Check out my second HistoryLink essay, this one about Washington’s first two state parks, Larrabee and Jackson Court House.
HistoryLink is a terrific resource for anyone interested in Washington history, and I’m grateful to them for the opportunity to write about state parks.
Great work Lauren! Just wondering, have you gotten to the point in your research where Roland Hartley zeroed out the State Parks operations budget, referring to parks as “knick-knacks” unnecessary for taxpayer support. I’m researching early State Archives history right now. The Archives was transferred from the State Library to the Department under Hartley in 1929 and its appropriation was increased from $1,000 to $10,000. I’ve gotten the what and the irony, but not the why yet. Cheers, MSS
Hi Mike! I did write about Hartley’s approach toward state parks in the longer essay. I think the best discussion of Hartley’s motives, or at least his attitude, can be found in Thomas R. Cox’s “The Park Builders.” The book is older, but still the best overview of people involved in the development of state parks in the Pacific Northwest. And he talks about Hartley several times. Good luck!