Cover Page

Preface

Introduction

Breeches, Blouses, and Skirts

Photofile

Bibliography

Notes

Appendix A

Appendix B

Appendix C

National Park Service Uniforms Breeches, Blouses, and Skirts 1918-1991	Number 4
Breeches, Blouses, and Skirts (continued)

Scotts Bluff National Monument Personnel, c. 1944. Office personnel were required to wear uniforms at this time and although Meinser is classified as a "Junior Clerk Stenographer," she is wearing a badge, something that was supposed to have ceased per order of the Director in 1920. Note also, the USNPS pin on the front of her overseas cap. Left to Right: Custodian Merrill J. Mattes, Junior Clerk-Stenographer Ethel L. Meinser, Park Ranger Sneddon. NPSHPC/SCBL#1531

With the able bodied men again going off to war, women, especially NPS wives, were enlisted to help in the parks, particularly in the offices and entrance stations. At that time, in the field, even office help wore uniforms. While not specified in the uniform regulations, in 1943 a material saving uniform was specified for women. That uniform consisted of:

"Coat, 16oz. elastique 'WAAC' type. Skirt, 16 oz. elastique, gores and 4 pleats. Overseas Cap, 16 oz. elastique. Shirt, steel grey poplin with shoulder straps and pleated pockets. Necktie, four-in hand, 'Barathea' dark green. Oxfords, cordovan color, plain toe Belt, using NPS hat-band for this purpose with buckle to be added." [9]

This last item, the belt, must have been the occasion of much mirth. None of the photographs examined of uniformed female personnel from this period show anyone wearing this belt, or for that matter, anyone able to wear it. The hatband only allowed for a 24" waist and that was with the uniform on.

As with the men, women who had been uniformed continued to wear the man's style coat throughout the war as long as it was presentable. A photograph of Ethel L. Melnser, stenographer at Scott's Bluff National Monument, taken in 1944, shows her wearing an "overseas" cap with a USNPS collar ornament in front, standard men's style coat, semi-full skirt, shirt (appears to be gray), tie and shoes. It is interesting that even though her title is stenographer she is wearing a badge. Except for the cap, this is essentially the same uniform worn by Lila Michaelsen, Guide at Carlsbad Caverns in 1931.

Women's dress, 1930s & 1940s Women's uniforms began to become standardized when Carlsbad Caverns National Park and its uniformed women guides came into the fold, but the first official regulations pertaining to women were not issued until 1947. NPSART - Gilbert B. Cohen, artist - HFC/ARM#GR-0002-6 & -7

After the war, the subject was taken up again and after much debate, a standard uniform for the women of the National Park Service was finally authorized on June 2, 1947 with Amendment No. 1 to Volume 19 (1947) of the National Park Service uniform regulations. Even then, it was segregated under the heading of "Special Uniforms".

"The standard uniform for all Service areas in which women are required to wear a uniform in the performance of their official duties while engaged in public contact, interpretive, or protective work, shall consist of the following:

Coat: The standard men's fatigue jacket.

Skirt: Six-gore skirt of same material as jacket.

Hat: Soft felt hat with small snap brim, turned up at back and sides and down over forehead in front, in matching color with narrow grosgrain ribbon on dark green color.

Shirt: Convertible or standard Peter Pan collar type of steel-gray color. Long sleeves but toned at the wrist. Shirts may be worn open at the neck when so authorized by the superintendent. Such authorization, when granted, shall apply to all uniformed personnel within an area.

Necktie: Draped bow of soft scarf material, or four-in-hand tie. Dark green in color. (During the summer season, the necktie may or may not be worn, subject to the conditions prescribed in the preceding paragraph.)

Shoes: Oxford type, dark brown color, plain toe.

Stockings: Neutral color.

Belt: Not mandatory. (The standard National Park Service hat band may be adapted for this purpose, if desired, by the provision of buckles instead of the standard thong for lacing.)

Buttons: Regulation National Park Service buttons are prescribed.

Insignia: Same as for men employees

Materials: Same as for men employees."

The Mission Church from the southwest, Tumacacori, NM, 1947 (detail). Sally Brewer (Harris) is shown standing at the church entrance in a plain skirt. Coats could be left off in hot climates at the discretion of the superintendent. NPSHPC/George A. Grant Photo/HFC#C47-GG-687

Uniform for Women Employees, 1947 Uniform Regulations - Amendment No. 5, May 1950. This image of Olive Johnson wearing a modified style WAAC Army uniform was used to illustrate the women's uniform in the Amended 1947 NPS Uniform Regulations. Even though the "overseas" cap was not addressed in the regulations, it was being worn by the women and thus, included in this picture. NPSHPC/HFC#96-1326

The National Park Service, at last, was recognizing women. Granted, their uniform was classified under the "Special" category and there was only one, instead of three, like the men, and their coat was not the men's dress blouse, just the "standard men's fatigue jacket", but at least they were being acknowledged as part of the uniformed establishment.

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Last Modified: Wed, Dec 20 2000 11:30:00 pm PDT
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