This week I focused on reading the primary source "The Passing of the Great Race" by Madison Grant. Published in 1916, this book greatly influenced the American eugenics movement. The book goes into detail on what Grant calls the three European races and how the Nordic race is superior in almost every way to the other two. This book also lays the foundation for early 20th century anti-immigrant attitudes, as well as forced sterilization methods. Immigrants, in Grants mind, were the ruin of the American nation; they would disrupt the delicate racial balance. This book was extremely helpful for my research and will provide the foundation for much of my argument.
This week I've also searched through many online databases to find primary sources on national parks, specifically in regard to tourism and how they cater to an elite audience. I was able to locate numerous brochures from national parks, in the late 1910s, that list the prices it cost to enter the parks or stay at the lodgings or simply join a tour. While I haven't had time to read these brochures in depth, it is clear they definitely contain some valuable resources for my research. Additionally, I have found a couple advertisements for train companies that took visitors to National Parks during the early 20th century. While the ones I located have been useful, I have also been attempting to find ads that specifically mention the promise of leaving the city behind for the nature of the parks. I know that the NPS history collection may have some of these, as well as the Union Pacific Railroad museum. One of my next steps will probably be reaching out to both of these institutions.
I think my research this week had further solidified my desire to research this topic. I am still super interested in the complexities of the founding of the national parks and how this contradicts with the ideals the parks strove to protect and foster. Right now I don't entirely have a historical question that I want to answer, so I will spend the next week thinking more about that.