National Park Service National Park Service Uniforms In Search of an Identity, 1872-1920

Here are a couple more images purported to be Harry Yount.

North from Berthoud Pass, Colorado, 1874. Photograph was taken during the 1874 Hayden Geological Survey by William Henry Jackson. It is one of Jackson's most famous images, but unfortunately he failed to identify the individual. However, it has been passed down through the years as Harry Yount. Yount was a guide on the expedition and would have been at the site when the photograph was taken. National Archives/NA 57-HS-526

Harry Yount, Hunter, c. 1880's. This image is also purported to be Harry Yount. NPSHPC - (YELL) - HFC/91-24

Soldiers starting out on patrol, Yosemite National Park, c. 1890's. NPSHPC - YOSE/7933

Beginning with the hiring of civilian rangers in 1898, to patrol the parks, the military was phased out. However, the Army remained in Yellowstone National Park until the formation of the National Park Service in 1916.

Soldiers at Soldier Station, Yellowstone National Park, 1888. NPSHPC - HFC/91-34

Troop "I", 4th US Cavalry at "General Grant", Giant Forest, Sequoia National Park, c. 1890's. NPSHPC - HFC/92-30

The Fallen Monarch with Troop F, Sixth Cavalry, U.S.A., Mariposa Big Tree Grove, California, 1899. This is located in Yosemite National Park. NPSHPC - YOSE/WML 230
Four Swaties going fishing, Yellowstone. 8/24/1902. "Swaties" was apparently a term used to describe soldiers in the park. NPSHPC - YELL/65,367	Soldier on horseback, Yellowstone, c. 1910. NPSHPC - YELL/65,323

Soldier Station at Soda Butte, 1905. Here are soldiers clowning around at their Yellowstone National Park Station NPSHPC - YELL/1488

L.A. Myrick, c. 1900. Myrick is shown on duty at Battlement Mesa Reserve, when the reserves were still under the Department of the Interior. At this time, the men that worked in the parks and the reserves were called "Forest Rangers". Courtesy of the Forest Service / 12299

Soldiers in woodpile at Fort Yellowstone, Yellowstone National Park, c. 1910. NPSHPC - YELL/65,381

Machine gun squad at Mammoth, Yellowstone, c. 1911. NPSHPC - YELL/65,326

Rangers at Sequoia National Park, c. 1902. This is a companion shot of one with the rangers dismounted. NPSHPC - SEQU/101.03

c. 1902. Ranger Lew Davis (2nd from left) with other men (temporary rangers?) at a fallen giant in General Grant National Park. General Grant is now part of Sequoia National Park. National Archives / RG-48-R51-7A-9

Dedication of the Odd Fellows Tree in "Giant Forest, Sequoia National Park, 1905. Left to Right: (?); (?); (?); Harry Britten; Ernest Britten; Milo Decker (on ladder); Walter Fry; (?). NPSHPC - HFC/36	William Frank Arant, 1910, superintendent 1902-1913, Crater Lake National Park. This picture postcard was taken at Anna Creek Falls. NPSHPC - CRLA - B.B. Bakowski photo - HFC/91-21
William Frank Arant, (superintendent 1902-1913), and Henry Momyer, Crater Lake National Park, 1908. Photograph was taken at time of rescue of Mrs. Coperthwaite and Anna Haight, who had become lost and spent the night in the woods near the Kerr Notch area. NPSHPC - CRLA - Dewey Huffman photo - HFC/91-17

Harry Trisam, park scout, Yellowstone National Park, 1910. Scouts (rangers) did not wear uniforms at Yellowstone until after the formation of the National Park Service in 1916. NPSHPC - George Petrach photo - HFC/71-45-2

Here is another photo of Joe Cosley, 1910. Taken prior to his receiving his new 1911 uniform. NPSHPC - GLAC/HPF#1989

Five rangers of the Grand Canyon Station winter patrol, Yellowstone National Park, 1911. NPSHPC - George Petrach photo - HFC/91-35

Soldiers and guide at Silvan Pass Station, Yellowstone National Park, 1912. Left to Right: Miller & Krebs, Troop E, 1st U.S. Cavalry; Carl Sorenson, guide; Roy (Tex) Wisdom; 1st Cavalry; Denny Start, trapper (dressed in Tex's Army uniform). NPSHPC - George Petrach photo - HFC/93-403

Crater Lake National Park headquarters at Annie Spring, c. 1908. William Frank Arant, 1908, superintendent 1902-1913, is at left. Courtesy of the Oregon Historical Society / OrHi 87263

William Gladstone Steel, superintendent, 1913-1916. Standing in front of the superintendent's office at Crater Lake National Park, 1915. Courtesy of Klamath County Museum

William Gladstone Steel, superintendent, 1913-1916, and Henry Momyer. Greeting visitors at superintendent's office, Crater Lake National Park, c. 1915. It's interesting to note that while this image appears to be earlier than the previous one (branches on tree), the flagpole is missing. Courtesy of Klamath County Museum

William Gladstone Steel, superintendent, 1913-1916, and Henry Momyer (right). Greeting visitors at superintendent's office, Crater Lake National Park, 1915. This image is from an old colored lantern slide in the Crater Lake collection (CRLA #3236). NPSHPC - CRLA - HFC/92-0042

Dan Doody, 1915. Doody was one of the first six rangers at Glacier National Park. NPSHPC - GLAC/HPF# 9463	Henry Momyer, 1915. Momyer was the first ranger (1918) at Crater Lake National Park, to wear a uniform. Even after uniforms were procured, rangers were not required to wear them unless their duties brought them into contact with the public. Courtesy of Oregon Historical Society - OrHi 87267
Ranger at Crater Lake National Park, 1916. Courtesy of Klamath County Museum

The first rangers in Yosemite, 1915. In 1914, the administration and protection of Yosemite National Park was transferred from the military to civilian employees of the Department of the Interior, with Mark Daniels as superintendent. The 200 soldiers were replaced by 5 permanent and 10 temporary rangers. NPSHPC - George Fiske photo - YOSE#YM23,451

Ranger at cabin near North Boundary, Crater Lake National Park, c. 1917. At this time the trail head to Diamond Lake. NPSHPC - CRLA - FC/91-19

Forrest Townsley, Yosemite National Park, c. 1917. There is something on his collar. Could be N.P.S. per regulations, or one of Lewis' brass ornaments. The two rangers in the rear are wearing the small round badge. Courtesy of Bancroft Library, University of California	Mr. Cooper and Chance Beebe in front of Cut Bank Ranger Station, 1918, Glacier National Park. NPSHPC - GLAC/HPF# 93994
Scouts starting out on foot on winter patrol to interior of park, Yellowstone National Park, 1917. Jim Brooks (left) and Raymond G. Little. Courtesy of Montana Historical Society - Haynes Foundation Collection / H-17415

Alex Sparrow, c. 1917. Superintendent, 1917-1923, Crater Lake National Park, with his horse "The Imp". NPSHPC - CRLA - HFC/92-1

Eastern entrance to Crater Lake National Park, c. 1918. This entrance is no longer used. NPSHPC - CRLA - HFC/92-21

Jimmy Braniner, c. 1919, ranger, Mount Rainier National Park. Braniner, on his horse "Bud", along with another ranger at Carbon Glacier. NPSHPC - MORA/3639

John Wenger, 1920. Ranger, Yosemite National Park. Small badage appears on his left shirt pocket. Image is from the collection of Mrs. Virginia Best Adams (wife of Ansel Adams). Courtesy of Virginia Best Adams - (HFC/93-96)

A. Jack Gaylar, 1920. Ranger, Yosemite National Park. NPSHPC - HFC/93-358

Milo S. Decker and Walter Fry, c. 1920. Both men, Fry as superintendent and Decker as ranger, worked at Sequoia National Park. As can be seen from their dress, they undoubtedly were not meeting the public, at least I hope. Fry coat appears to be regulation, but doesn't have any type of identification on it. Decker's appears to also be a uniform coat, although in pretty bad shape. Some sort of ornament appears on his collar. Courtesy of Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley

Sec. Mather and party at Nisqually Glacier, Mount Rainier National Park, August 27, 1915. Chief Ranger Thomas E. O'Farrell (3rd from left) is shown wearing the 1912 pattern National Park Service uniform. Records show that O'Farrell ordered new uniform from Sigmund Eisner in 1912, 1914, 1915, & 1916. These were ordered through the Secretary of the Interior's Office. Left to Right: DeWitt L. Reburn, Spt., Mount Rainier National Park (1915-1919); (?); Thomas E. O'Farrell, Chief Ranger, Mount Rainier National Park; Stephen Tyng Mather, Asst. Secretary of the Interior (Director of the NPS - 1917-1929); (?): Horace Marden Albright, Mather's Asst. (Director of the NPS - 1929-1933); Robert Bradford Marshall, USGS (he was being groomed at this time to be Director of the new NPS); (?); (?). Asahel Curtis photo - Courtesy of Washington State Historical Society