Cover Page

Preface

Introduction

In Search of an Identity

Photofile

Bibliography

Notes

Appendix A

Appendix B

Appendix C

National Park Service Uniforms In Search of an Identity 1872-1920	Number 2
In Search of an Identity (continued)

When the order for the uniforms for Sequoia was sent to Sigmund Eisner, a uniform for Laurence F. Schmeckebier of the secretary's office was also requested, as was a price for shirts. The price returned was $2.75 each for shirts made from "U.S. Army standard cloth," an olive drab flannel. "These shirts are made with turn down collar and two outside pockets same as U.S. Army regulation shirt," Eisner said. He also agreed to install two inside pockets in the coats, instead of the outside top pockets, for the same price. [46]

The rangers, or scouts, as Lt. Col. Lloyd Milton Brett termed them, at Yellowstone declined using the uniforms, since their duties were "more in the line of protection of game from poachers, and other detective work where plain clothes are not only preferable but sometimes absolutely necessary to efficient work, as a uniform could be too easily recognized at distance by offenders." The other parks seemed not to have the same problem, for uniform orders started rolling in. Most were for the #2 (winter) style with the two outside bottom pockets. Rangers Earl Clifford and Phillip E. Barrett at Mount Rainier ordered the #1 (summer) style coat (no outside pockets), only to be informed that because all the other coats ordered had the two bottom pockets, theirs would be ordered the same way. They were asked to forward the extra $.50. [47]

Lt. Col. Lloyd Milton Brett, acting superintendent, Yellowstone National Park, 1910-1916. Col. Brett collaborated with Mark Daniels when he designed his new uniform in 1915. NPSHPC - YELL/65,352

Charles W. Blossom, Sequoia National Park, 1901-1916. Charlie is wearing the 1912 National Park Service uniform coat. (no top pockets) He was killed in an automobile accident on April 22, 1916. NPSHPC - SEQU/08838

There are two photographs of rangers in this uniform. The first one is of Charlie Blossom, a ranger at Sequoia. This is a portrait, but it can be seen that there are no top pockets on the coat. It has the rise-and-fall military collar of the type used on the 1910 U.S. Army uniform coat. It also has the same U.S. military insignia on the collar as that worn by Karl Keller in his 1910 photograph. It appears to be of a winter weight, but we cannot tell if it has bottom pockets.

The second image is of a cavalry captain between two rangers, reputed to have been taken in Sequoia in 1911. The ranger on the left is wearing what appears to be one of these coats. The other ranger has on a Norfolk jacket. He may be a temporary employee, since the jacket appears to be of lightweight fabric rather than the wool used by Parker, Bridget & Company.

U.S. Cavalry captain between two park rangers, Grant Grove, Sequoia National Park, c. 1912. Ranger on left is wearing the 1912 "Eisner" coat, while the one on the right has on a civilian style Norfolk jacket. NPSHPC - HFC/73-672

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