Div. of Interp., Education and Partnership, 1891-2007, bulk 1953-2007

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Summary

Title:
Division of Interpretation, Education and Partnership records
Dates:
1891-2007, bulk 1953-2007
Creators:
Sequoia National Park (Calif.). Division of Interpretation, Education and Partnership
Abstract:
Records generated within the organizational divisions of Sequoia Kings Canyon National Park concerning Park management, planning and development.
Extent:
49000 ea.
Language:
Languages represented in the collection: English
Preferred citation:

Division of Interpretation, Education and Partnership records, SEKI 22366. Courtesy of the National Park Service, Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks.

Background

Scope and content:

The collection consists of correspondence, press releases, work logs, reference materials, photographs, photographic slides, motion picture films, and magnetic audiotapes. Important topics include the restoration of Giant Forest, visitor complaints and commendations, public programming (including the interpretation of prescribed fire for park visitors), and visual material documenting the Parks' landscape and all aspects of park management activities.

Biographical / historical:

The Parks' Division of Interpretation dates back to initial efforts in the early 1920s which were formalized by the founding of the Education Division and the Ranger-Naturalist service in 1929. The Division grew steadily through the 20th century and went through a gradual expansion of duties and responsibilities, remaining the primary point of contact between the Park and the public. By the 1980s, the Division numbered nearly forty permanent and seasonal employees staffing four visitor centers spread across the two parks: Foothills and Mineral King, Lodgepole, Grant Grove, and Cedar Grove. By the early 1990s, the Division was responsible for issuing press releases through which the Parks documented and communicated all aspects of the organizations history. The Division opened the Giant Forest Museum in the old market building in 2001.

During the early 1990s, the public-information function moved from the management assistant's office to this division. This resulted in an increase in time spent with the media, publishers, communities, and other entities to communicate all aspects of the Park via press releases and other modes of communication. The division was also responsible for creating and presenting a range of audiovisual programs. It became the repository for a rich and wide-ranging collection of historic and photographic material, especially slides. For much of the period beginning in the late 1970s, William Tweed was a central personality for the Division, first as an interpreter and supervisor at Lodgepole Visitor Center and later as Chief Park Interpreter, until his retirement in 2006.

Arrangement:

The collection is organized into six series: Series I Correspondence; Series II Public Affairs Records; Series III Bill Tweed Records; Series IV Reference Files; Series V Reference Photographs; and Series VI Public Programming AV Materials.

Physical location:
Sequoia Kings Canyon National Parks. Ash Mountain Headquarters, Archive.
Rules or conventions:
Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: a Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Ward Eldredge, Anna Uremovich, Tammy Fishman, Alyson Mazzone, Bekah Piche, Allison Metzler
Date Prepared:
© 2011
Date Encoded:
Machine-readable finding aid created by Tammy Fishman. Machine-readable finding aid derived from MS Word. Date of source: October 12, 2011.

Access and use

Restrictions:

Collection is open for research by appointment.

Terms of access:

Many collections are former federal government records and are in the public domain. Other collections are from private sources; copyright has been transferred to the NPS on most. Some collections have publication restrictions. Researchers are required to properly credit all materials used. The researcher assumes responsibility for acquiring copyright permissions when needed.

Preferred citation:

Division of Interpretation, Education and Partnership records, SEKI 22366. Courtesy of the National Park Service, Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks.

Location of this collection:
47050 Generals Highway
Three Rivers, CA 93271, US
Contact:
(559) 565-3133
Website