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Walter Preston Brownlow (1851-1910) was a politician who represented Tennessee in the U.S. House of Representatives. By November 1903, when this bill was proposed, the Congressional tide had turned from the creation of a national park to the creation of a national forest. Initiated by the Appalachian National Park Association, in 1903, the association changed its name to the Appalachian National Forest Reserve Association and disbanded in 1905.

Walter Preston Brownlow (1851-1910) was a politician who represented Tennessee in the U.S. House of Representatives. In December 1901, Brownlow submitted a bill to purchase lands for the "National Park and Forest Reserve," naming it for then-President McKinley. Working closely with the Appalachian National Park Association, North Carolina Senator Jeter Connelly Pritchard (1857-1921) had earlier introduced a separate bill in the Senate. Unfortunately, Congress was not able to reconcile the two bills and they failed.

Walter Preston Brownlow (1851-1910) was a politician who represented Tennessee in the U.S. House of Representatives. In December 1901, Brownlow submitted a bill to purchase lands for the "National Park and Forest Reserve," naming it for then-President McKinley. Working closely with the Appalachian National Park Association, North Carolina Senator Jeter Connelly Pritchard (1857-1921) had earlier introduced a separate bill in the Senate. Unfortunately, Congress was not able to reconcile the two bills and they failed.

These memoranda were written in support of Congressional legislation. In 1900, a bill passed authorizing funds to investigate the possibility of a national park in the eastern U.S. and, in December 1901, Congress introduced a bill to purchase land. While the Appalachian National Park Association initially argued for a national park, it used the terms "national park" and "forest reserve" somewhat interchangeably. As the bill made its way through Congress, funds were earmarked for a "forest reserve" rather than a "national park." Unfortunately, when a separate bill was re-introduced in 1902, Congress was not able to reconcile the two bills and they failed.

This series of letters has to do with legislation proposed by the by the Appalachian National Park Association. On January 4, 1900, the association submitted a Memorial to Congress; on May 25, 1900, a bill passed authorizing funds to investigate the possibility of a national park; several states passed resolutions in support of the park; in January 1901, President McKinley expressed support of the project. Although the organization had success early on, their efforts met with resistance and the organization disbanded in 1905.