A Letter in Support of Everglades National Park—Historical Letter
We can learn about the history of events through reading official historical letters written by government agency officials. These letters often provide information on what was important to the person who was writing, as well as to the person being written to. The letter below was written by a museum director to the chairman of the association that was trying to have the Florida Everglades declared as a national park.
Primary Source
U. S. National Museum
Washington, D. C.
December 8th, 1932,
Mr. Ernest F. Coe, Chairman
Everglades National Park Association
Miami, Florida
My dear Mr. Coe:
The region of southwestern Florida encompassed within the Everglades National Park project is well known to me personally. I had the good fortune to explore this region scientifically in 1918….
It is a natural jewel which should be preserved for the American people as a whole forever. It will form, as largely it is already, an ideal sanctuary of the colorful water fowl and other birds of the Gulf. It is a bit of paradise for the fisherman.
The region teems with mounds and other remains of ancient man, which should be preserved for posterity. The entire coast region of this part of Florida is a part of the continent in constant highly instructive process of formation.
The creeks, bayous, “sounds” and outside shallows are biological laboratories of inestimable value.
The whole region is so pristine and wild that it is hard to realize that it may be so near to civilization.
I may earnestly say that the establishment by the American Government of no national park was more justified than will be that of the southwestern portion of Florida under consideration. Under proper supervision it will become almost immediately an enchanting spot for the tourist and the student of nature, and a scientific open-air observatory of the highest order.
Respectfully Yours,
(signed) Dr. Ales Hrdlicka, Curator
Division of Physical Anthropology
Background
In what ways can you help preserve Florida? Environmentalists and concerned citizens have been working for years to help protect Florida's natural beauty for future generations. In 1932, Dr. Ales Hrdlicka, curator of the division of physical anthropology at the U.S. National Museum, wrote a letter to the chairman of the Everglades National Park Association in support of creating a national park in the Everglades. In his letter, Hrdlicka describes the beauty of the Everglades.
