National Park Service National Park Service Uniforms Ironing Out the Wrinkles, 1920-1932

Cover

This painting depicts a 1920s ranger riding patrol in one of the Western parks. It is one of a series of six painted by James Dietz for the 1991 opening of the National Park Service Ranger Museum at Norris Soldier Station in Yellowstone National Park. The paintings were obtained through the aspices of the National Park Foundation, who donated them to the National Park Service. It should be noted, however, that the color of the uniform is incorrect. It should be forest green instead of brown.

Introduction

Ironing Out the Wrinkles

Photofile

Bibliography

Notes

Appendix A

A PDF copy of this study is also available.

Horace Marden Albright, 1922. Superintendent, Yellowstone National Park, 1919-1929, (director, NPS, 1929-1933). Albright was one of the prime movers in uniforming the Service. Up to 1922, temporary rangers wre not obligated to be uniformed, due to their low pay and usually short service. But that year, Albright made it a "condition of employment" for all rangers in Yellowstone to be uniformed. This set a trend in the other parks. The decoration on his sleeve stands for nine years of service. (each stripe, 1 year; star, 5 years) NPSHPC - U.P.R.R. - Fred Coffee photo - HFC/69-416-1