National Park Service National Park Service Uniforms Badges and Insignia, 1894-1991

The first tie ornaments were authorized on February 13, 1956. Amendment No. 12 to the 1947 uniform regulations states, "If a tie clasp is used the National Park Service emblem tie clasp is suggested." This first Service tie clasp consisted of a hidden bar with a chain looped over the tie and a small arrowhead emblem, in gold or silver, suspended from the middle of the chain. This was only a suggestion, and photo graphs show that a lot of employees used plain chain ornaments as well as bars. As fashion changed, so did the ornaments. The arrowhead was next put on a bar, then a tie tack. One did not necessarily succeed the previous style. In 1965 all three were available from Balfour Supply Service, Inc.

1956 OPTIONAL TIE CLIP Gold or silver
Late 1950s OPTIONAL TIE BAR Gold or silver

The 1961 uniform regulations still listed tie ornaments as optional, although now it was specified that if one were worn, it would be the "official National Park Service silver (gold for superintendents) tie tack."

1961 FIRST OFFICIAL NPS TIE TACK Superintendents tie tacks were gold, rangers silver

As stated previously under badges, in January 1962 a silver "tie tack style" substitute badge with a pin back was authorized as an option for women employees, in lieu of the regulation badge.

1962 WOMEN'S ARROWHEAD PIN Issued to women "in lieu of badge" Nickel-plated, pin back

In late 1963, authorization was given for the wearing of enameled tie tacks, instead of the plain gold or silver. These were of gold or silver with a multi-colored enamel fill. Superintendents were to designate which was to be worn in their areas so the entire staff would be uniform. [66] In 1964, V. H. Blackinton and Co. began making these tie tacks in "HiGlo" (enamel) and "Rhodium" (enamel) for $2.25 and $2.50, respectively.

1963 ARROWHEAD TIE TACK Authorized to be worn by all uniformed employees Superintendent had the option of specifying gold or silver trim

As noted previously, when the attempt to replace the arrowhead with the Parkscape symbol was abandoned in 1969, the latter was retained for the official tie tack. In gold and green enamel, it remained in use until 1974.

1966 PARKSCAPE USA TIE TACK, SILVER
1969 OFFICIAL NPS UNIFORM TIE TACK Parkscape emblem, gold with green enamel
1973 U.S. FLAG COLLAR ORNAMENT Authorized by Director Ron Walker for all NPS personnel Gold-colored, with enameled center

In 1972 a new symbol was introduced for the National Park System Centennial. This stylized geyser emblem saw much wear in the form of a pin. There were also several environmental programs underway at the time with various symbols, not all of which were authorized for wear on the uniform. The American Revolution Bicentennial followed with more symbols adapted to tie tacks, pins, and other ornaments. Service uniforms were becoming very cluttered. After the Bicentennial fanfare was over, reaction set in and the uniform was stripped of extraneous paraphernalia. Only the basics were retained: collar ornaments, badge, arrowhead patch and tie tack. The uniform remains in this condition today, although pins for special occasions such as the Service's 75th anniversary in 1991 are still periodically authorized.

1976 AMERICAN BICENTENNIAL LAPEL PIN Gold-colored, with enabled center
1976 AMERICAN BICENTENNIAL TIE TACK Gold-plated, with enameled ribbon on top
1980s OFFICIAL NPS UNIFORM TIE TACK Gold-plated
1991 OFFICIAL NPS 75th ANNIVERSARY PIN Gold-colored metal back with plastic face