NATIONAL PARKS CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION PAPERS

This collection is comprised of the working papers of the National Parks Conservation Association and includes correspondence, reports, administrative records, audiovisual materials, and photographs. The dates range from 1893 to 2003, but most items date from 1920 through the 1990s. The collection remains open and materials received after November 2007 are not represented in this finding aid. Please ask a reference librarian for current inventory information.

The work of the Board of Trustees is documented in this series through their meeting minutes, reports, agendas, correspondence and special events dating from 1919 to 2001. Bound copies of meeting minutes from 1919-1995 are found in boxes 13-17, after the initial set of loose copies.

This series contains the files of the executive officers of the organizations. It includes correspondence, memos, reports, speeches, testimony and reference files. Materials date from 1931 and include a limited number of records from Robert Sterling Yard. Anthony W. Smith and Paul C. Pritchard generated many of the remaining files, which date from 1959 to 1997. The files of George H. Siehl, Assistant to President Anthony W. Smith, form a portion of this series. Several of these files were water damaged when received.

The administrative series records the organizational activities of the National Parks Conservation Association. Materials consist of correspondence, financial, public relations, publications and program files. A small amount of material from the regional offices is included in this series.

The legislative activity of the organization is reflected in this series, with copies of legislation and testimony presented by staff, or on behalf of the National Parks Conservation Association staff.

Much of the day-to-day work of the organization is reflected in this series. It includes administrative records of the Park Education Center, which attempted to provide educational materials as well as income. The planning and administrative material for their major outreach program, March for Parks, is contained in this series.

In its role as advocate for the National Parks, the National Parks Conservation Association acquired material and developed activities related to the Department of the Interior and the National Park Service, especially budgets, management plans, concessions, and threats to the parks from development, overuse and pollution.

The material in this series represents information collected about other organizations interested in or working on problems related to the National Parks. It primarily consists of newsletters and informational material.

The files of this series represent information gathered to support the work of the organization.

This series documents some of the Association’s programs and activities. The largest number of video recordings is for the March for Parks program from 1993 through 1998. Hearing testimony and public service announcements are also included. The video formats include VHS, Beta and 1 inch tapes. Many of the Board of Trustees and committee meetings are recorded on audiocassettes.

As part of their publishing activities, the National Parks Conservation Association acquired a large collection of photographs, some by well-known photographers such as Ansel Adams and David Muench. These represent the plants, animals, and scenery of the National Parks, Snapshots of Association activities and publicity photos form a portion of the series.

This small series is comprised mostly of computer generated financial reports and a few reports, maps, and posters.