Hain, Schuyler Colfax, 1860-1930 | - Theodore Roosevelt Center

Letter from Clyde Leavitt to William B. Greeley

Clyde Leavitt received the copies of District Forester William B. Greeley’s letters to David Starr Jordan and Schuyler Colfax Hain. Leavitt argues that little would materially change if the Pinnacles Division were eliminated from Monterey National Forest, as the Pinnacles would still be protected as a national monument. He suggests that if Jordan and Hain understood that, their opposition to the proposal might be lessened. He acknowledges, however, that provision for fire suppression and protection from vandalism would be lost.

Collection

Pinnacles National Park

Creation Date

1910-07-20

Creator(s)

Leavitt, Clyde

Progress report on historical research regarding the Pinnacles National Monument

Hero Eugene Rensch reports that the explorer Captain George Vancouver wrote the most about the Pinnacles in 1794, and that they were relatively undocumented from that time until Harold W. Fairbanks wrote about them in the 1890s. After 1900, local newspapers and tourism booklets mentioned the Pinnacles “as unusual wonders of nature.” It was David Starr Jordan, the President of Stanford University, taking an interest in the Pinnacles which spurred President Theodore Roosevelt to create Pinnacles National Monument.

Collection

Pinnacles National Park

Creation Date

1936-02-07

Creator(s)

Rensch, Hero Eugene, 1889-

Notes on the history of Pinnacles National Monument

Regional Supervisor of Historic Sites Hagen provides a brief history of the area containing Pinnacles National Monument, tracing its history from the time of Spanish occupation of the region and the possible first discovery of the Pinnacle rock formations by Captain George Vancouver. While Hagen notes that there is some evidence of prehistoric occupation of the area, he says that it does not appear to have supported permanent populations, and in fact “received little attention until long after the American occupation of California.” He notes that the area is believed to have been used as a hide-out for outlaws at one point.

Collection

Pinnacles National Park

Creation Date

1941-04-28

Creator(s)

Hagen, Olaf T. (Olaf Theodore), -1949

Letter from Frederick Erskine Olmsted to Henry Solon Graves

District Forester Olmsted encloses several letters, and renews his recommendation to Chief Forester Graves that the Pinnacles Division of the Monterey National Forest be eliminated.

Collection

Pinnacles National Park

Creation Date

1910-08-13

Creator(s)

Olmsted, Frederick Erskine, 1872-1925

Letter from David Starr Jordan to William Russel Dudley

David Starr Jordan writes to William Russel Dudley enclosing a letter from Schuyler Colfax Hain. If Dudley wants to write a letter to Congressman Needham, Jordan says Dudley can sign his name as well.

Collection

Pinnacles National Park

Creation Date

1903-12-12

Creator(s)

Jordan, David Starr, 1851-1931

Letter from David Starr Jordan to James Carson Needham

Dr. Jordan forwards to Congressman Needham a petition from several residents of San Benito County, California, to set aside lands containing the Pinnacles and establish them as a National Park. Jordan encloses a map of the proposed park, the book A Voyage of Discovery to the North Pacific Ocean by George Vancouver, who describes the area, and a book of photographs of the area. Jordan endorses the effort to create this National Park and asks Needham to pass along the request to Secretary of the Interior Ethan Allen Hitchcock.

Collection

Pinnacles National Park

Creation Date

1904-04-23

Creator(s)

Jordan, David Starr, 1851-1931

Letter from James Carson Needham to David Starr Jordan

Representative Needham responds to David Starr Jordan’s letter regarding the Pinnacles. The National Forest Service intends to abandon the area’s designation as national forest but assures continued protection of the Pinnacles as a national monument. Needham has asked Chief Forester Gifford Pinchot to delay action until Needham has had the opportunity to talk with interested parties. Needham suggests that Jordan write to Pinchot on the topic.

Collection

Pinnacles National Park

Creation Date

1908-05-04

Creator(s)

Needham, James Carson, 1864-1942

Letter from William Russel Dudley to Frederick Erskine Olmsted

Botanist William Russel Dudley writes to District Forester Olmsted regarding the elimination of the Pinnacles National Monument as a national forest. Dudley opines that while he does not know about the area surrounding the national monument, it seems like there must have been good reason for its designation at one point, and that the people of San Benito County, California, should be consulted about getting rid of it. He agrees on the whole, however, with the reasoning for removing the major part of Pinnacles National Monument from the national forest.

Collection

Pinnacles National Park

Creation Date

1910-07

Creator(s)

Dudley, William Russel, 1849-1911

Letter to John P. Babcock

The author writes to John P. Babcock, chief deputy of the California Fish and Game Commission, enclosing a letter from Schuyler Colfax Hain regarding Pinnacles National Monument. He argues that while it is not worth maintaining the region in question for the sake of its timber, it should be preserved as a breeding ground for animals and birds.

Collection

Pinnacles National Park

Creation Date

1911-01-07

Creator(s)

Unknown

Letter from James Carson Needham to David Starr Jordan

RepresentativeNeedham responds to David Starr Jordan’s letter regarding the Pinnacles. The National Forest Service intends to abandon the area’s designation as national forest but assures continued protection of the Pinnacles as a national monument. Needham has asked Chief Forester Gifford Pinchot to delay action until Needham has had the opportunity to talk with interested parties. Needham suggests that Jordan write to Pinchot on the topic.

Collection

Pinnacles National Park

Creation Date

1908-05-04

Creator(s)

Needham, James Carson, 1864-1942