Collection 2277 - David Pierson Papers, 1929-1970

Creator: Pierson, David, 1905-1990

Provenance Note: Professional and personal papers created or collected by National Park Service employee David Pierson were donated to Special Collections by Connie Swanson of Manhattan, Montana in 1992.

Historical Note: David Pierson entered the National Park Service in 1931 as a Buffalo Herder at Yellowstone National Park assisting in the management of the Park's buffalo herd. He served in the U.S. Navy during 1942-45. After his discharge in 1945 he was named Head Animal Keeper, in complete charge of the buffalo herd, the Park's ranch operations, management of the horse and mule herd, and haying operations of the Lamar Unit. In 1955, he was promoted to Agricultural Aid, a position he held until retirement in 1962.

Content Description Note: The papers have been arranged in two series. Series 1, Yellowstone National Park Work Records contains the professional papers of Pierson, including his diaries, reports, time books, and correspondence with park officials and others. Series 2, Personal papers, contains personal letters, payroll information, military records, and citations. There are no use restrictions on this collection.

Contents

Series 1: Yellowstone National Park Work Records/Diaries, 1929-1961

This series consists of reports on the management of the Yellowstone National Park buffalo, elk and horses/mules. Documents include diaries, correspondence, bids, memos, a workman's time book and monthly and annual reports. 1929-1961

Box 1

1. Diary, 1936

2. Diary, 1938-1940

3. Diary, 1941

4. Diary, 1942-1945

5. Diary, 1946-1947

6. Diary, 1947

7. Diary, 1948

8. Diary, 1949

9. Diary, 1950

10. Diary, 1951

11. Diary, 1952

12. Diary, 1953

13. Diary, 1954

14. Diary, 1954-1955

Box 2

1. Diary, 1956-1957

2. Diary, 1958-1959

3. Diary, 1961

Box 3

1. Workman's Time Book: Buffalo Ranch - 1929-40

2. Buffalo

3. Horses and Mules

4. Yellowstone National Park Bids, Memos and Correspondence

5. Buffalo Keeper's Monthly Reports: May 1947- Oct. 1952; Annual Reports: 1947-49

6. Head Animal Keeper's Monthly Report: Nov. 1952- Oct. 1955; Annual Reports: 1952, 1953

7. Agricultural Aid's Monthly Report: Nov. 1955 - Apr. 1958

Contents | Special Collections

Series 2: Personal papers, 1933-1970

Personal correspondence, citations, awards, military papers, salary and employment information.

Box 3 (cont.)

8. The Bison of Yellowstone National Park: Past and Present by Margaret Mary Meagher 1970

9. Citations and Awards

10. Correspondence: Purdue University - 1964

11. Military

12. Personal Letters

13. Salary and Employment

Contents | Special Collections

Updated: 5/28/09