should be made, if any. In addition to the men's uniform question, there was also one concerning women. Fechheimer Brothers Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, had submitted a series of sketches of proposed uniforms for the women in the Park Service. It is not known whether these were requested by the Service or just a bit of entrepreneurship on the part of Fechheimer. Even though women employees in certain positions such as guides and historic aides were wearing a uniform of sorts, the official NPS uniform regulations did not cover these.

Standard uniforms, 1941. Custodians Lombard, Joyner, Mattes and Superintendent Canfield display their uniforms while attending the First Annual Rocky Mountain National Park Conference. The custodians are wearing the standard dress uniform with either breeches or trousers, while Canfield has on his ski outfit. Left to right: Jess H. Lombard, Fort Laramie National Monument; Newell F. Joyner, Devils Tower National Monument; Merrill J. Mattes, Scotts Bluff National Monument; David H. Canfield, Rocky Mountain National Park NPCHPC-Humberger Photo-ROMO#11-5-1-18

Recommendations from the field were many and varied. These suggestions, some of which were very credible, covered just about all aspects of ranger wear. For example: Coat should be less military; there should be special fire fighting clothing; wider use of hat; wider use of cap; lightweight cotton summer uniforms; badges of solid metal, not plated since plating wore off; discontinue using the USNPS collar insignia; embroider "National Park Service" on cloth and sew to coat [sounds familiar]; select an excellent uniform supplier because now when an employee orders a new uniform he usually "gets fits but not a fit." The majority seemed to center on ranger comfort, either material weight (depending on park), or cut. [22]

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