Material in the public domain. No restrictions on use.
Description
This copy of The John Muir Trail: A Brief Account of the Mather Mountain Party’s Outing of 1916 by Robert Sterling Yard is from the personal collection of former U.S. Congressman William Kent. The author, Robert Sterling Yard, became secretary of the National Parks Association in 1919, and in 1935, was a founding member of the Wilderness Society where he served as president from 1937 until his death in 1945. This very limited edition 1916 John Muir Trail account –consisting of mimeographed pages and original albumen photographs- documents what is known as the second Mather Mountain party expedition and was a follow-up to the first Mather Mountain party expedition which had taken place in July of 1915 and had involved a two-week expedition by horseback from the west side of the Sierra to the east side, culminating in a climb to the summit of Mount Whitney. Mather had funded that first trip with his own money. Although the 1915 Mather Mountain Party was the final catalyst for the legislation to create a National Park Service, a second expedition was also planned. This second expedition, in August of 1916, involved a two-week trek from Yosemite Valley to Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks, to inspect the route of the new John Muir Trail. It proved crucial in developing the John Muir Trail and ensuring its establishment by the National Park Service and the U.S. Forest Service. It was during this 1916 Mather Mountain Party expedition that President Wilson signed into law the act to create the National Park Service. U. S. Congressman William Kent worked closely with Stephen Mather and others in creating the National Park Service, formalized by President Woodrow Wilson on August 25, 1916. Mather was appointed as the first National Park Service Director less than a year later. This book is from William Kent's own collection.
Type
text
Format
Original Book
Extent
15.25 x 11.25 in. 96 Pages of 96
Identifier
csrcl_000037 Album 2568.001 ark:/13960/t42r9wz8p
Language
English
Subject
National parks and reserves--United States Kent, William
Place
Yosemite National Park (Calif.)
Provenance
Marin County Free Library California Revealed is supported by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered in California by the State Librarian.
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