- May 20, 1929 – William (Horace B.?) Greeley (Camp Fire Club of America) to I. Summer Merritt (Commodore, American Canoe Association) –
Dear Mr. Merritt:
Well-informed conservationists familiar with the problems of National Parks have long been in agreement on the general principles which should govern our National Park System and have felt the need of a comprehensive declaration of National Park Standards. Attempts have been made to formulate such a declaration but they have not been followed up in a way to unite individuals and organizations in support of a declaration acceptable to all and to make it effective.
In the past year the Conservation Committee of the Camp Fire Club of America set itself the task of formulating such a declaration and in the performance of that task has called into conference not only its own members but many others who are actively interested in our National Parks. Its efforts have borne fruition in a declaration of National Park Standards which was formally approved by the Board of Governors of the Club on April 8, 1929 and of which copies are enclosed. It represents a meeting of the minds of those, to the number of at least forty, who are recognized all over the country as authorities on National Parks.
This declaration is now submitted for the consideration of your organization in common with other like organizations throughout the country.
The plan briefly is this:
- To ask interested organizations to signify to the undersigned their approval and adoption of the declaration.
- To release the declaration to the press on July1, 1929, through a central committee, in the name of those who have approved and adopted it.
- To secure the widest possible distribution through the approving organizations and their members.
- To place the declaration before Congress and the Administration in the most effective way to secure results – to the end that our National Park System shall be upheld to the High standard set.
There has been manifested in Congress a lack of understanding to the purposes of our National Park System. The Administration is better informed but needs the help of our citizens everywhere. If the possible twelve thousand, or one hundred twenty thousand, conservation –wise citizens will impress their views on Congress and will lend their aid to the Administration, a great and lasting good will have been accomplished for the rest of our one hundred twenty million.
Please advice me at an early date of the action your organization and let me know what it will do to help.
Yours very truly,
Horace B. Greeley
Chairman