Guide to the Thomas J. Allen Photograph Collection

This finding aid describes the Thomas J. Allen Photograph Collection, 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 2117
Creator: Allen, Thomas J., 1897-1985
Title: Thomas J. Allen Photograph Collection
Dates: 1920-1963
Volume of Collection: 3.0 LF
Language of Materials: English

Digitized copies: This collection has not been digitized.

Conditions Governing Use: This collection is open to research use. The motion picture film in Series III is stored in freezers and requires acclimation to room temperature before use. At least 72 hours prior notice is required for access to this material. Most of the images in this collection were taken by Allen or other NPS employees. Copyright of Allen's images not taken during official business was transferred to the NPS through the deed of gift. In some cases, the photographer and therefore the copyright status is unknown. See https://rightsstatements.org/page/UND/1.0/?language=en. See also the NPS general copyright & restrictions information.
Provenance: Donated to the National Park Service (NPS) by Maude de Turk in two transactions (1990 and 1998).
Processing Note: This collection was processed and described by Jennifer Taylor in 2022. This finding aid was updated by Nancy Russell in December 2024.

Rights Statements for Archival Description: This Guide to the Thomas J. Allen Photograph Collection is in the public domain.
Preferred Citation: Thomas J. Allen Photographs, NPS History Collection (HFCA 2117)
Location of Repository: NPS History Collection, Harpers Ferry Center, PO Box 50, Harpers Ferry, WV 25425

Related Materials:

• Interviews in the NPS Oral History Collection (HFCA 1817).

Biographical Note

Thomas J. Allen was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1897 and soon moved to Seattle, Washington. He joined the U.S. Army after the United States entered World War I in 1917. After the war, he joined the National Park Service (NPS) and began a career that spanned 45 years, six parks, three regional offices, and a brief tenure as assistant director.

Allen began his career in 1920 as a seasonal ranger at Mount Rainier National Park, where he worked two summers before moving to Rocky Mountain National Park in 1922 as chief ranger at the request of Superintendent Roger Toll. After six years in Colorado, Allen became the superintendent of Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park in 1928. He spent three years in Hawai'i before becoming superintendent of Zion National Park in 1931. A little over a year later, he moved to Arkansas to become the superintendent of Hot Springs National Park. Four years later, in 1936, he returned to Rocky Mountain National Park as superintendent. He only remained there a year before being promoted to director of Region II (Midwest Region). In 1941 Allen became director of Region I (Eastern Region), which encompassed the eastern United States, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands.

That same year, the United States entered World War II. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, Allen rejoined the military and served as a major in the United States Army Air Corps until 1944.

Returning to the Park Service, he regained his position as Region I director and remained there for seven years. Allen was promoted to NPS assistant director in 1951. In 1956, he decided that Washington, DC wasn't for him and became superintendent of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. He remained there for three years before becoming director of Region III (Southwest Region) in 1959. Allen remained in the Southwest Region until his retirement in 1965.

Allen married twice; first to Mildred "Kim" Kimball Allen, who is a recurring subject in his photographs. They met during Allen's tenure at Hot Springs National Park in 1932 and remained married until her death in 1965. His second wife was Maude de Turk. The two were together until Allen's death on November 17, 1985. Allen is buried at the National Cemetery in the Presidio of San Francisco.

Sources

Evison, Herbert oral history interview, NPS Oral History Collection (HFCA 1817), available online at https://npgallery.nps.gov/HFC/GetAsset/12a9192b-f984-451d-b1d5-7b1cd49fe8f5/original

Unsourced obituary in NPS History Collection accession file, HFCA-01188.

Scope and Content Note

Black and white prints, negatives, slides, motion picture film, and park ephemera created or assembled by Thomas J. Allen. The images document Allen's career in the NPS from 1920 to 1965. Photographs featuring family members are also found in the collection.

Arrangement

Organized into three series by format, as follows:
Series I: Slides and Negatives, 1940-1959
Series II: B&W Photographs and Documents, 1920-1963
Series III: Motion Picture Films, Undated

Series I: Slides and Negatives, 1940-1959

Volume of Series: 1.5 LF
Arranged alphabetically by park code or subject, and thereunder alphabetically by subject.

Scope and Content Note

Glass slides, 35mm slides, and negatives, all in color, taken during Thomas J. Allen's career. These materials encompass the period Allen was regional director of Region I, assistant director of the NPS, superintendent of Sequoia & Kings Canyon, and regional director of Region III. The major parks represented are San Juan National Historic Site, Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks, and Virgin Islands National Park.

Container List

BOX 01
Folder 01: BLRI: Scenery, undated
Folder 02: BRCA: Scenery, 1950
Folder 03: CHIR: Scenery, 1950
Folder 04: CHIS: Hatfield Group, 1957
Folder 05: CHRI: Scenery, undated
Folder 06: DENA: Scenery, 1962
Folder 07: DEVA: Family Photos, 1950
Folder 08: DEVA: Scenery, 1950
Folder 09: DRTO: Scenery, 1941
Folder 10: EVER: NPS Employees, 1950
Folder 11: EVER: Scenery, undated
Folder 12: GLAC: Family Photos, 1954
Folder 13: GRCA: NPS Employees, 1950
Folder 14: GRCA: Scenery, 1950
Folder 15: GRTE: Scenery, undated
Folder 16: GRTE: Visitors, 1958
Folder 17: LIBO: Negatives, undated
Folder 18: MEVE: NPS Employees, undated
Folder 19: Negatives: Unlabeled, undated
Folder 20: NPS Employees, 1950-1962
Folder 21: NPS Facilities, 1950, undated
Folder 22: ORPI: Scenery, 1950
Folder 23: ROMO: Scenery, undated
Folder 24: SAGU: Scenery, 1950
Folder 25: SAJU: NPS Employees, undated

BOX 02
Folder 01: SAJU: Scenery, 1949-1951
Folder 02: SARI: NPS Employees, 1951
Folder 03: SEKI: Family Photos, 1941-1958
Folder 04: SEKI: Negatives, 1958, undated
Folder 05: SEKI: NPS Employees, undated
Folder 06: SEKI: Scenery, 1950-1959
Folder 07: SEKI: Visitors, 1958-1959
Folder 08: TUMA: Scenery, 1950
Folder 09: VIIS: NPS Employees, undated
Folder 10: VIIS: Scenery, 1949-1951, undated
Folder 11: Visitors, 1958, undated
Folder 12: Wirth, Conrad: Negatives, undated
Folder 13: WRBR: Negatives, undated
Folder 14: YELL: Negatives, 1940
Folder 15: YELL: Scenery, undated
Folder 16: YOSE: Scenery, 1950
Folder 17: ZION: Scenery, 1950

BOX 03
Folder 01: BADL: Scenery, 1940
Folder 02: BIBE: Scenery, 1948
Folder 03: BLRI: NPS Employees, 1949
Folder 04: BLRI: Scenery, 1949
Folder 05: CACH: Scenery, 1948
Folder 06: CACH: Unidentified Individuals, 1948
Folder 07: CHRI: Scenery, 1944
Folder 08: DENA: Scenery, 1952
Folder 09: DETO: Scenery, undated
Folder 10: DINO: NPS Employees, 1939
Folder 11: DINO: Scenery, 1939 (1 of 2)

BOX 04
Folder 01: DINO: Scenery, 1939 (2 of 2)
Folder 02: DRTO: Scenery, 1941
Folder 03: ELMO: NPS Employees, 1948
Folder 04: EVER: Scenery, 1946
Folder 05: EVER: Visitors, 1946
Folder 06: GRTE: Family Photos, 1939
Folder 07: GRTE: NPS Employees, 1939-1940
Folder 08: GRTE: Scenery, 1939-1940
Folder 09: HAVO: Scenery, 1940
Folder 10: LIHO: Scenery, 1940

BOX 05
Folder 01: MORA: Scenery, 1939
Folder 02: MORU: Scenery, undated
Folder 03: PEFO: Family Photos, 1948
Folder 04: ROMO: NPS Employees, undated
Folder 05: ROMO: Scenery, 1939
Folder 06: ROMO: Senate Subcommittee on Public Lands, 1939
Folder 07: SAJU: Scenery, 1949 (1 of 2)

BOX 06
Folder 01: SAJU: Scenery, 1949 (2 of 2)
Folder 02: Spring Mill State Park, 1939
Folder 03: VIIS: US Coast Guard, 1944
Folder 04: VIIS: Scenery, 1944 (1 of 2)

BOX 07
Folder 01: VIIS: Scenery, 1944 (2 of 2)
Folder 02: WHSA: Unidentified Individuals, 1948
Folder 03: YELL: Family Photos, 1939
Folder 04: YELL: NPS Employees, 1939
Folder 05: YELL: Scenery, 1938-1940
Folder 06: YELL: Visitors, 1939

Series II: B&W Photographs and Documents, 1920-1963

Volume of Series: 1.5 LF
Arranged alphabetically by park code or subject, and thereunder alphabetically by subject.

Scope and Content Note

Black and white photographs, correspondence, annual reports, maps, and park ephemera relating to Thomas J. Allen's career in the National Park Service. These materials encompass Allen's entire career. Of note are images of dedication ceremonies for several park visitor centers, photographs from the presentation of a stone of friendship from Mount Rainier to the Japanese Consul in 1952, and several staff portraits of NPS directors with signatures and friendly notes.

Container List

BOX 01
Folder 01: ALFL: NPS Employees, 1962
Folder 02: Allen, Thomas J., undated
Folder 03: BLRI: Appendix II: The North Carolina-Georgia Extension of the Blue Ridge Parkway
Folder 04: BLRI: NPS Employees, 1949
Folder 05: BRCA: NPS Employees, 1931
Folder 06: BRCA: Scenery, 1959, undated
Folder 07: BRCA: Visitor Center Dedication, July 18, 1960
Folder 08: Carlsbad NM, Project Gnome Visit, December 1961
Folder 09: CAVE: Advisory Board, October 1963
Folder 10: CEBE: Advisory Board, 1958
Folder 11: Century 21 or Seattle World’s Fair, April-October 1962
Folder 12: Chief Ranger’s Conference, 1926
Folder 13: Congressional Visit to Corpus Christi, TX, c. 1960s
Folder 14: DETO: Scenery, undated
Folder 15: DEVA: Scenery, 1959
Folder 16: DINO: Scenery, 1939
Folder 17: DRTO: Scenery, 1947, undated
Folder 18: EVER: Dedication Ceremony, December 6, 1947
Folder 19: EVER: Map, c. 1950s
Folder 20: EVER: NPS Employees, 1947-1948
Folder 21: EVER: Scenery, 1947-1951
Folder 22: GRCA: NPS Employees, 1936, 1961
Folder 23: GRCA: Scenery, undated
Folder 24: GRCA: Visitors, undated
Folder 25: GRSM: NPS Employees, 1941
Folder 26: GRSM: Public Services Conference, September 1955
Folder 27: GRSM: Scenery, 1941
Folder 28: GRTE: NPS Employees, 1957
Folder 29: GRTE: Scenery, undated
Folder 30: GRTE: Visitors, undated
Folder 31: GWMP: Marine Corps War Memorial Dedication, November 10, 1954
Folder 32: HAVO: Allen, Thomas J., c. 1928-1931
Folder 33: HAVO: Ephemera, 1928
Folder 34: HAVO: Scenery, c. 1928-1931

BOX 02
Folder 01: HOFR: Donation of a Parcel of Land, December 29, 1952
Folder 02: HOSP: Ephemera, undated
Folder 03: HOSP: NPS Employees, 1933
Folder 04: HOSP: Superintendent’s Conference, April 1932
Folder 05: Interstate School for Park Naturalists, Meramac State Park, undated
Folder 06: ISRO: Scenery, undated
Folder 07: ISRO: Scrapbook, undated
Folder 08: JAME: Events, 1946-1950
Folder 09: MACA: Dedication Ceremony, September 18, 1946
Folder 10: MACA: NPS Employees, 1946-1954
Folder 11: MACA: Superintendent’s Conference, 1946
Folder 12: MISS: NPS Employees, 1941
Folder 13: MORA: NPS Employees, c. 1920-1921
Folder 14: MORA: Presentation of Stone to Japanese Consul, July 6, 1952
Folder 15: Mount Vernon Ladies Association, Annual Report of 1964
Folder 16: NAMA: Scenery, undated
Folder 17: NATR: NPS Employees, 1950
Folder 18: NPS Employees, 1939-1962, undated
Folder 19: NPS Facilities, undated
Folder 20: NPS Staff Portraits, 1936-1947, undated
Folder 21: OLYM: Overly, Fred, undated
Folder 22: OLYM: Regional Fire School, May 1946
Folder 23: OLYM: Scenery, 1938, undated

BOX 03
Folder 01: OLYM: Visitors, undated
Folder 02: RABR: NPS Employees, 1962
Folder 03: Region 3: 23rd National Park Service General Administration Training Course, 1961
Folder 04: RICH: Visitors, 1948
Folder 05: ROMO: NPS Employees, c. 1922-1928
Folder 06: ROMO: Scenery, 1936-1939
Folder 07: ROMO: Scrapbook, c. 1936-1937
Folder 08: ROMO: Scrapbook of 1937
Folder 09: ROMO: Topographical map
Folder 10: SAJU: NPS Employees, 1949
Folder 11: Santa Fe, NM, 150th Anniversary of Bureau of Land Management, 1962
Folder 12: School of Forestry, c. 1920s
Folder 13: SEKI: Advisory Board, October 1957
Folder 14: SEKI: NPS Employees, 1956-1959
Folder 15: SEKI: Scenery, 1958, undated
Folder 16: SEKI: Visitors, 1959
Folder 17: SHEN: Franklin Delano Roosevelt Visit, August 1933
Folder 18: SHEN: Region One Chief Ranger’s Conference, March 1952
Folder 19: SHEN: Scenery, 1947
Folder 20: STLI: Scenery, undated

BOX 04
Folder 01: SWRO: NPS Employees, 1960-1962
Folder 02: Toll, Roger W., 1926
Folder 03: Unidentified Visitor Center Dedication, undated
Folder 04: Washington D.C., AAA Dinner, 1952
Folder 05: Washington D.C., Opening of New Auto Club Building, March 1954
Folder 06: Washington Office Christmas Party, December 22, 1955
Folder 07: Waynesville, NC, Luncheon Meeting at Piedmont Hotel, July 19, 1945
Folder 08: WICA: Scenery, undated
Folder 09: Williamsburg, VA, NPS Planning Group, February 14, 1950
Folder 10: Winter Scenes, undated
Folder 11: YELL: Ephemera. 1951-1959
Folder 12: YELL: NPS Employees
Folder 13: YELL: Ranger Conference and Fire School, April-May 1941
Folder 14: YELL: Scenery, 1934
Folder 15: YELL: Topographical map, 1961
Folder 16: YELL: Visitors, undated
Folder 17: YOSE: Director’s Party, February 9-10, 1952
Folder 18: YOSE: Field Management Conference, March 1958
Folder 19: YOSE: National Park Conference, October 1950
Folder 20: YOSE: Regional Fire Training, May 1944
Folder 21: YOSE: Superintendent’s Conference, May 1945
Folder 22: ZION: NPS Employees, c. 1931
Folder 23: ZION: Scenery, c. 1931

OS BOX 01 SEPARATIONS
This box contains oversized materials separated from across the series.

Series III: Motion Picture Film, Undated

Extent of Series: 2 EA
Arranged alphabetically by title.

Scope and Content Note

Two undated film reels, believed to be filmed by Allen. One film is a superintendent's trip to Aztec Ruins, Bandolier, Mesa Verde and other unspecified parks. The other film reel captures trips to Yellowstone and Grand Teton with Edmund Rogers and Thomas Vint. The reels appear to be spliced together as they contain multiple days and events worth of material.

Container List

Reel 1: Rogers and Vint, YELL, GRTE, undated
Reel 2: Superintendent's Trip to MEVE, AZRU, BAND, and others,
undated

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