Collection Guide
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Drury (Newton Bishop) papers
BANC MSS 79/61 c
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Table of contents
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
The Bancroft Library
Title: Newton Bishop Drury papers, 1912-1978.
Creator:
Drury, Newton Bishop, 1889-1978
Identifier/Call Number: BANC MSS 79/61 c
Physical Description:
12.9 Linear Feet
10 cartons, 1 box
Date (inclusive): 1912-1978
Abstract: The Newton Bishop Drury papers document his leadership of, and conservation issues relevant to, the Save the Redwoods League,
the California state park system, and the National Park Service. There are also some materials related to Drury's alma mater,
the University of California, Berkeley, and his graduating class of 1912.
Language of Material: Collection materials are in English.
Physical Location: Many of the Bancroft Library collections are stored offsite and advance notice may be required for use. For current information
on the location of these materials, please consult the library's online catalog.
Collection is open for research.
No future additions are expected.
The Newton Bishop Drury papers were given to The Bancroft Library between 1973 and 1978 by Newton Bishop Drury.
There are no alternative forms of this collection.
Newton Bishop Drury was born in San Francisco in 1889 to prominent newspaperman and politician Wells Drury and his wife,
Elvira Lorraine Bishop. He graduated from the University of California, Berkeley in 1912 and served in the U.S. Army Balloon
Corps during World War I. The destruction he witnessed during the war inspired him to become a staunch conservationist. Drury
married Elizabeth Frances Shilling in 1918; the couple had two children.
In 1919, Newton and his brother Aubrey founded a public relations and advertising firm, the Drury Brothers Company. One of
their clients was the Save the Redwoods League, a California organization dedicated to preserving redwood forests. Newton
became the League’s first Executive Director in 1919, serving in that capacity until 1940. During his tenure at the League,
Drury helped direct the legislative campaign for a comprehensive state park program in California. He served as Secretary
to the California State Parks Committee from 1925-1927, and as a Land Acquisitions Officer for the California State Park Commission
from approximately 1928-1940.
When Newton Drury was appointed Director of the National Park Service in August 1940, his brother Aubrey, the Administrative
Secretary, assumed management of the League. Newton Drury served as director of the National Park Service until March 31,
1951. Disagreements with Secretary of the Interior Oscar L. Chapman over dams in Dinosaur National Monument contributed to
his resignation. That same year, Drury became chief of California’s Division of Beaches and Parks. He retired from the Park
Service and resumed his role as Executive Director of the Save the Redwoods League when Aubrey died in 1959. Newton subsequently
served as League President from 1971-1975, and Chair of the Board until his death in 1978.
Drury served terms as vice president of the American Forestry Association, director of the National Conference on State Parks,
held membership on the Yosemite National Park Advisory Board, worked as a research associate in Primitive Landscape for the
Carnegie Institute, and was an honorary life member of the Sierra Club. He was a two-time recipient of the Pugsley Medal,
an award that honors champions of parks and conservation.
[Identification of item], Newton Bishop Drury papers, BANC MSS 79/61c,The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley.
Arranged to the folder level.
Processed by Marjorie Bryer in 2017.
Save the Redwoods League records (BANC MSS 88/15c)
Save the Redwoods League photograph collection (BANC PIC 2006.030)
Portraits of Save the Redwoods League members (BANC PIC 1988.040)
California State Parks Council records (BANC MSS 68/125 c)
Save the Redwoods League photograph collection (BANC PIC 2006.030)
Portraits of Save the Redwoods League members (BANC PIC 1988.040)
California State Parks Council records (BANC MSS 68/125 c)
Scope and Content of Collection
The Newton Bishop Drury papers document his leadership of, and conservation issues relevant to, the Save the Redwoods League,
the California state park system, and the National Park Service. There are also some materials related to his alma mater,
the University of California, Berkeley, and his graduating class of 1912. Note that there is overlap between the work Drury
did for the League and the state and national parks. The collection is divided into five Series: Biographical Materials; University
of California, Berkeley; Save the Redwoods League; California State Parks; and the National Park Service. Original folder
titles were retained whenever possible.
Photographs transferred to the Pictorial Collections of The Bancroft Library
Some materials in these collections may be protected by the U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.). In addition, the reproduction
of some materials may be restricted by terms of University of California gift or purchase agreements, donor restrictions,
privacy and publicity rights, licensing and trademarks. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by copyright beyond
that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be
commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owner. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.
All requests to reproduce, publish, quote from, or otherwise use collection materials must be submitted in writing to the
Head of Public Services, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley 94720-6000. See: http://bancroft.berkeley.edu/reference/permissions.html.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
United States. National Park Service.
Conservation of natural resources -- United States.
Parks--California--Management
Save the Redwoods League
University of California, Berkeley
Drury, Newton Bishop -- 1889-1978 -- Archives
Drury, Newton Bishop, 1889-1978