Chapter Four:
ADMINISTRATION

A TIME OF TRANSITION: RAYMOND C. STICKLER, 1965-1971

The Mission 66 developments not only transformed the mission's inadequate, makeshift facilities to attractive and efficient facilities," [126] but they also transformed administrative responsibilities. Superintendent Stickler said:

Now that the physical development of the Park has been completed, the interpretive and public relations programs require the most attention and emphasis. Maintenance operation and improvements of the Park grounds and facilities have become more or less routine. [127]

The 1965-1971 administration searched for ways to utilize their new facilities. Larry Dodd, curator of the Whitman College Archives and ex-park ranger, remembers a time of transition: "We were trying to understand what was needed." [128] As the staff searched for new direction, they attended to details that had thus far been overshadowed by the major construction projects. As a result, modest improvements occurred in the various divisions, beginning with the administrative organization.

Administrative Structure

Raymond C. Stickler entered on duty as superintendent of Whitman Mission National Historic Site in February 1965. Familiar with the area, Stickler was born in Pendleton, Oregon, and had many relatives in the Walla Walla valley. Employed by the National Park Service since 1939, except during World War II, Stickler held several administrative positions at Crater Lake National Park [129] and had served since 1951 at Olympic National Park prior to transferring to the Whitman Mission. Superintendent Stickler served in Walla Walla for five and one half years before his untimely death on July 8, 1971.

Stickler followed Kennedy's example of placing priority on public relations. His active participation in the Walla Walla Rotary, Toastmasters, and the Chamber of Commerce, and his presentations to groups like the Marcus Whitman Foundation, the Walla Walla Archaeological Society, and the Walla Walla Valley Pioneer and Historical Society, encouraged contact between the community and the mission. The superintendent no longer remained solely on the park grounds, but was free to travel and was involved with regional and community events.

A few administrative changes occurred during Superintendent Stickler's term. Edward A. Hummel became regional director in 1964, but was replaced a few years later by John A. Rutter. In 1969, the Regional Office headquarters moved from San Francisco to Seattle, where it remains today. The park's administrative structure did not change from 1965-1971. The five positions included superintendent, historian, administrative assistant, maintenance mechanic, and maintenance worker. With the ever-increasing number of seasonal rangers and laborers, the permanent staff was freer to attend training seminars and pursue projects off the park grounds. Superintendent Stickler and Historians Jensen and later Robert Olsen attended training sessions in California, Colorado, and Washington, D. C. Emphasis on efficiency and productivity resulted in weekly priority lists for interpretive and administrative work. This effort to document work progress culminated in 1971 with the Service's emphasis on "management by objectives." The new use of objectives and an enlarged staff reflect the administrative structure from 1965-1971.

Principal Accomplishments: 1965-1971

The projects accomplished from 1965-1971 were based on the needs outlined in the 1964 revised master plan, and on the goals outlined each year by Superintendent Stickler. Most progress occurred in the interpretive division since there was a decreasing need for research and an increasing need for varied interpretive programs. The transition from the position of "Historian" to the position of "Supervisory Park Ranger" in 1966 is an indication of this change. In contrast, the maintenance division received little attention because, as mentioned before, Superintendent Stickler felt maintenance was of a "routine" nature and required little improvement. For example, maintenance goals were not set in 1968: "It was not necessary to prescribe specific goals in this program other than to assure that the present quality of maintenance continues." [130] Therefore, an examination of Stickler's priority, interpretation, is in order.

Interpretation

With a new visitor center and museum, the devices for interpreting the Whitman story were better than ever. However, both Historian John Jensen and Assistant Regional Director James Myers suggested additional improvements. Both Jensen and Myers recommended an audiovisual slide-tape program about the Whitmans, [131] so Historian Jensen researched facts for the script in 1965. [132] Although this Whitman slide program remained a priority for several years, it was not completed until the next administration. In the meantime, the rangers made their own slide programs to show visitors. "Each one of us could do our own thing," said Larry Dodd. "We were interpreting the site as we saw it." [133]

Another interpretive priority was cataloging not only the specimens uncovered in the Waiilatpu dig, but also those found during the Fort Walla Walla excavation. In 1967, almost 900 hours were spent identifying, sorting, and cataloging the Fort Walla Walla artifacts by the staff, a group of Girl Scouts, and an archeological student, Gregory Cleveland, from Washington State University. [134] Stickler explained in 1968, "Through arrangements made by the Regional Archeologist, artifacts having no relation to the Whitman story were shipped to the University of Washington and Washington State University." [135] The Waiilatpu artifacts were catalogued from 1967-1969 by Historian Robert Olsen, assisted by Park Rangers Jack Winchell, Larry Dodd, and others. Dr. Roderick Sprague, University of Idaho, preserved the specimens while Regional Curator Edward Jahns supervised the project. Preserving and cataloging the artifacts not only protected them, but helped familiarize interpreters with the Whitman story.

Another improvement in the interpretive program included the construction of a display case for temporary exhibits. Designed to "interpret details and stories not covered in the permanent exhibits," [136] this case was first suggested in the 1964 master plan and built and installed by maintenance man Charles Dims in 1966. [137] Larry Dodd remembers displaying the Pair Collection, and items such as Narcissa Whitman's writing desk were loaned from the Oregon Historical Society for display in later years.

On April 28, 1968, the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin reported "A monument was placed at the Whitman Mission National Historic Site . . . by the Marcus Whitman Foundation honoring the grave of Alice Clarissa Whitman, daughter of Dr. and Narcissa Whitman." [138] This presentation followed Western Regional Archeologist Paul Schumacher's excavations possible grave sites in 1960-1961. Despite the marker, the exact location of the child's grave is unknown.

In June 1968, in an effort to protect geese endangered by the raising of the John Day reservoir, the Washington State Game Department released fifty pairs of geese in Walla Walla--many of them at the Whitman Mission. [139] Their wings were clipped to prevent them flying away; a fence was built to prevent them from walking away. This effort established Whitman Mission as a sanctuary geese return to each year.

In 1970, Historian Robert Olsen finished his comprehensive study, "Report on Whitman Mission China." That same year, Whitman enthusiast Ross Woodbridge concluded that the sketches he discovered in Toronto's Royal Ontario Museum in 1968 were of Marcus and Narcissa Whitman. [140] While Historian Clifford Drury was convinced by the "strong circumstantial evidence," [141] neither Superintendent Stickler nor any other National Park Service personnel accepted the sketches as authentic. [142] Nevertheless, the sketches hang in the visitor center today as the most plausible likenesses of the Whitmans that exist.

Miscellaneous interpretive projects, including placing new signs, planting more rye grass, and maintaining the historic orchard continued throughout Stickler's administration. However, none of these aforementioned changes drastically changed the interpretative program at the park.

Development

Though development was not a major issue after the Mission 66 construction projects, the status of forty acres west of the monument grounds was still in question in 1965. The 1964 master plan revised by Raymond Stickler and approved by Acting Regional Director Warren F. Hamilton in 1965 recommended that "Immediate steps should be taken to secure legislative approval to increase the authorized acreage of Whitman Mission sufficient to provide for the acquisition of the forty acre farm." [143]

This suggestion was based on objections to neighbor Ray Shelden's 40-acre operation "immediately adjacent to and west of the Mission site" which James Myers described in his 1965 Appraisal Report as an "unfortunate intrusion on the historic scene." [144]

In March 1966, Mr. Sheldon purchased forty more acres adjacent to his farm and the park from Glen Frazier. [145] By July, Regional Director Hummel discussed with Superintendent Stickler the possibility of acquiring scenic easements rather than the recently expanded farm. [146] However, since Sheldon and his son planned to farm the land, by 1971 all designs for acquiring the acreage were dropped: "There are no plans to acquire additional land for inclusion in the area." [147]

One final development project remained unfinished in 1965. According to the 1965 revised master plan, the historian's residence, planned for Fiscal Year 1967, was needed "to insure service personnel in the Park most of the time to deter any vandalism and to provide adequate fire protection" [148] However, Superintendent Stickler wrote in the 1971 management objectives, "There is no immediate need for the additional residence, although it is retained in the construction program." [149] One residence provided adequate protection against vandalism and intrusion, so the mission's last development project remained a paper development project only.

With the Mission 66 facilities completed by 1964, Superintendent Stickler's administration focused on maintaining the status quo rather than development. "Whitman Mission was pretty stable . . . . Nothing much was happening at that time," said Larry Dodd. [150] As a result, the staff attacked several time-consuming projects such as public relations, cataloging artifacts, and constructing extra display cases. This attention to detail resulted in a more polished interpretive program, a more organized management division, and a busy maintenance staff. This new emphasis on perfecting park operations quickly set the precedent for the following administration.