Ranger Roll Call, 1916-1929

Recent research demonstrates that there were more women rangers and ranger-naturalists in early National Park Service (NPS) history than previously known. Overall, however, the number of women with job titles other than secretary or clerk remained small.

The tables below list the women working as rangers, naturalists, and guides through 1929, along with their official titles, dates of employment, and the parks where they worked. The tables are organized by year to illustrate how many (or rather how few) women were in uniformed positions in any given year at individual parks and across the NPS.

All positions were temporary unless annotated with a [P] (for permanent) after the woman’s name. WAE means “when actually employed.” This is generally equivalent to today’s subject-to-furlough positions meaning that a woman could be laid off when not needed or she may have only worked part time. Even permanent positions could be WAE positions.

Note that this article is a work in progress and information will be updated as it becomes available.

1916

Table 1: 1916 Women Rangers

Name	Park	Dates	Official Title	Comments
Esther Brazell	Wind Cave	Jul 1-Aug 31	Park Ranger	Hired as temporary ranger for guide service at $50 per month. Appointment was to last until September 30, 1916, but she resigned August 31, 1916. Father was supervisor of the park.

1917

Table 2: 1917 Women Rangers

Name	Park	Dates	Official Title	Comments
Esther Brazell	Wind Cave	Jun 13-Aug 15	Park Ranger	Hired as temporary ranger to serve as a second guide at $75 per month. Appointment was until August 31, 1917, but she resigned on August 15th following doctor’s advice.

1918

Table 3: 1918 Women Rangers

Name	Park	Dates	Official Title	Comments
Freeda C. Nielsen	Wind Cave	May 20-Aug 26	Park Ranger (guide)	Surname may be spelled Nielson. Parenthetical guide is on her official service record card.
Esther Brazell	Wind Cave	Cancelled	Park Ranger	Appointed Jul 12 but her appointment was cancelled when it was determined that a third ranger wasn't needed.
Clare Marie Hodges	Yosemite	May 22-Sep 7	Park Ranger
Helene Wilson	Mount Rainier	Jul 1-Sep 4	Park Ranger
Unknown	Yellowstone		Park Ranger	Cited in 1937 Park Service Bulletin article but not named.
Unknown	Glacier		Park Ranger	Cited in 1937 Park Service Bulletin article but not named.
Unknown	Sequoia		Park Ranger	Cited in 1937 Park Service Bulletin article but not named.

1919

Table 4: 1919 Women Rangers

Name	Park	Dates	Official Title	Comments
Jessie B. Reed	Yosemite	Jun 23-Jul 31; Sep 10-Sep 30	Park Ranger	Also worked as an NPS cook from Dec 7, 1919-May 11, 1920. Husband was a ranger.

1920

Table 5: 1920 Women Rangers

Name	Park	Dates	Official Title	Comments
Jessie B. Reed	Yosemite	Jul 1-Oct 4	Park Ranger	Also worked as an NPS cook from Nov 1-30 and Dec 1, 1920-Apr 30, 1921.
Isabel Bassett Wasson	Yellowstone	Jul 1-Sep 15	Park Ranger

1921

Table 6: 1921 Women Rangers

Name	Park	Dates	Official Title	Comments
Jessie B. Reed	Yosemite	Jun 1-Sep 30	Park Ranger	Last season as a ranger until 1927. Worked as a cook again in 1923.
Laura I. Dodge	Yosemite	Jun 15-Jul 21	Park Ranger (Temporary)	Mentioned in the 1921 NPS annual report along with Myra Drachman.
Myra Drachman	Yosemite	June 15-Jul 21	Park Ranger (Temporary)	Mentioned in the 1921 NPS annual report along with Laura Dodge. Charles Russell recorded in 1926 that she "received no salary but had an appointment and a badge."
Enid Michael	Yosemite	Jun 28-Aug 31	Park Ranger
Mary A. Rolfe	Yellowstone	Jun 13-Aug 31	Park Ranger
Marguerite “Peg” Lindsley	Yellowstone	Jun 14-Sep 17	Park Ranger

1922

Table 7: 1922 Women Rangers

Name	Park	Dates	Official Title	Comments
Enid Michael	Yosemite	Jun 16-Aug 31	Park Ranger
M. Lydia Barrette	Hawaii National Park	Aug-Oct?	Park Ranger	Hired as a laborer until the ranger appointment came through.
Marguerite “Peg” Lindsley	Yellowstone	Jun 16-Sep 19	Park Ranger
Frances Eva "Jim" Pound	Yellowstone	Around schooling		Volunteered to assist her father Thaddeus Pound at the Gardiner checking station. She was 15 years old. Her first official appointment was in 1926, and she was credited for her volunteer experience when she applied.

1923

Table 8: 1923 Women Rangers

Name	Park	Dates	Official Title	Comments
Beatrice Freeland	Yosemite	Jun 1-Jul 31, Sep 1-Oct 6	Park Ranger (Temporary, WAE)	Husband was a ranger. She was recalled to duty in September to cover for men rangers who left earlier than expected.
Enid Michael	Yosemite	Jun 11-Aug 31	Park Ranger, WAE
Hazel M. Maudlin	Yosemite	Jun 16-Aug 15	Park Ranger (Temporary)	Husband was also a ranger.
Marguerite “Peg” Lindsley	Yellowstone	Jun 20-Sep 20	Park Ranger	Did not work the 1924 or 1925 seasons.
Frances Eva "Jim" Pound	Yellowstone	Around schooling		Volunteered to assist her father Thaddeus Pound at the Gardiner checking station. She was 16 years old. Her first official appointment was in 1926, and she was credited for her volunteer experience when she applied.
Mary Sullivan	Glacier		Park Ranger	Sullivan reports that she worked in 1923 as a "registration agent" at the Polebridge entrance station but it isn't recorded on her official record service card. It is likely that she was either hired as a day laborer or was unpaid (she was the wife a park ranger).

1924

Table 9: 1924 Women Rangers

Name	Park	Dates	Official Title	Comments
Enid Michael	Yosemite	Jun 1-Aug 31	Park Ranger (Temporary, WAE)
Beatrice Freeland	Yosemite	Jun 1-Jul 31	Park Ranger (Temporary, WAE)	Husband was a ranger. Although she was approved for a position in 1925, she resigned on April 6, 1925.
Hazel A. Maudlin	Yosemite	Jun 1-Jul 31	Park Ranger (Temporary)	Husband was a ranger.
Margaret Thone	Yellowstone	Jun 9-August 19	Park Ranger (Temporary, WAE)	Worked at Mammoth Hot Springs where she guided visitors, worked the Information Office, developed museum, managed wildflower exhibits, and as an artist drew wildflowers for the park. Furloughed August 19th. Brother was Dr. Frank Thone, ranger-naturalist at the park beginning 1922.
Irene Wisdom	Yellowstone	Jun 16-Sep 20	Park Ranger (Temporary, WAE)	Husband was a ranger.
Frances Eva "Jim" Pound	Yellowstone	Around schooling		Volunteered to assist her father Thaddeus Pound at the Gardiner checking station. She was 17 years old. Her first official appointment was in 1926, and she was credited for her volunteer experience when she applied.
Mary Sullivan [P]	Glacier	Jul 1-Sep 14	Park Ranger, WAE	First permanent woman ranger in the NPS. Husband was a ranger.

1925

Table 10: 1925 Women Rangers

Name	Park	Dates	Official Title	Comments
Hazel M. Maudlin	Yosemite	Jan 1-Mar 25	Park Ranger (Temporary)	Resigned on March 25, 1925, but see 1927.
Enid Michael	Yosemite	Jun 1-Aug 31	Park Ranger (Nature Guide), WAE
Frieda B. Nelson	Yellowstone	Jun 16-Sep 20	Park Ranger (Temporary, WAE)	Worked primarily in the information office at park headquarters
Irene Wisdom	Yellowstone	Jun 16-Sep 20	Park Ranger, WAE	Husband was a ranger.
Marguerite “Peg” Lindsley [P]	Yellowstone	Dec 28-Dec 31	Park Ranger, WAE	The NPS’s second permanent woman ranger
Frances Eva "Jim" Pound	Yellowstone	Around schooling		Volunteered to assist her father Thaddeus Pound at the Gardiner checking station. She was 18 years old. Her first official appointment was in 1926, and she was credited for her volunteer experience when she applied.
Mary J. Sullivan [P]	Glacier	Jul 1-Sep 15	Park Ranger, WAE	Husband was a ranger.

1926

Table 11: 1926 Women Rangers

Name	Park	Dates	Official Title	Comments
Martha Bingaman	Yosemite	Jul 12-Sep 15	Park Ranger (Temporary)	Worked as one of 15 checking rangers (at an entrance station) this season. Husband was a ranger.
Enid Michael	Yosemite	Jun 1-Aug 31	Park Ranger (Nature Guide), WAE
Eva McNally	Yosemite	Jul 1-Aug 31	Park Ranger	Husband was a ranger. Initially hired when a male ranger failed to show up.
Jeannette Smith	Yosemite	Jul 12-Sep 15	Park Ranger (Temporary)	Worked as one of 15 checking rangers (at an entrance station) this season. Husband was a ranger.
Frieda B. Nelson	Yellowstone	Jun 14-Aug 31	Park Ranger (Temporary)	In charge of the information office at park headquarters. Resigned to accept another position.
Marguerite “Peg” Lindsley [P]	Yellowstone	Jan 1-Dec 31	Park Ranger (Temporary, WAE)	Furlough periods unknown.
Frances Eva Pound	Yellowstone	Jun 15-Oct 2	Park Ranger (Temporary)	Father was a ranger and she had been assisting him (for free) for the previous four years around her schooling. She was 19 years old in 1926. Replaced a male ranger whose appointment was cancelled. Worked ranger checker duties at the Gardiner entrance station.
Elizabeth M. Conard	Yellowstone	Jun 15-Sep 10	Park Ranger (Temporary)	Assisted her father (a ranger-naturalist) at Tower Falls in 1925 without pay. Principal duties were with the nature guide, information and lecture service at Tower Falls. Resigned to return to college.
Irene Wisdom	Yellowstone	Jun 15-Sep 27	Park Ranger (Temporary, WAE)	Husband was a ranger.
Frances "Frankie" Hodgin	Yellowstone	Oct only?	Park Ranger	Husband was a temporary ranger at Yellowstone since 1923. She sought another ranger appointment in 1927 but it was denied to her following the 1926 inspection visit which caused NPS to reconsider hiring women as rangers.
Herma Albertson	Yellowstone	Summer (exact dates unknown)	Day Laborer	Worked for NPS in afternoons and concessionaire in the mornings.
Mary J. Sullivan [P]	Glacier	Jul 1-Aug 31	Park Ranger, WAE	Husband was a ranger.

1927

Table 12: 1927 Women Rangers

Name	Park	Dates	Official Title	Comments
Jessie B. Reed	Yosemite	May 15-Oct 21	Temporary Park Ranger
Martha Bingaman	Yosemite	May 20-Aug 31	Park Ranger	Husband was a ranger.
Jeannette Smith	Yosemite	May 20-Sep 7	Park Ranger
Enid Michael	Yosemite	Jun 1-Sep 20	Park Ranger
Hazel M. Maudlin	Yosemite	Jun 1-Aug 19	Park Ranger (Temporary)	Husband was a ranger.
Eva McNally	Yosemite	Jun 20-Aug 31	Park Ranger	Husband was a ranger.
Marguerite “Peg” Lindsley [P]	Yellowstone	Jan 1-Dec 31	Park Ranger, WAE	Furlough periods unknown.
Frances Eva Pound	Yellowstone	Jun 1-Oct 8	Park Ranger (Temporary)	Also worked as an assistant clerk-stenographer from Nov 16, 1927-April 18, 1928 (resigned that position).
Virginia Pound	Yellowstone		Park Ranger	Father and sister were rangers.
Irene Wisdom	Yellowstone	Jun 16-Sep 19	Park Ranger	Husband was a ranger.
Herma Albertson	Yellowstone	Summer (exact dates unknown)	Day Laborer	Listed on employee roles as “without appointment.”
Mary Sullivan [P]	Glacier	Jul 1-Aug 31	Park Ranger, WAE	Husband was a ranger.

1928

Table 13: 1928 Women Rangers and Ranger-Naturalists

Name	Park	Dates	Official Title	Comments
Jessie B. Reed	Yosemite	Feb 8-Feb 12	Temporary Park Ranger (WAE)	4 days only!
Martha Bingaman	Yosemite	Jan 8-Apr 7 (WAE)	Park Ranger
Jeannette Smith	Yosemite	Jun 20-Jul 1	Park Ranger (FldAgrmt)	Field agreement?
Jeannette Smith	Yosemite	Jul 1-Sep 17	Park Ranger
Enid Michael	Yosemite	Jun 1-Aug 31	Park Ranger (Naturalist)
Mabel Hibbard	Yosemite	Jul 1-Aug 11	Park Ranger (Naturalist)	Worked as “children’s nature guide”
Marguerite “Peg” Lindsley [P]	Yellowstone	Jan 1-Apr 30	Park Ranger	Terminated but brought back the next day at a higher grade
Marguerite “Peg” Lindsley [P]	Yellowstone	May 1-Sep 18	Park Ranger	Resigned her permanent position on 9/18/1928
Frances Eva Pound	Yellowstone	Jun 1-Sep 19	Park Ranger (Checker)
Irene Wisdom	Yellowstone	Jun 16-Sep 15	Park Ranger (Checker)
Ruby H. Anderson	Yellowstone	Aug 13-Sep 12	Park Ranger (Checker)	Worked as a telephone operator in 1927-1928 and a clerk in 1929.
Herma Albertson	Yellowstone	Summer (exact dates unknown)	Day Laborer	“Without appointment”
Dr. Margaret Fuller Boos	Rocky Mountain	Jun 18-Sep 19	Park Ranger (Naturalist)
Mary Sullivan [P]	Glacier	Jun 1-Jun 30 Jul 1- Aug 31	Park Ranger, WAE

1929

Table 14: 1929 Women Rangers and Ranger-Naturalists

Name	Park	Dates	Official Title	Comments
Jeannette Smith	Yosemite	Jul 1-Sep 20	Park Ranger
Enid Michael	Yosemite	May 1-May 31Jun 1-Aug 31	Park Ranger (Naturalist)	Two successive appointments listed but no change of grade or salary.
Marguerite “Peg” Lindsley Arnold	Yellowstone	Mar 1-Mar 15	Park Ranger
Marguerite “Peg” Lindsley Arnold	Yellowstone	Jun 15-sep 20	Park Ranger (Naturalist)
Frances Eva Pound	Yellowstone	Jun 17-Sep 30	Park Ranger (Checker)
Irene Wisdom	Yellowstone	Jun 17-Sep 15	Park Ranger (Checker)
Herma Albertson	Yellowstone	Jun 16-Sep 11	Park Ranger (Naturalist)
Dr. Margaret Fuller Boos	Rocky Mountain	Jun 14-Oct 19	Park Ranger (Naturalist)	Had later war service appointments with other government agencies
Mildred Frances Rister	Carlsbad Caverns		Ranger?	Referred to as a guide
Eva Thomas	Carlsbad Caverns		Ranger?	Her obituary claims she was the first ranger at the park
Lillian Ares	Carlsbad Caverns		Ranger?	One newspaper article describes her as a ranger
Mary Sullivan [P]	Glacier	Jul 1-Sep 15	Park Ranger, WAE

Explore More!

To learn more about women and the NPS Uniform, visit Dressing the Part: A Portfolio of Women’s History in the NPS.


This research was made possible in part by a grant from the National Park Foundation.