Service Chamizal U.S. Department of the Interior Chamizal National Memorial

The First Directors: Mather and Albright Although Secretary of the Interior and Sequoia national parks. It was on K. Lane supported the bill, a particular trip to Yosemite in 1914 (NPS) Director that Stephen Mather took notice of Stephen T. Mather was adamantly the abysmal conditions of the park: against it. The Valley of roads were bumpy, narrow and had turned dangerous; lodging was inadequate; into a reservoir in 1913, and then just and cattle and sheep were destroying six years later, politicians in Idaho pristine meadows. Mather wrote and Montana wanted to create a huge about these problems in a letter to reservoir inside Yellowstone National Secretary of the Interior Lane. To Park. In the eternal war between use Mather’s surprise, Lane offered and preservation, Stephen Mather him a job to tackle the national park sided with preservation: “Is there problems. Mather would spend the not some place in this great nation remainder of his life preserving and of ours where lakes can be preserved promoting the national parks. in their natural state; where we and all generations to follow us can enjoy Mather worked tirelessly in 1915 and the beauty and charm of mountain 1916 to learn all that he could about waters in the midst of primeval the national parks and to establish the forests? The nation has wisely set NPS. As a result, when the bureau was apart a few national parks where a established on August 16, 1916, he state of nature is to be preserved. If became its first director. the lakes and forests of these parks Although Mather had numerous cannot be spared from the hand of accomplishments as director, only commercialization, what hope can two have room to be highlighted there be for the preservation of any here. First, he used his own money scenic features of the mountains in to expand the National Park System. the interest of posterity?” (Stephen Mather bought the Road Mather, 1919 Report to the Secretary from private interests and gave it to of the Interior). Yosemite National Park; purchased The first director of the National a sequoia grove for $50,000 and gave Park Service (NPS) was born on it to ; and Independence Day, 1867 in San donated $15,000 dollars to help start Francisco. After graduating across the the Save-the-Redwoods League (in a bay at the University of - burst of adrenaline while at a public Berkeley, Mather eventually became rally, Mather also donated $15,000 of a millionaire due to his success Congressman William Kent’s money, managing a borax mining company. much to Kent’s surprise!). Mather’s expanding wallet coincided Second, Mather improved with his increasing interests in nature, concessioner services within mountaineering, and national parks. the national parks. The director He became an active member of claimed that “Scenery is a hollow Stephen Mather in conversation with Secretary of the Interior Albert Bacon Fall atop Glacier the , twice climbing Mt. enjoyment to a tourist who sets out Point, Yosemite National Park. August 9, 1921. Rainier with the group. Mather also in the morning after an indigestible NPS Photo camped with his family in Yosemite breakfast and a fitful nights’ sleep on an impossible bed.” Mather When the NPS was established in Mather struggled throughout his replaced low income concessioners 1916, Mather was struggling with life with manic depression (bipolar with wealthy ones, enabling these severe depression and was forced to disorder). Twice during his NPS companies to build grand hotels to take a leave of absence. As a result, career he had to take several months accommodate tourists. Albright served as acting director off work to recuperate, and twice he for the first two years. When Mather attempted suicide. The fact that Mather Mather was known throughout his recovered and returned as director, accomplished so much during his NPS career for his high energy and Albright decided to leave the NPS career even with his mental disability enthusiasm. In late 1928, his health and start his law career. Luckily, proves to the millions of Americans deteriorated rapidly. He resigned Mather’s power of persuasion with depression and bipolar disorder in early 1929, and passed away the talked Albright into staying. In today that anyone can accomplish their next year. Stephen Mather’s death 1918, Albright accepted a new post goals and succeed in life. represented the end of a great chapter as superintendent of Yellowstone, in NPS history. Fortunately, Mather working there for 11 years. During had recommended that his behind- this time, he continued to work the-scenes assistant be the title of the behind the scenes with Mather on next chapter. service-wide affairs. Horace Albright Albright succeeded Mather as Horace Albright, who was also director in early 1929, but it wasn’t Californian and UC Berkeley until Franklin Delano Roosevelt graduate, became director of the (FDR) became that he NPS after Mather. He served in set his legacy. In FDR, Albright the position from 1929 through the recognized a great opportunity. summer of 1933. Albright expanded Both Albright and the president the park service into the realm of had a passion for history. On a history. He also brought the Civilian Sunday drive, Albright discussed Conservation Corps to work for with the new president the idea of the service. If Mather built the bringing history and military parks foundation of the NPS, Horace into the National Park System. FDR Albright constructed its first floor. concurred, and the Reorganization Act of 1933 transferred dozens of parks and monuments from the War Horace Albright was born in Bishop, Department, the Forest Service, and California on January 6, 1890. An avid the capital region to the NPS. reader and history buff early in his life, Albright attended UC Berkeley Albright also played a lead role in from 1908 to 1913. It was at Berkeley getting the Civilian Conservation that he received his B.A. degree, Corps (CCC) to work on projects started law school, and met the love with the NPS. The CCC constructed of his life: Grace Noble. campgrounds and ranger stations, established trails, and planted trees Fate occurred for young Horace inside dozens of national parks and in 1912. While in the middle of an monuments. assistantship, his professor was offered a job in the Department of the Claiming to be long overdue for a Interior. To Albright’s surprise, the career in law, Albright resigned in professor asked him to be his assistant August of 1933 to work for the U.S. in . And so at age 23, Potash Corporation, eventually Albright was headed to the nation’s becoming its CEO. Before resigning capital as ‘lawman’ of the Interior. as director, Albright wrote a final letter to NPS employees: “Do not When Stephen Mather arrived on let the Service become just another the scene in early 1915, Albright government bureau,” he stated. and Mather immediately became “Keep it youthful, vigorous, clean, great friends and work partners. In Horace Albright in his office at National Park and strong.” Albright continued to essence, Albright served as Mather’s Service Headquarters. Circa 1929. be a spokesman and advocate for the personal secretary throughout his NPS Photo national parks until his death in 1987. directorship.