Susan Thew Parks

Susan Priscilla Parks (née Thew, 5 April 1878 – 29 January 1968) was an American explorer, photographer, plant collector and advocate for the expansion of the Sequoia National Park in the southern Sierra Nevada.

Early life Parks was born in Caledonia, Ohio on 5 April 1878 to Sarah Priscilla and Richard Thew. Her father was an inventor and an industrialist. The family subsequently moved to California.

Advocacy for the expansion of Sequoia National Park In 1918 Parks made her first visit to the Sequoia National Park. Parks became a vocal advocate supporting these efforts. In August 1923, Parks began to explore the High Sierras and photographed as much of the land as she could. As a result of this and efforts by other advocates, the bill was successfully passed and the Sequoia National Park expanded to cover the Great Western Divide, the Kaweah Peaks, the Kern Canyon, and the Sierra Crest.

Plant collecting In October 1927 Parks married her husband Harold Ernest Parks, a botanist and botanical collector. After her marriage, Parks partnered with her husband, undertaking botanical field trips and collecting numerous botanical specimens.