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Finding aid for the Division of Interpretation, Education and Partnership Records

SEKI 22366

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Table of contents

Collection Contents

Series 1. Correspondence 1955-2000 1960-1979

Series Scope and Content Summary

The series consists of correspondence, visitor questionnaires, notes and plans relating to the role of interpretation in Park projects. Topics of interest include public commentary on park interpretive programs and other projects, employee commendations, and employee lists.

Arrangement

The series is organized into four subseries: Subseries A Commendations; Subseries B Complaints; Subseries C Seasonal Staff Lists; and Subseries D Plans and Comments

Subseries A. Commendations 1997-2000 1997

Subseries Scope and Content Summary

The subseries consists of five folders of correspondence with members of the public favorable to Park employees, programs, and features.

Arrangement

Chronological.

Subseries B. Complaints 1997-2000

Subseries Scope and Content Summary

The subseries consists of correspondence with members of the public concerning complaints about Park programs, employees, and projects.

Arrangement

Chronological.

Subseries C. Seasonal staff lists 1958-1985 1961-1979

Subseries Scope and Content Summary

The subseries consists of correspondence with seasonal employees concerning work at various park visitor centers. Also included are lists of employees with dates of employment.

Arrangement

Chronological.

Subseries D. Plans and comments 1955-1986 1960-1966; 1976

Subseries Scope and Content Summary

The subseries consists of correspondence and plans relating to various Park projects. Topics include museum activities and exhibit development. Also included is approximately one hundred responses to the proposed development for Cedar Grove.

Arrangement

Chronological.

Folder 037-059

Series 2. Public Affairs records 1988-2007 1997-2005

Series Scope and Content Summary

In the late 1980s, responsibility for drafting press releases was part of the role of the Management Assistant in the Office of the Superintendent. In the early 1990s, the responsibility began to be shared by Malinee Crapsey, the supervisory interpreter for the Foothills and Mineral King subdistrict. In 1993, Crapsey moved into the new position of Public Affairs Specialist. This position consolidated the core public relations responsibilities of drafting press releases, overseeing park publications, and exhibit design within the Division of Interpretation. In 1998, Crapsey moved into the position of Interpretive Specialist and retained responsibilities for exhibits and publications. Her vacated position, that retained responsibility for issuing press releases, was renamed Public Information Officer and filled by Kris Fister.

The series includes press releases, photographs, and articles meant for wide distribution to disseminate information about the Parks. Topics include special events and activities, opening and closing dates for Park facilities, and safety issues. Also included are copies of articles written for the Visalia Times-Delta by the Parks' chief interpreter. Subjects include: people and places of historical interest, the restoration of Giant Forest, and impacts to the Parks' resources.

Arrangement

The series is organized in two groups, press releases and articles; both groups are arranged chronologically.

Folder 060-106

Series 3. Bill Tweed records 1976-2006 1976-1981; 1987-1999

Collector: Tweed, William.

Series Scope and Content Summary

William "Bill" Tweed worked for Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks from 1976 through 2006. He began as a seasonal interpreter at Lodgepole Visitor Center, working his way up to District Naturalist. After a short period working for the Forest Service in Washington, D.C., Tweed returned to the Parks in the 1980s, as the Management Assistant to the superintendent (a position that in 1995 became the Chief of the Division of Planning and Concessions Management). In 1997, he became the Division Chief for the Division of Interpretation, a position he occupied until his retirement in 2006. Tweed earned a Ph.D. from Texas Christian University with a dissertation on the history of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks and is the author of numerous articles and books. Through the years, he served the Parks in a variety of capacities: as acting superintendent, as an articulate spokesperson, and as the Parks' de facto historian.

The series consists of correspondence, work logs, photographs, and slides relating to the landscape of the Parks and its management. Topics include correspondence with members of the public concerning the Parks and Park programs, journals detailing daily work and management issues, and photographs.

Arrangement

The series is organized into three subseries: Subseries A Correspondence; Subseries B Work Logs; and Subseries C Photographs.

Subseries A. Correspondence 1976-1996 1976; 1980; 1987-1996

Subseries Scope and Content Summary

The subseries consists of correspondence with the public written by William Tweed through the course of his career. Topics include the management of historic structures and listings to the National Register, matters of Park history, comments by visitors regarding interpretive programs, land issues, the cabins in Mineral King, and accidents.

Arrangement

Chronological.

Subseries B. Work logs 1990-2006 1990-1999

Subseries Scope and Content Summary

The subseries is arranged sequentially by job title, the work logs describe William Tweed's work as Management Assistant, Chief of Concessions and Planning, Chief of Interpretation, and as Acting Superintendent. The work logs provide a thorough account of his daily work and his engagement with Park management. Many of the logs include personal perspectives on happenings within the Parks.

Arrangement

Chronological.

Subseries C. Photographs 1981-2000

Subseries Scope and Content Summary

The subseries consists of photographic prints and slides of interpretive activities within the Parks and of Park landscapes.

Arrangement

Original order.

Folder 107-161

Series 4. Reference files 1921-1995 1983-1990

Series Scope and Content Summary

The series consists of reports, proposals, budgets and research studies relating to the preservation of the natural resources of the Parks. Topics include air quality, fire management and prescribed fire, the impacts of climate change, vegetation, and archeology. Of note are papers on the history of interpretation in the parks, a typescript of the play “Ersa of the Red Trees,” and a copy of National Register listings.

Arrangement

Alphabetical by subject.

Folder 162-490

Series 5. Reference photographs 1849-1994 1960-1975

Series Scope and Content Summary

The series consists of black-and-white photographs. Important images include those depicting events and people from the early history of the Parks, military officers who served as acting superintendent, logging history, dedications and ceremonies, maintenance and construction of park infrastructure, and historic structures.

Arrangement

The series is organized into five subseries: Subseries A Plants and Animals; Subseries B Events and Activities; Subseries C Geographic Features; Subseries D People; and Subseries E Oversized.

Subseries A. Plants and animals

Arrangement

Alphabetical.

Subseries B. Events and activities

Arrangement

Alphabetical.

Subseries C. Geographic features

Arrangement

Alphabetical.

Subseries D. People

Arrangement

Alphabetical.

Box 491-527

Series 6. Public programming AV materials 1940-2005 1980-2000

Series Scope and Content Summary

The audiovisual material consists predominantly of slides, but also includes audiotapes of Park programs and incidental music and motion picture films on Park and conservation themes. The slides present the most complete visual record of the Parks and the status of Park resources. In addition to the Parks' landscape, images also depict changes in Park infrastructure, patterns of visitation, and resource impacts.

Arrangement

The series is arranged by media. The slides have been kept in original order. The majority are arranged into three groups, corresponding to the Visitor Center where they were created, stored, and used. These groups are each further arranged by a unique, district-specific subject coding system.

Collection Contents

Correspondence

Commendations

Complaints

Seasonal staff lists

Plans and comments

Public Affairs records

Bill Tweed records

Correspondence

Work logs

Photographs

Reference files

Reference photographs

Plants and animals

Events and activities

Geographic features

People

Public programming AV materials