The National Parks Portfolio

Washington, D. C.: Department of the Interior. Very Good-. 1917. 2nd Edition. Hardcover. B&W Illustrations; This book is in Very Good- condition and is lacking a dust jacket. The book covers have some light bumping, rubbing and wear. The spine ends have some beginning fraying. The text pages are generally clean and bright, but do have patches of toning / foxing throughout. There is a previous owner's inked name on the front pastedown page. "Robert Sterling Yard (February 1, 1861 – May 17, 1945) was an American writer, journalist, and wilderness activist. Born in Haverstraw, New York, Yard graduated from Princeton University and spent the first twenty years of his career in the editing and publishing business. In 1915, he was recruited by his friend Stephen Mather to help publicize the need for an independent national park agency. Their numerous publications were part of a movement that resulted in legislative support for a National Park Service (NPS) in 1916. Yard served as head of the National Parks Educational Committee for several years after its conception, but tension within the NPS led him to concentrate on non-government initiatives. He became executive secretary of the National Parks Association in 1919. Yard worked to promote the national parks as well as educate Americans about their use. Creating high standards based on aesthetic ideals for park selection, he also opposed commercialism and industrialization of what he called "America's masterpieces". These standards subsequently caused discord with his peers." (from Wikipedia) .