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 | PAGE | |
| I. | "Out in Arizona, Where the Bad Men Are" | [1] |
| II. | "This Ain't Washington!" | [11] |
| III. | "I Do!" | [21] |
| IV. | Celebrities and Squirrels | [31] |
| V. | Navajo Land | [42] |
| VI. | "They Killed Me" | [56] |
| VII. | A Grand Canyon Christmas | [67] |
| VIII. | The Day's Work | [77] |
| IX. | The Doomed Tribe | [89] |
| X. | Where They Dance with Snakes | [104] |
| XI. | The Terrible Badger Fight | [121] |
| XII. | Grand Canyon Ups and Downs | [131] |
| XIII. | Sisters under the Skin | [147] |
| XIV. | The Passing Show | [158] |
| XV. | Fools, Flood, and Dynamite | [170] |