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Finding aid for the Division of Interpretation, Education and Partnership Records
SEKI 22366
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Title: Division of Interpretation, Education and Partnership records
Dates: 1891-2007
Bulk Dates: 1953-2007
Collection number: SEKI 22366
Collector:
Sequoia National Park (Calif.). Division of Interpretation, Education and Partnership
Collection Size:
49000 ea.
Repository:
Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks, Museum and Archives
Three Rivers, CA 93271-9700
Physical location: Sequoia Kings Canyon National Parks. Ash Mountain Headquarters, Archive.
Languages:
Languages represented in the collection:
English
Abstract: Records generated within the organizational divisions of Sequoia Kings
Canyon National Park concerning Park management, planning and development.
Collection is open for research by appointment.
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.
Division of Interpretation, Education and Partnership records, SEKI 22366. Courtesy of the National Park Service, Sequoia
& Kings Canyon National Parks.
Biography / Administrative History
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.
Scope and Content of Collection
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.
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.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in
the library's online public access catalog.
Sequoia National Park (Calif.). Division of Interpretation, Education and Partnership.
Giant Forest--Restoration--Sequoia National Park (Calif.)
Rangers--Sequoia National Park (Calif.)
Nature conservation--Education.
Education--Sequoia National Park (Calif.)
Visitor's centers--Educational aspects.
Invasive species--Education.
Prescribed burning-Education.
Tweed, William.