I Married a Ranger

By Dama Margaret Smith

(Mrs. "White Mountain")

STANFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS STANFORD UNIVERSITY, CALIFORNIA
LONDON: HUMPHREY MILFORD OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS
STANFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS STANFORD UNIVERSITY, CALIFORNIA
LONDON: HUMPHREY MILFORD OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS
THE MARUZEN COMPANY TOKYO, OSAKA, KYOTO, SENDAI
THE BAKER & TAYLOR COMPANY 55 FIFTH AVENUE, NEW YORK

Copyright 1930 by the Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University All Rights Reserved Published 1930

PRINTED AND BOUND IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA BY STANFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS

This book is lovingly dedicated
to
White Mountain Smith
who has made me glad
I married a Ranger

FOREWORD

I Married a Ranger is an intimate story of "pioneer" life in a national park, told in an interesting, humorous way, that makes it most delightful.

To me it is more than a book; it is a personal justification. For back in 1921, when the author came to my office in Washington and applied for the clerical vacancy existing at the Grand Canyon, no woman had been even considered for the position. The park was new, and neither time nor funds had been available to install facilities that are a necessary part of our park administrative and protective work. Especially was the Grand Canyon lacking in living quarters. For that reason the local superintendent, as well as Washington Office officials, were opposed to sending any women clerks there.

Nevertheless, after talking to the author, I decided to make an exception in her case, so she became the first woman Government employee at the Canyon. I Married a Ranger proves that the decision was a happy one.

It is a pleasure to endorse Mrs. Smith's book, and at the same time to pay a tribute of admiration to the women of the Service, both employees and wives of employees, who carry on faithfully and courageously under all circumstances.

Arno B. Cammerer
Associate Director,
National Park Service

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter I: "OUT IN ARIZONA, WHERE THE BAD MEN ARE"

"So you think you'd like to work in the Park Office at Grand Canyon?"

"Sure!" "Where is Grand Canyon?" I asked as an afterthought.

I knew just that little about the most spectacular chasm in the world, when I applied for an appointment there as a Government worker.

Our train pulled into the rustic station in the wee small hours, and soon I had my first glimpse of the Canyon. Bathed in cold moonlight, the depths were filled with shadows that disappeared as the sun came up while I still lingered, spellbound, on the Rim.

On the long train journey I had read and re-read the Grand Canyon Information Booklet, published by the National Park Service. I was still unprepared for what lay before me in carrying out my rôle as field clerk there. So very, very many pages of that booklet have never been written—pages replete with dangers and hardships, loneliness and privations, sacrifice and service, all sweetened with