On August 1, 1937, Leavitt became park superintendent, a position that he would hold for nearly fifteen years. Many of the administrative issues that had confronted Canfield continued to face Leavitt. In 1938, for instance, he commented on the winter headquarters issue by stating that the
park administrative offices were located in crowded quarters in the Federal Building in Medford from October 14 to June 12. A branch office was maintained in Klamath Falls during the winter months. Citizens of Klamath Falls continue to occasionally present the advantages of their city as winter headquarters for the park. [59]
At the end of fiscal year 1939, the first full year of his superintendency, Leavitt observed that despite the fact “the park organization was by necessity not a highly centralized one, administrative matters were handled most efficiently in the three National Park Service areas under the administration of the superintendent of Crater Lake National Park.” From October 15 to June 15 the park administrative offices were located in crowded quarters in the federal building in Medford, 82 miles from the park, 82 miles from Oregon Caves National Monument, and 125 miles from Lava Beds National Monument. Frequent trips, according to Leavitt, were made from the headquarters to the park and two monuments, and daily contacts with the areas was made by short wave radio. During the period November 1 to May 1 a branch office with the park’s chief ranger in charge was maintained in Klamath Falls. The chief ranger served “as the winter representative of the National Park Service and for the benefit of the traveling public” and was “conveniently located for trips to Crater Lake and Lava Beds.” During the summer months official headquarters were at the park, a temporary acting custodian representing the superintendent at Oregon Caves. At Lava Beds the superintendent was represented throughout the year by an assistant chief ranger in the capacity of acting custodian. Among the priorities of Leavitt were the promotion of “good will of the various communities in the vicinities of the area” and use of the various department heads of the park “as consultants in administrative matters.”
Leavitt initiated a publicity campaign during the winter months of 1938-39. Daily publicity was issued from the Medford and Klamath Falls offices to local chambers of commerce, newspapers, and travel bureaus relative to road, snow, and weather conditions in and near the three Park Service areas. This publicity effort was successful in improving relations with the park’s surrounding communities and was a major thrust of Leavitt’s administrative endeavors until World War II curtailed park operations. [60]
