Guide to the S. Herbert Evison Papers

This finding aid describes the S. Herbert Evison 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 1645 (Series XIV.I)
Accession Numbers: HFCA-00047, HFCA-00117, HFCA-00292, HFCA-00367, HFCA-00480
Creator: Evison, S. Herbert
Title: S. Herbert Evison Papers
Dates: 1919-1984 (bulk dates: 1960s-1970s)
Extent of Collection: 5.0 LF
Language of Materials: English

Digital Access: The collection has not been digitized.

Conditions Governing Access: This collection is open to research use. See the NPS general copyright and restricted information here.
Provenance: Received from S. Herbert Evison in several donations.
Processing Note: This collection was processed and described by contractors in 2015. Updated by Nancy Russell in November 2024.

Rights Statement for Archival Description: This guide is in the public domain.
Preferred Citation: S. Herbert Evison Papers, Assembled Historic Records of the NPS (HFCA 1645), NPS History Collection
Location of Repository: NPS History Collection, Harpers Ferry Center, PO Box 50, Harpers Ferry, WV 25425

Related Materials:

• NPS Oral History Collection (HFCA 1817)
• Papers of the NPS Employee & Alumni Association (HFCA 1645)

Biographical Note

Samuel Herbert Evison was born on April 10, 1892, in North Tarrytown, New York. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1913 from Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut, where he was a member of the Psi Upsilon Fraternity. In the winter and spring of 1911, Evison worked as a sports reporter and later a telegraph editor on the Beaumont Enterprise in Beaumont, Texas. After returning to Trinity, he was a reporter on the Hartford Sunday Globe and also edited the Trinity Tripod.

After a year of teaching English and French at DeKoven Hall in South Tacoma, Washington, Evison served as a reporter on the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Other positions held by Evison include night editor in the Seattle office of the Associated Press (which he did during the summers until 1917), editor of the Washington Motorist, and copy reader for the Seattle Times. From 1917 to 1918, Evison served as executive secretary of Washington State Fuel Administration, and later wrote a history of that organization. He then became secretary to David Whitcomb, president of Rainier National Park Company.

Evison’s career in conservation began in 1919 as executive secretary of the Washington Natural Parks Association, which he had helped organize. In this role, he encouraged the 1921 passage of the State Park Act by the Washington legislature, launching an extensive and successful state park program. He notably attended the organizational meeting of the National Conference on State Parks in 1921, which drew the attention of National Park Service (NPS) Director Stephen T. Mather. He was named by Mather as the executive secretary of the conference in 1928.

In 1933 the NPS drafted Evison to work under Assistant Director Conrad L. Wirth in the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) to supervise state park emergency conservation work. Three years later, the NPS regionalized its emergency activities, and Evison became regional officer of Region One, extending from Maine to Louisiana. When the NPS placed many of its regular activities under regional administration in 1937, Evison was appointed associate regional director of Region One, and served in that role until 1940, and again from 1943 to 1945. When NPS Chief of Lands and State Cooperation Conrad L. Wirth was sent to Austria as a member of Allied Advisory Council in 1945, in the aftermath of World War II, he appointed Evison to act in his place. When Wirth returned a year later, NPS Director Newton B. Drury appointed Evison to be the first NPS chief of information. He remained in that position until his retirement in 1958.

After retirement, Evison continued working with the NPS, as an unpaid collaborator. One of his most notable accomplishments included conducting an oral histories program in 1962-1963, which was revived again in 1970. Evison taped interviews with more than 400 men and women, both active and former employees who had played integral roles in NPS history.

Additionally Evison prepared an unpublished manuscript regarding the history of the NPS. The original outline for the book dates to 1958, following his retirement from the NPS, and was prepared for a grant request to fund the research. Evison wrote the bulk of the manuscript, re-titled The NPS—Manager of Land and People, from 1962 to1964. During preparation of the manuscript, Evison corresponded with many early NPS employees, seeking clarification of specific issues or facts, and sending them draft chapters for review and comment. Some of his correspondents include Horace Albright, Conrad Wirth, George Hartzog, and his publishing house, Alfred A. Knopf.

In 1964 the manuscript was determined to be the property of the NPS, as Evison wrote it while working as an unpaid collaborator, and the grant money received had been awarded to the NPS and then passed on to Evison. NPS Director George Hartzog declined to publish the manuscript, describing it as “part history, part news commentary, and part editorial opinion,” and therefore “not the kind of manuscript that could be published under the sponsorship of a federal agency.” Instead, he encouraged Evison to modify the manuscript and to publish it as a non-governmental document. Evison reworked the manuscript into its third title, The NPS-Conservator of America’s Scenic and Historic Heritage. He was in contact with a publishing house at the time (Alfred A. Knopf), but the revised manuscript was never published.

Evison was awarded the Department of the Interior Distinguished Service Award in May 1959. He was an active member of the NPS Employee and Alumni Association and a frequent contributor to the Association’s National Park Courier, serving as the editor in 1960 and 1961. He was also presented with the honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters from Trinity College in 1984 for his long and distinguished career as a conservationist.

S. Herbert Evison married Shirley Edith Bain on October 1, 1919, in Seattle, Washington. They had two children: Shirley Ann Groomes and Boyd Evison. Boyd entered the NPS after his father’s retirement and eventually became director of the Alaska Region. After over 60 years of marriage, Mrs. Evison died in 1981. S. Herbert Evison died on November 18, 1988, at the age of 95.

Sources:
“Deaths” National Park Service Courier, February 1989
“Herb Evison Receives L.H.D” National Park Service Courier, August 1984
Evison biographical information from the Employee Biographical Files (HFCA-00458)

Scope and Content Note

Correspondence, memos, manuals, manuscript drafts, news clippings, articles, photographs, and research notes that post-date Evison’s tenure as chief of information for the NPS. The files primarily relate to the preparation of his manuscript on the history of the NPS, during his time as a collaborator. Many of the associated research files associated contain correspondence with prominent NPS individuals. Also included are complete drafts of the manuscript, The NPS – Conservator of America’s Scenic and Historic Heritage, and an additional draft of the manuscript included under the alternate title, The NPS – Manager of Land and People. There are also drafts and revisions to the individual chapters. Other documents include various articles written by Evison, and draft chapters which are not part of his NPS history manuscript. Correspondence, research, and articles related to the Blue Ridge Parkway are included. A small amount of material includes correspondence, photographs, and information on the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). Also includes general correspondence with friends and acquaintances within the NPS, after his official retirement. Letters to politicians and other individuals reflect his personal political views regarding President Ronald Reagan and social issues.

Arrangement

Arranged alphabetically by subject or topic.

Container List

B0X 01
[BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY]
Folder 01: Articles: The Blue Ridge Parkway—A Cooperative Venture, undated
Folder 02: Articles: Farming on the Blue Ridge Parkway Lands, 1959-1968
Folder 03: Articles: Finding the Route for the Blue Ridge Parkway, undated
Folder 04: Articles: Finding the Way, 1958-1959
Folder 05: Articles: The National Park Service and the Parkways, undated
Folder 06: Articles: The Nature of the Blue Ridge Parkway, 1959
Folder 07: Correspondence, Articles, 1959-1968
Folder 08: Correspondence, General, 1958-1978, undated
Folder 09: Correspondence, Hugh Morton, 1959
Folder 10: Correspondence, Sam Weems, 1958-1959
Folder 11: Easement Violation, 1947-1973
Folder 12: Fiscal Year Budgets, 1958-1959
Folder 13: Interviews with Blue Ridge Staff, 1958-1971, undated
Folder 14: Maps and Brochures, undated
Folder 15: News Articles and Special Reports, 1936-1975, undated
Folder 16: Research: Roads and Parkways, 1957-1963, undated
Folder 17: Writings (Drafts), Unknown Titles, 1959, undated

BOX 02
[CIVILIAN CONSERVATION CORPS]
Folder 01: Correspondence: Pesonen, Everett, 1941-1964
Folder 02: Correspondence: Farewell Party, 1940-1941
Folder 03: Photographs, 1935-1938
Folder 04: Programs, 1938
Folder 05: Writings, Untitled, undated

[CORRESPONDENCE]
Folder 06: Accounts of Travel, 1959-1978
Folder 07: Albright, Horace, 1962-1984, undated
Folder 08: Appleman, Roy, 1975-1984, undated
Folder 09: General, 1929-1983, undated [1 of 3]
Folder 10: General, 1929-1983, undated [2 of 3]
Folder 11: General, 1929-1983, undated [3 of 3]

BOX 03
[CORRESPONDENCE]
Folder 01: Kahler, Herbert, 1978, undated
Folder 02: Personal [Ephemera Separated from Correspondence], 1981, undated
Folder 03: Political, 1982-1984, undated
Folder 04: Russell, Richard, 1976-1978
Folder 05: We Guard the Crown Jewels, 1982-1984
Folder 06: Wirth, Connie, 1963-1984

[THE NPS - CONSERVATOR OF AMERICA'S SCENIC AND HISTORIC HERITAGE]
Folder 07: Manuscript: The NPS – Conservator of America’s Scenic and Historic Heritage (Bound Draft), 1964 [1 of 2]
Folder 08: Manuscript: The NPS – Conservator of America’s Scenic and Historic Heritage (Bound Draft), 1964 [2 of 2]
Folder 09: Manuscript: The NPS – Conservator of America’s Scenic and Historic Heritage (Draft), 1964 [1 of 3]

BOX 04
[THE NPS - CONSERVATOR OF AMERICA'S SCENIC AND HISTORIC HERITAGE]
Folder 01: Manuscript: The NPS – Conservator of America’s Scenic and Historic Heritage (Draft), 1964 [2 of 3]
Folder 02: Manuscript: The NPS – Conservator of America’s Scenic and Historic Heritage (Draft), 1964 [3 of 3]

[THE NPS - MANAGER OF LAND AND PEOPLE]
Folder 03: Chapter 1: Foreword (Draft), undated
Folder 04: Chapter 2: NPS – A Conservation Organization (Draft), undated
Folder 05: Chapter 3: A History of the National Park System and the National Park Service (Draft), undated
Folder 06: Chapter 4: The Role of the NPS in the United States Today (Draft), undated
Folder 07: Chapter 5: The Estate Managed by the NPS (Draft), undated
Folder 08: Chapter 6: National Park Legislation (Draft), undated
Folder 09: Chapter 7: The People Who Use the Parks (Draft), 1967, undated
Folder 10: Chapter 8: The NPS and the Wilderness (Draft), undated
Folder 11: Chapter 9: NPS Relations with Other Federal Agencies (Draft), undated

BOX 05
[THE NPS - MANAGER OF LAND AND PEOPLE]
Folder 01: Chapter 10: The Mission 66 Proposal (Draft), undated
Folder 02: Chapter 12: The Director and His Staff (Draft), undated
Folder 03: Chapter 13: The Regions, Regional Offices, and the Regional Directors (Draft), undated
Folder 04: Chapter 14: The Park Superintendent (Draft), undated
Folder 05: Chapter 15: Park Management in the National Park System (Draft), undated
Folder 06: Chapter 16: Park Ranger (Draft), undated
Folder 07: Chapter 17: National Capital Parks and the National Capital Region (Draft), undated
Folder 08: Chapter 18: The NPS and American History (Draft), undated
Folder 09: Chapter 19: Some Major Accomplishments in the Field of History (Draft), undated
Folder 10: Chapter 20: Interpretation in Action (Draft), undated
Folder 11: Chapter 21: NPS Research (Draft), undated
Folder 12: Chapter 22: NPS Roads and Roadbuilding (Draft), undated
Folder 13: Chapter 24: The NPS and the Wildlife of the Parks (Draft), undated
Folder 14: Chapter 25: The Concessions of the National Parks System (Draft), undated
Folder 15: Chapter 26: Concessions Policies, Problems, and Management (Draft), undated
Folder 16: Chapter 27: The NPS as an Employer (Draft), undated
Folder 17: Chapter 28: Training Centers (Draft), undated
Folder 18: Chapter 29: National Park and NPS Conferences (Draft), undated
Folder 19: Chapter 30: The NPS as a Publisher (Draft), undated

BOX 06
[THE NPS - MANAGER OF LAND AND PEOPLE]
Folder 01: Chapter 31: The Advisory Board (Draft), 1967
Folder 02: Chapter 32: Official Cooperating Associations (Draft), undated
Folder 03: Chapter 33: Philanthropy and the National Park System (Draft), undated
Folder 04: Chapter 34: A Look Ahead (Drafts), undated
Folder 05: Correspondence: Albright, Horace, 1962-1965
Folder 06: Correspondence: Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., 1960-1972
Folder 07: Correspondence: Hartzog, George, 1964-1982
Folder 08: Correspondence: Manuscript, 1960-1967 [1 of 2]
Folder 09: Correspondence: Manuscript, 1960-1967 [2 of 2]
Folder 10: Correspondence: Wirth, Connie, 1960-1964
Folder 11: Essay: The Attempt to Write a Book on the National Park Service, undated
Folder 12: Manuscript: The NPS – Manager of Land and People (Draft), undated [1 of 3]

BOX 07
[THE NPS - MANAGER OF LAND AND PEOPLE]
Folder 01: Manuscript: The NPS – Manager of Land and People (Draft), undated [2 of 3]
Folder 02: Manuscript: The NPS – Manager of Land and People (Draft), undated [3 of 3]
Folder 03: Manuscript: The NPS – Manager of Land and People (Revisions and Correspondence), 1966
Folder 04: Manuscript: Outline for a Study of the NPS and the Evolution of its Organization, Responsibilities, Guiding Principles, Policies, and Practices, 1958
Folder 05: Manuscript: Revisions and Comments, undated
Folder 06: Photographs: Rocky Mountain Visitor’s Center, undated
Folder 07: Research: A Look Ahead, 1964
Folder 08: Research: Concessions, 1949-1963 [1 of 2]
Folder 09: Research: Concessions, 1949-1963 [2 of 2]

BOX 08
[THE NPS - MANAGER OF LAND AND PEOPLE]
Folder 01: Research: Cooperating Associations, 1962
Folder 02: Research: Employment, 1961-1963
Folder 03: Research: Legislation, 1962
Folder 04: Research: Mission 66, 1963
Folder 05: Research: National Capital Parks, 1961-1964
Folder 06: Research: National Park Service and American History, 1962-1963
Folder 07: Research: National Park Service Conferences
Folder 08: Research: National Park Service History, 1944-1963
Folder 09: Research: The National Park Wilderness, 1960-1967, undated
Folder 10: Research: Parkways
Folder 11: Research: The People Who Use the Parks, 1963

BOX 09
[THE NPS - MANAGER OF LAND AND PEOPLE]
Folder 01: Research: Philanthropy, undated
Folder 02: Research, General: Administrative Manual, 1958-1965
Folder 03: Research, General: Advisory Board on National Parks, Historic Sites, Buildings, and Monuments summary minutes and additions to National Park System, 1960-1962
Folder 04: Research, General: Appropriations Lands, 1962, undated
Folder 05: Research, General: Area Operations, 1961-1967
Folder 06: Research, General: Archival Material, 1963
Folder 07: Research, General: Conservation and Natural Resources, 1961-1967, undated
Folder 08: Research, General: Cooperating Associations Handbook, 1968
Folder 09: Research, General: Data on Proposed Areas, undated
Folder 10: Research, General: Department of Interior News Releases, 1963-1964
Folder 11: Research, General: Design and Construction, 1919-1959
Folder 12: Research, General: Director’s Staff Meeting, 1963-1966
Folder 13: Research, General: Eight Steps to Better Training, undated
Folder 14: Research, General: Elbert Cox’s “In-box,” 1960-1964

BOX 10
[THE NPS - MANAGER OF LAND AND PEOPLE]
Folder 01: Research, General: Fees and Charges, 1963
Folder 02: Research, General: Fiscal Year Budgets, 1951-1963
Folder 03: Research, General: Fish and Fishing in the Parks, 1963-1964
Folder 04: Research, General: Forest Service Classification, 1963
Folder 05: Research, General: Lewis and Clark Waterway, 1962-1963
Folder 06: Research, General: National Conference on State Parks, 1971
Folder 07: Research, General: National Monuments, 1959, undated
Folder 08: Research, General: National Park Service Academy, 1963, undated
Folder 09: Research, General: National Park Service Organization, 1953-1964
Folder 10: Research, General: The National Park System, 1962-1963
Folder 11: Research, General: National Parks Association of Washington Annual Meeting, 1922
Folder 12: Research, General: Newspaper Clippings, 1948-1974, undated
Folder 13: Research, General: Outdoor Recreation, 1951-1963, undated
Folder 14: Research, General: Pamphlets, undated
Folder 15: Research, General: Park Management Training Sessions, 1962-1967
Folder 16: Research, General: Personnel Management Series, 1963
Folder 17: Research, General: Planning and Civic Comment Journal, 1963
Folder 18: Research, General: Policies Regarding People, 1960-1963

BOX 11
[THE NPS - MANAGER OF LAND AND PEOPLE]
Folder 01: Research, General: Policies Regarding Resources, 1961-1963
Folder 02: Research, General: Proposal for a National Park Service Eastern Training Center, 1960
Folder 03: Research, General: Public Health Service Administrative Guide Covering NPS Activities, 1963
Folder 04: Research, General: Regions and Regional Offices, 1963
Folder 05: Research, General: Relations with Other Federal Agencies, 1961-1964
Folder 06: Research, General: Reorganization of NPS, 1962-1966
Folder 07: Research, General: Resource Planning, 1936-1962
Folder 08: Research, General: Retirement Information, 1967, undated
Folder 10: Research, General: Roads, undated
Folder 11: Research, General: Summary of Annual Mountaineering Reports, 1959-1962
Folder 12: Research, General: Summary of Domestic Livestock Use in National Parks, 1961
Folder 13: Research, General: Superintendents and Field Area Operations, 1936-1977
Folder 14: Research, General: Supervisory Training Course, 1963
Folder 15: Research, General: Threats, 1962-1963
Folder 16: Research, General: The Tioga Road Opening, 1915
Folder 17: Research, General: Training, 1963-1964
Folder 18: Research, General: Various Speeches and Reports, 1972, undated
Folder 19: Research, General: White House Conference on Conservation, 1962
Folder 20: Research, General: Wildlife, 1961

BOX 12
[OTHER WRITINGS AND PUBLICATIONS]
Folder 01: A Brief History (Draft), undated
Folder 02: A Brief History of the NPS (Working Typescript with Corrections), undated
Folder 03: Fees and Charges in the NPS (Draft), 1966
Folder 04: Headquarters—The Washington Office (Draft), 1966, undated
Folder 05: History—Hartzog (Draft), undated
Folder 06: Interview with Rockefeller, 1967-1971
Folder 07: Land Acquisitions, 1966
Folder 08: Master Planning (Draft), undated
Folder 09: The National Conference on Parks, 1969
Folder 10: The National Park Service Research Program, 1960-1963
Folder 11: The National Park System (Draft), 1967
Folder 12: The Parks and World War II (Draft), undated
Folder 13: Policies (Draft), 1925-1966
Folder 14: A Redwood National Park, 1946-1963
Folder 15: Reorganization of NPS (Draft), undated
Folder 16: Retirement Statement, 1958
Folder 17: State Park and Recreation Planning, 1934
Folder 18: Those National Recreation Areas (Draft), 1967, undated
Folder 19: Toward Understanding of Our Heritage, 1959
Folder 20: “Transient Camp” Essay by H.K. Roberts, 1975
Folder 21: Untitled Drafts, undated

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