Service White Sands U.S. Department of the Interior

White Sands National Monument

The First Directors: Mather and Albright Stephen Mather 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 Albe rt 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 life with replaced low income concessioners 1916, Mather was struggling with manic depression (bipolar disorder). Twice with wealthy ones, enabling these severe depression and was forced to during his NPS career he had to take several months off work to recuperate, companies to build grand hotels to take a leave of absence. As a result, and twice he attempted suicide. The fact accommodate tourists. Albright served as acting director for the first two years. When Mather that Mather accomplished so much during Mather was known throughout his his career even with his mental disability recovered and returned as director, NPS career for his high energy and proves to the millions of Americans with Albright decided to leave the NPS depression and bipolar disorder today that enthusiasm. In late 1928, his health and start his law career. Luckily, anyone can accomplish their goals and deteriorated rapidly. He resigned Mather’s power of persuasion succeed in life. in early 1929, and passed away the talked Albright into staying. In next year. Stephen Mather’s death 1918, Albright accepted a new post 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 Horace Albright was born in Bishop, parks and monuments from the War California on January 6, 1890. An avid Department, the Forest Service, and reader and history buff early in his the capital region to the NPS. life, Albright attended UC Berkeley from 1908 to 1913. It was at Berkeley Albright also played a lead role in that he received his B.A. degree, getting the Civilian Conservation started law school, and met the love Corps (CCC) to work on projects of his life: Grace Noble. with the NPS. The CCC constructed campgrounds and ranger stations, Fate occurred for young Horace established trails, and planted trees in 1912. While in the middle of an inside dozens of national parks and assistantship, his professor was monuments. offered a job in the Department of the Interior. To Albright’s surprise, the Claiming to be long overdue for a professor asked him to be his assistant career in law, Albright resigned in in . And so at age 23, August of 1933 to work for the U.S. Albright was headed to the nation’s Potash Corporation, eventually capital as ‘lawman’ of the Interior. becoming its CEO. Before resigning as director, Albright wrote a final When Stephen Mather arrived on letter to NPS employees: “Do not the scene in early 1915, Albright let the Service become just another and Mather immediately became government bureau,” he stated. great friends and work partners. In “Keep it youthful, vigorous, clean, Horace Albright in his office at National Park essence, Albright served as Mather’s and strong.” Albright continued to Service Headquarters. Circa 1929. personal secretary throughout his be a spokesman and advocate for the NPS Photo directorship. national parks until his death in 1987. Revised 11/24/2012