Despite the setback to Thomson’s plans the idea of an outside advisory group for the park continued to be discussed. During the late 1930s Superintendent Leavitt and Park Naturalist Ruhle initiated an effort to form a group that would promote the park interpretive program. Their efforts resulted in establishment of the association on June 20, 1942, and approval of the group’s constitution by the Department of the Interior on July 25. The constitution of the nonprofit scientific and historical society listed nine objectives:
1. In cooperation with the National Park Service, to further interest in the scientific investigation and interpretation of the natural features of Crater Lake National Park, Oregon Caves National Monument, and Lava Beds National Monument, in the fields of geology, history, biology, anthropology, forestry, botany, and the natural sciences.
2. To further development of museums and exhibits, to establish and help support libraries of historical, scientific, and popular interest, to provide adequate library service, and to assist in the accumulation, care, and fitting use of a collection of aids to visual education and study for the three areas named above.
3. To promote the general educational and interpretive programs of all three areas.
4. To sell non-Government publications to visitors.
5. To assist in the production, publication, and distribution of Nature Notes and other publications.
6. To study living conditions past and present of the Indians of the region, to encourage their arts and crafts, and to perpetuate their structures, customs, traditions, legends, etc.
7. To further scientific investigations along lines of greatest public interest and to publish bulletins of a non-technical nature from time to time.
8. To assist in the administration, protection, maintenance, operation, and improvement of the three areas by such means as may be practicable.
9. To limit strictly the operations, business, property, and assets of the Association to the purposes named above, so that the Association itself shall not be operated for profit, and so that no part of the net income of the Association shall inure to the financial benefit of any person connected therewith.
Despite the enthusiasm of the group, however, World War II prevented the organization from initiating activities until 1946. [31]
Wartime cutbacks brought the park interpretive program to a standstill beginning in late 1942. During fiscal year 1943 all eight of the seasonal ranger-naturalist positions were abolished for the remainder of the war. The park naturalist found himself assigned to trail repairs and other necessary park maintenance work. [32]
When the park reopened on a year-round basis in 1946 organized naturalist services were resumed under the direction of Park Naturalist Ruhle. A staff of eight seasonal ranger-naturalists, three of whom had served previously at Crater Lake, were hired for the summer. To ensure the continuing professionalism of the program a ranger-naturalist school was held in the park during June 23-27–the first such school since 1942. Among the topics covered on the program were (1) purposes, activities, and methods of the naturalist service; (2) relationship of the naturalist service to the park; (3) research and special assignments; (4) collateral reading and collections; (5) uniforms, responsibilities, reports, and schedules; (6) small fire suppression; (7) building fire protection; (8) history of the National Park Service; (9) park and ranger organization; and (10) law enforcement. [33]
The interpretive program in the park during the summer of 1946 was similar to that of the prewar years. Evening lectures were presented at the lodge and Community House. Two geology lectures were scheduled daily at the Sinnott Memorial, and four self-guiding trails–Garfield Peak, Castle Crest Wildflower Garden, Lake Trail, and Lake Rim–were opened and supplied with botanical labels. Twice-daily guided boat trips around the lake were commenced as was a daily guided automobile rim caravan tour and 3-1/2-hour hike along the rim. A wildflower exhibit, displays of rock, tree, and plant specimens, and historical and artistic photographs were featured in the Information Building. Research efforts were also resumed, the principal projects conducted being fish studies by Dr. D.S. Farner of the University of Kansas and preparation of study skins of small park animals and birds by Dr. R.R. Huestis. [34]
