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Chief Naturalist Jim Stevenson's interpretation and research files, 1938-1977 (bulk 1969-1977).
Amount:
.75 cubic ft.
Medium Included:
Organization/Arrangement:
Arranged by subject.
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Biographical/Historical:
The Florida Park Service was originally created in 1935 as the Board of Parks and Historic Memorials (Ch. 17025, Laws of Florida) and was administered within the Board of Forestry. The park service's first eight parks were designed and built by the Civilian Conservation Corps. In 1949, the park service became an independent agency, the Board of Parks and Historic Memorials (Ch. 25353, Laws). Its purpose was to administer and control the operation and development of the state parks and historic sites of Florida. In 1969, the Board was merged with the Outdoor Recreational Development Council (Ch. 63-36, Laws) to form the Division of Recreation and Parks (Ch. 69-106, Laws), under the Department of Natural Resources. The Division eventually moved to the newly created Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) in 1993 (Ch. 93-213, Laws). From the 1930s till the 1970s, biologists were referred to as naturalists in the Florida Park Service. In the begining, they were primarily concerned with interpretation and visitor program development. By the 1970s, they began to also coordinate resource management issues such as species protection, exotic removal, and controlled burns, as well as conducting trainings and historic preservation efforts. The first naturalists were National Park Service employees employed through the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in the 1930s. Park manager and famed ornithologist Oscar Baynard assumed much of the naturalists' duties by the 1940s as the CCC was phased out. Carol Beck, first hired in 1942 to work with Baynard, became the FPS's first Chief Naturalist. When she retired in 1969, former park ranger and USF graduate Stevenson was chosen to replace her. He left the FPS in the 1990s and retired from DEP as Environmental Coordinator in 2003.
Summary:
This series contains the interpretation and research files for Chief Naturalist Jim Stevenson. Although incomplete -- only files for three parks exist -- the records reflect the responsibilities and activities of the position, including developing interpretive programs and exhibits, preserving historic structures and natural ecosystems, documenting animal and plant life, resource management, and designing brochures and other published materials. In addition, the files provide information on the history, natural resources, and development of three state park properties: The Barnacle, Long Key, and Myakka River state parks. Included are bird lists, clippings, trip reports, correspondence, memoranda, field observations, manuscripts, press releases, and interpretive plans. Also included are some reference materials created by Oscar Baynard, the National Park Service, and naturalist Carol Beck.
Finding Aids:
Folder listing available. 0
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Associated Materials:
Jim Sevenson's oral history (#845) housed at the Reichelt Oral History Program, Department of History, Florida State University, contains more information on the activities of Chief Naturalist Jim Stevenson.
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Electronic Records Access:
Subject Access Fields:
Florida Park Service. Florida. Board of Parks and Historic Memorials. Parks and Historic Memorials, Board of. United States. National Park Service. National Park Service (U.S.)
Parks Florida Natural resources Florida Naturalists Florida Birds Florida Animals
Clippings. aat Transcripts. aat Field notes. aat Reports. aat
Myakka River State Park (Fla.)
for detailed listing.