Correspondence between Zebulon Weaver, W. E. Bird, A. E. Demaray, George McCoy, J. Ross Eakin, 1934

Zebulon Weaver (1872-1948) was a lawyer and U.S. Representative from western North Carolina. He was a member of the North Carolina Park Commission and was involved in the land acquisition process that went towards establishment of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park and development of the Blue Ridge Parkway. This correspondence between W. E. Bird, Zebulon Weaver, A. E. Demaray, George W. McCoy, J. Ross Eakin-a set of 8 letters--discusses the setting up of a museum in the national park. W. E. Bird to Zebulon Weaver, May 2, 1934 In this letter Bird, Chairman of Western Carolina Teachers’ College, discusses the setting up of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park Museum, Weaver’s desire to serve on the subcommittee for the museum , and whether it would be possible for Weaver to secure an appropriation for the maintenance and building of a park museum. Zebulon Weaver to W. E. Bird, May 5, 1934 In this letter Weaver thanks Bird for his interest in setting up a museum in the park and states he will speak with the Director of National Parks about this. A.E. Demaray to Zebulon Weaver, August 27, 1934 In this letter Demaray, Acting Director of the National Park Service, states he was very pleased with the work of the museum committee and that he was requesting Mr. J. Ross Eakin to give his opinion with regards to the appointment of a ranger-naturalist for the park. Zebulon Weaver to George W. McCoy, August 31, 1934 In this letter Weaver expresses his pleasure in McCoy’s interest in having a ranger-naturalist in the Park and hopes that Mr. Eakin’s recommendation in this regard was favorable. W. E. Bird to J. Ross Eakin, September 12, 1934 In this letter Bird informs Eakin that the committee of the Museum for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is not yet looking to hire a curator for the museum. Rather they were looking for a person responsible for collecting valuables with the object of setting up of a museum and it would be helpful it were someone already employed by some branch of the government. W. E. Bird to J. Ross Eakin, September 12, 1934 Bird refers to the enclosed letter being sent to George McCoy and hopes that Eakin could convince the Museum Committee in getting a person to help with the work of the Museum. J. Ross Eakin to George McCoy, September 5, 1934 In this letter Eakin, Superintendent for the National Park Museum, tells McCoy that there was no money to pay the salary of a person who would arrange exhibits and conduct the work of the museum. George McCoy to Zebulon Weaver, October 27, 1934 In this letter McCoy, Secretary-Treasurer of the Western North Carolina Division of the Park’s Museum Committee, thanks Weaver for convincing Mr. Eakin to appoint H. C. Wilburn and Willis King to assist with the work of the Western North Carolina and East Tennessee Museum Committees