Finding aid for the Division of Interpretation, Education and Partnership Records
Ward Eldredge, Anna Uremovich, Tammy Fishman, Alyson Mazzone, Bekah Piche, Allison Metzler
Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks
47050 Generals Highway
Three Rivers, CA 93271-9700
Phone: (559) 565-3133
Fax: (559) 565-3133
Email: Ward_Eldrege@nps.gov
URL: http://www.nps.gov/seki
© 2011
National Park Service, Sequoia & Kings Canyon NP. All rights reserved.
Finding aid for the Division of Interpretation, Education and Partnership Records
Collection number: SEKI 22366
Museum and Archives
Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks
Three Rivers, California
- Processed by:
- Ward Eldredge, Anna Uremovich, Tammy Fishman, Alyson Mazzone, Bekah Piche, Allison Metzler
- Date Completed:
- August 2011
- Encoded by:
- Tammy Fishman
© 2011 National Park Service, Sequoia & Kings Canyon NP. All rights reserved.
Descriptive Summary
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.
Access
Collection is open for research by appointment.
Publication Rights
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.
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.
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.
Indexing Terms
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.
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.