Guide to the Allyn F. Hanks Papers

This finding aid describes the Allyn F. Hanks Papers, part of the NPS History Collection. To search this guide for names, places, key words, or phrases enter Ctrl F on your keyboard (command key + F key on a Mac). Request an in-person research appointment or get more information by contacting the archivist.

Collection Overview

Collection Number: HFCA 3483
Accession Number: HFCA-01710
Creator: Hanks, Allyn F. (1906-1973)
Title: Allyn F. Hanks Papers
Dates: ca. 1928-1958
Volume of Collection: 0.3 LF
Language of Materials: English

Digitized copies: This collection has not been digitized.

Conditions Governing Use: This collection is open to research use. Copyright status of slides and photographs has not been established. See https://rightsstatements.org/page/UND/1.0/?language=en. See also the NPS general copyright & restrictions information.
Provenance: Donated to the NPS History Collection by Stephen H. Goddard. The donor has no connection to the Hanks family. He purchased a 1930s stone house in Estes Park, Colorado, from Bill Hanks, son of Allyn and Hazel Hanks, and these materials were found in the house.
Processing Note: This collection was processed using More Product Less Process (MPLP) methods by Nancy Russell in June 2025.

Rights Statements for Archival Description: This guide is in the public domain.
Preferred Citation: Allyn F. Franks Papers, NPS History Collection (HFCA 3483)
Location of Repository: NPS History Collection, Harpers Ferry Center, PO Box 50, Harpers Ferry, WV 25425

Related Materials:

• Hanks’ Yellowstone game warden badge, NPS History Collection (HFCA 3484)
• Assembled Historic Records of the National Park Service, NPS History Collection (HFCA 1645)

• NPS Historic Photograph Collection, NPS History Collection (HFCA 1607)

Biographical Note

Allyn Frank Hanks was born March 3, 1906, in Logan, Utah. His parents were Frank Henry and Lou Vanderbeck Hanks. His family claimed kinship with Abraham Lincoln’s mother Nancy Hanks and his grandmother ran the Hanks Hotel in Logan. He graduated from forestry school at Utah State Agricultural College (now Utah State University). Later he also attended the University of Montana and University of Michigan.

Hanks began his NPS career in 1928 as a park ranger at Yellowstone National Park. He became a district ranger there before being promoted to chief ranger at Grand Teton National Park in September 1932. Hanks married Hazel Williams on November 5, 1934, in Weber, Utah. They had one son, Allyn William. During his World War II (WWII) military service (November 1942-February 1946), Hanks served as chief boatswain for the US Coast Guard.

In April 1946 he served a one-month detail as acting superintendent of Grand Teton. In September 1947 Hanks became the first superintendent of Theodore Roosevelt National Memorial Park (now Theodore Roosevelt National Park). He held that position until January 1953 when he became the first assistant superintendent at Everglades National Park.

Hanks’ time at Everglades was short as he became the first superintendent of Cape Hatteras National Seashore in March 1954. He also administered Fort Raleigh National Historic Site. In 1957 he was named to head the NPS Visitor Protection Branch in the Washington Office. He became superintendent of Rocky Mountain National Park in April 1961. He retired from there in June 1964.

Allyn F. Hanks died January 11, 1973, in Estes Park, Colorado. His ashes were scattered in Rocky Mountain National Park.

Scope and Content Note

Documents and photographs related to the career of Allyn F. Hanks. Materials relate to Hanks’ job as a ranger and district ranger in Yellowstone National Park and includes memos for park rangers prepared by Chief Ranger George Baggley. Ranger monthly reports are included as is the certificate showing that Hanks was appointed fish and game warden for State of Montana while working at Yellowstone. Documents from his time at Grand Teton include photographs, a letter from NPS Director Arno B. Cammerer congratulating him on his marriage, and various personnel documents. Letters of reference written by various NPS and other officials to the US Coast Guard, recommending him for a commission during WWII, are included, as are some personnel records that document his overall career. Includes 1958 NPS director’s staff meeting minutes. Other materials include personal correspondence with NPS individuals, including Horace M. Albright, Dan Beard, Arthur Demaray, Hillory Tolson, Arno B. Cammerer, and others. The correspondence does not provide significant insights into NPS operations but does provide further background on Hanks’ career. A small selection of slides and a few employee group photos are included.

Arrangement

Unarranged.

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