Family donates historical items to Carlsbad Cavern
*
(http://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/2009/apr/22/bc-nm-topic-priceless-donation/?print)
By STELLA DAVIS/Carlsbad Current-Argus
* Wednesday, April 22, 2009
CARLSBAD, N.M.(AP) — Wearing white gloves, Carlsbad Caverns National Park
Superintendent John Benjamin carefully drew items out of a box. Like a child
at Christmas who has received that prized gift, he finds it difficult to
hold back the excitement he feels each time he picks up a boxed item.
The objects of his excitement were well-preserved letters, diaries of daily
life at the park from 1929 though 1949, and never-before-seen photos,
prints by renowned artists and yellowed Carlsbad Current-Argus newspapers
chronicling the park's rise to greatness as a national treasure and Col. Tom
Boles, the park's first superintendent.
"This is stupendous. There is so much here. It exceeds our wildest
expectations," Benjamin said. "Everything in these two boxes is original. They
are
not copies. We have a lot in our archives about the early years of the
park, but nothing like this. These things are priceless."
For 40 years, the items were stored in the attic of Jim McGuire's Alabama
home. McGuire's mother, Margaret McGuire, was the only child of Boles.
For years, McGuire said he intended to donate the items to the park but
never got around to it.
Then, in January, McGuire's son, Bo, a student at Arizona State University,
decided to stop at the park on his way home to Alabama to see the caverns.
"I had always heard about the caverns and how my grandfather played a hand
in its development. It was a family legend," Bo McGuire said. "I had never
been to the caverns, so I thought it was time I visited. I was not
disappointed. It was wonderful. What was really great was that everyone at the
park
still knew my great-grandfather's name. When I went up to the information
desk at the park, I introduced myself and explained who I was related to.
The lady at the desk told me to wait. She then put me in touch with David
Kayser (park cultural resource manager). I put him in touch with my dad, who
took it from there."
Jim McGuire said he inherited the memorabilia from his mother. His
grandfather died at the age of 92 in 1973 in Carlsbad.
McGuire said after his son put him in contact with Kayser, plans were made
to donate the memorabilia.
"We are taking our son back to school in Arizona (after the spring break)
and decided to stop in Carlsbad to donate the items my grandfather had
accumulated during the time he was superintendent. I know this is where they
belong. The park will take very good care of them."
Jim McGuire's wife, Susan, said Bo was named Ashley Boles McGuire, but has
always been called Bo in honor of his great-grandfather.
"This is an exciting day for our family, especially for Bo. His dad has
told him a lot about his grandfather and the work he did as the park's first
superintendent. He finally was able to come here to see for himself his
great-grandfather's legacy."
As the McGuire family chatted with park historians, other Park Service
employees left their desks to see what all the excitement was about. They, too,
were amazed at the collection.
Benjamin, still brimming with excitement, reached for a framed photo with
cracked glass.
"Oh boy, look at this. Do you know who this is? This is truly priceless."
The man sitting behind a desk in the photo autographed to Boles is Horace
Albright, a conservationist who was a co-founder and second director of the
National Park Service. The 1929 photo was taken shortly after Albright was
appointed National Park Service director. Albright and Boles were friends.
During Albright's four-year term as director, he fought successfully for
establishment of three national parks: the Great Smoky Mountains, the Grand
Tetons and Carlsbad Caverns.
In 1981, Albright was awarded the Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest
civilian honor, for being instrumental in convincing Congress to pass
legislation that established the National Park Service in 1916.
Albright left the Park Service in 1933 to join the United States Potash
Company in Carlsbad and served as president until he retired in 1956. However,
he continued to remain active in park and conservation issues. He died in
a Los Angeles nursing home at the age of 97.
Bob Hoff, Carlsbad Caverns historian, said Boles left the park to take a
position at Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas. He officially retired from
the Park Service in February 1951 and moved back to Carlsbad to join the
publicity department of the United States Potash Company as a part-time
employee.
Hoff said that during Bole's tenure with the potash company, he invited
photographer Ansel Adams to come to Carlsbad to photograph the underground
mine. He said it was a natural progression for Boles to take Adams to the
caverns to photograph the splendors there and put the caverns on the map as a
place to see.
Benjamin said some of the memorabilia will eventually be put on display in
the park's new visitors center. Some of the collection will require
restoration and preservation. Cataloging the collection will also take some
time,
he added.
Benjamin said the park is in the process of hiring a contractor to develop
an exhibit plan for the park. Once a plan is in place, the park will move
forward with putting together exhibits for public viewing.
"Col. Boles was very influential as the first superintendent at Carlsbad
Caverns. We will certainly have an exhibit relating to him and his work. This
collection donated to the park by his family is really awesome. I can't
wait to start reading a lot more of Col. Boles' diaries. I can't believe the
good condition they are in. They have been well preserved."
_http://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/2009/apr/22/bc-nm-topic-priceless-dona
tion/?features_
(http://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/2009/apr/22/bc-nm-topic-priceless-donation/?features)
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