The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1953-09-25

The promotion and transfer of
Robert H. Atkinson, Superinten-
dent of Fort Raleigh National
Historic Site to superintendent of
Fort McHenry National Monu-
ment and Historic Shrine has
been announced by Conrad L.
Wirth, Director of the National
Park Service.
Mr.. Atkinson entered the Ma
tional Park Service in 1910 as
guard at Kill Devil Hill Monu-
ment National Memorial, and
when Fort Raleigh was establish
ed as a National Historic Site in
1941, he was transferred there as
superintendent and has held that
position since that date. He was
away on military leave for three
years during World War II while
he served as a petty officer in the
telephone communication divi-
sion of the United States Coast
Guard During the twelve years
that Mr.. Atkinson has served as
superintendent of Fort Raleigh
National Historic Site, the Ralph
Lane fort of 1885 has been eX-
cavated and restored and the mu-
scum displays were renovated
and has received recognition as
one of the best temporary muse
ums in the National Park Ser
vice. He has worked out and pro-
vided area tours for group visit
ors that has met with the express
sed approval of many groups that
visit Fort Raleigh annually. Re-
Gently, Mr.. Atkinson has been
working on a project for shore
protection along Roanoke Sound
abreast of Fort Raleigh.
National Park Service Region
al Director, Ebert Cox, pointed
out that the transfer was not
mandatory and that Mr.. Atkin-
son had the privilege of accept
ing or rejecting it without effect
ing his status at Fort Raleigh.
However, Mr.. Cox said he was
glad that the offer had been &C
copied because he thought that
Superintendent Atkinson's fine
work at Fort Raleigh was worthy
of recognition and that he con-
sidered him qualified for the new
job at Fort McHenry. 1t is one of
the National Park areas that is
rich in history and Mr.. Atkinson's
study and work in history has
qualified him for the position,
Mr.. Cox said.
Fort McHenry National Monu-
ment and Historic Shrine is To-
Gated in Baltimore, Maryland
and consists of Al acres. 1t COM
memorates the gallent defense of
Baltimore on September 1914,
1872, the event which inspired
Francis Scott Key to write our
National Anthem, "The Star
Spangled Banner" as he watched
the bombardment of the fort in
early morning, September IA,
1872. Fort McHenry became a
unit of the National Park System
in 1925. 1t has always been a pop
ular site for visitors, especially
for school groups who make tours
there in the spring from all parts
of the east. The total visitation
there last travel year was 687 ,096
In addition to Fort McHenry
Mr.. Atkinson will administer
Hampton National Historic Site
as a coodinated area. Hampton
is an example of eighteenth cen
fury resident architecture, locat-
ed near the city limits of Balti-
more. The Hampton National His.
toric Site was the recipient OF
funds from the elon Founda-
ton that permit S restoration
and period furnishing.
Mr.. Atkinson is native oil
Fremont, North Carolina. He at
tended Nahunta High Schoo,
from which he was graduated ir
1925. He received an A. B. de.
gree in history from Guilforc
College in 1929 and later did gra.
duate work at the University Of
North Carolina in the field Of
secondary school administration
He taught history in the Manteo
High School in 1929-31 and SER
we'd the same school as principal
from 1881 to 1888. From 1893 tc
1910 he was superintendent oil
Dare County schools.
When advised of the promo
ton and transfer, Mr.. Atkinson's
remarks were to the effect that