Physical Description: Approximately 8 boxes
Series Scope and Content Summary
This series consists of correspondence, narrative reports, memoranda,
photographs, organizational records, inspection reports, and manuals
documenting administration and accountability for the management of the
park. Half of this collection is comprised of safety records. These are
primarily reports documenting personal and vehicular accidents within the
park, including search and rescue operations, tort claims, legal
proceedings, and deaths. In addition to specific accidents, there are
records documenting safety initiatives such as evacuation procedures and the
use of Crystal Cave as a potential fallout shelter. Also contained within
the safety records is information on flooding and fires, including the Buck
Bridge flood and reconstruction, flash flooding of the Kern River in 1961,
and a 1963 report on Crystal Cave and Wilsonia flooding. Lastly, there is
documentation of the discovery of aircraft wreckage in the park.
The second largest grouping features documentation on special events. Some of
the events featured are the National Park Service's 50th anniversary
celebrations, religious ceremonies by the Church of the Sequoias, and a
yearly Christmas tree lighting in Grant Grove. The third largest grouping is
correspondence and documentation between the park and outside associations.
These illustrate the park's relationship with groups such as the Boy Scouts
of America and The Sierra Club. There are also records of programs enacted
by Governor Ronald Reagan and President Lyndon B. Johnson to fight poverty
through organizations such as the Youth Opportunity Campaign and the
Neighborhood Youth Corps.
Within this series there are monthly reports by the chief park naturalist,
chief park ranger, park engineer, and landscape architect. Also included are
meeting minutes from the superintendent's biweekly meetings. Smaller
groupings include commendations and complaints by park visitors and the
superintendent towards concessioners and employees, reports of daily
activities, tour requests, wildlife management, conferences, travel and
transportation, conservation and preservation, and collecting permits.
This series includes the following notable individuals: Thomas J. Allen,
superintendent; Horace M. Albright, the second director of NPS; David
Brower, president of The Sierra Club; Governor Edmund Brown; Irma Buchholz,
secretary to the superintendent; Richard C. Burns, chief park naturalist;
Wayne W. Bryant, chief park naturalist; Foreman Charles Castro; Blanton
Clement, park engineer; Congressman John R. Foley; Louis Hallock, chief park
ranger; James L. Hamrick; Robert C. Haraden, chief landscape architect;
Frank T. Hirst, chief park ranger; Frank Kowski, superintendent and regional
director; John G. Lewis, superintendent; John S. McLaughlin, superintendent;
Theodore F. Niehaus, Sequoia researcher; Fred J. Novak, administrative
officer; Dr. Paul O. Ritcher, Sequoia researcher; Peter H. Schuft, chief
park ranger; Max E. Walliser, landscape architect; Edgar Weyburn, president
of The Sierra Club; and Conrad Wirth, director of NPS.
This series includes the following notable organizations and programs: Boy
Scouts of America, Church of the Sequoias, Discover America, Girl Scouts of
the USA, Job Corps, Migrant Compensatory Education Program (MCEP), Museum of
Comparative Zoology, Neighborhood Youth Corps (NYC), Outdoor School of
Science and Conservation (SCICON), Sequoia and Kings Canyon Park Company,
Sequoia Natural History Association (SNHA), Young Men's Christian
Association (YMCA), and the Youth Opportunity Campaign (YOC).
Arrangement
Organized by NPS-19 file code and then by dates within each file code. No
subseries.