Whitman Mission Administrative History

TABLE OF CONTENTS

COVER

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER ONE
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF WHITMAN MISSION NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE

Location
Park Resources and Facilities
Historic Significance
Purpose of Whitman Mission National Historic Site

CHAPTER TWO
EVENTS LEADING TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE WHITMAN MISSION NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE

William H. Gray's Campaign
The Monument Association, 1897
Maintaining the Monument, 1900-1936
The Whitman Centennial, Incorporated

CHAPTER THREE
AMENDATORY LEGISLATION SINCE 1936

Land Acquisition
Name Change

CHAPTER FOUR
ADMINISTRATION

The Early Years: Thomas R. Garth, 1941-1950

Administrative Structure
Principal Accomplishments: 1941—1950
Archeological-Historical Research
The Works Projects Administration
Development
The Temporary Museum

"Modest Scale" Development: Robert K. Weldon, 1950-1956

Administrative Structure
Principal Accomplishments: 1950-1956
Maintenance
Interpretation
Development

Culmination of Development: William J. Kennedy, 1956—1964

Administrative Structure
Principal Accomplishments: 1956—1964
The Frazier Farm: Last Obstacle to Development
New Approach Road
Mission 66: Long Term Construction Progress
Construction: First Phase
Construction: Second Phase
Construction: Third Phase
Historical Research and Interpretation

A Time of Transition: Raymond C. Stickler, 1965—1971

Administrative Structure
Principal Accomplishments: 1965—1971
Interpretation
Development

Maintaining the Standard: Stanley C. Kowalkowski, 1971-1980

Administrative Structure
Principal Accomplishments: 1980—1987
Interpretation

Systematic Management: Robert C. Amdor, 1980—1987

Administrative Structure
Principal Accomplishments: 1971-1980
Maintenance
Maintenance Study
Interpretation

David P. Herrera, 1987—

Conclusion

CHAPTER FIVE
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Cultural Resource Management

Archeology 1941-1950
Archeology 1960-1961
Reconstruction
The Great Grave
Memorial Shaft
The Mission Site
The Oregon Trail
Millpond, Irrigation Ditch, Oxbow, and Orchard
Pioneer Cemetery and Indian Burial Ground
Artifact Preservation

Natural Resource Management

CHAPTER SIX
THE INTERPRETIVE PROGRAM

CHAPTER SEVEN
RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS

Government

Mission 66
Environmental Awareness
Equal Employment Opportunity
Energy Conservation
Budget

Relationship with Local Community

Relationship with Local Organizations
National Park Service Outreach Efforts
Relationship with Whitman College

Neighbor Relations

Enos B. Miller
Glen Frazier
Molly Hanebut
Ray and Neil Shelden
Grazing
Water Rights

CHAPTER EIGHT
CONCLUSION

ENDNOTES

BIBLIOGRAPHY

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

1. Great Grave circa 1860. Reverend Cushing Eells's home pictured in background on the mission site

2. 50th Anniversary of the Whitman Massacre, 1897

3. Great Grave circa 1914. The large marker in the foreground marks the grave of William and Mary Gray. The small fenced grave in the background marks the grave of one of the pioneers buried in the "Pioneer Cemetery"

4. Whitman-Eells Memorial Church circa 1900. The Swegle farm is in the background. The county road that divides the two areas was converted to the Oregon Trail in 1963

5. Whitman Mission was designated "Whitman Memorial Park" by the Kiwanis during the 1920s and 1930s

6. Great Grave area circa 1940. Landscaping by local groups is evident. Note that cars parked near the grave and drove up the hill to the shaft

7. Top: Tom Garth (second from left) and crew excavate the mission house in 1941. Bottom: Excavation of Black Smith's Shop, supervised by Paul Schumacher, proceeds in 1960

8a., 8b. The adobe museum as it appeared in 1951. This building along with the First House wall display (below) and the rest of the building sites were interpretive highlights during the 1950s

9a., 9b. The millpond as it appeared to National Park Service officials in 1936. The millpond as it appeared after 1961

10. Proposed development site--the base of Shaft Hill circa 1940

11. Development site after visitor center and trails were completed in 1963 but before the Frazier house was removed in 1964
A. Marion W. Swegle Land Donation, approximately 1897

APPENDICES

A. Marion W. Swegle Land Donation, approximately 1897

B. Whitman Mission Land Claim, approximately 1900

C. Whitman Mission Land Claim, 1936

D. Whitman National Monument, 1940

E. Development Proposal, 1941

F. Whitman National Monument, Areas Available for Location of Museum and Service Areas, 1941

G. Boundary Proposal, 1947-1956

H. Frazier's Tract 11, 31 Acres, 1956

I. Frazier's Tract 11, 46 Acres, 1957

J. B. Loyal Smith's Proposed Access Road, 1956

K. Regional Personnel Proposed Access Road, 1956

L. Location of Current Access Road, 1956

M. General Development Plan, 1960

N. List of Park Supporters, 1966

O. Neighbors, 1962

P. South Pasture Livestock Grazing Chronology

Q. Whitman Mission Employees, 1941-1987