'Parks 2' is a book of photos and essays focused on the National Parks

Summary

NPR's Book of the Day: 'Parks 2' - A Deep Dive into America's National Parks

Episode Overview Released on January 28, 2025, NPR's Book of the Day presents "Parks 2," a captivating coffee table book that celebrates the grandeur and intricate design of America's national parks. Hosted by NPR and featuring an insightful interview with photographer Brian Kelly, this episode delves into the essence of "Parks 2," exploring its rich collection of maps, brochures, and essays that highlight the enduring legacy and evolving aesthetics of the national parks system.

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Introduction to 'Parks 2'

Andrew Limbong opens the episode by introducing "Parks 2," describing it as a sequel to an earlier work, "Parks 1." This new volume continues to showcase over 300 national park maps, brochures, and other memorabilia spanning more than a century. The book not only presents stunning photographs of natural landscapes but also delves into the design elements that have historically accompanied these iconic parks.

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Interview with Brian Kelly

Origin of the Project Sarah McCammon introduces Brian Kelly, the photographer and curator behind "Parks 2." Kelly shares the genesis of the project:

“Back in 2017, I had just completed my first book with Standards Manual, which was a collection of New York City Transit Authority maps, brochures, just general ephemera. At the time, I had just been starting to travel around to a lot of the national parks in the United States and started collecting those maps.” (01:41)

Kelly's passion for national parks and their promotional materials led to the creation of "Parks 1." With a growing collection of approximately 1,200 maps, he naturally progressed to developing "Parks 2," aiming to continue and expand upon his archival work.

The Art of Collecting Park Memorabilia When asked why he began collecting maps and brochures—items often discarded by visitors—Kelly explains the significance of these artifacts:

“I really wanted to find a way to bring all these to life and let people kind of go down memory lane if they did experience them back in the day.” (02:32)

Kelly highlights the transformation from personal mementos to a comprehensive archive, preserving the artistic and historical value of these designs.

Design Elements and Evolution A central theme of "Parks 2" is the evolution of design in national park materials. Kelly discusses the transition from traditional romantic typefaces and black-and-white photography to more modern design technologies introduced in the 1960s:

“You had this moment in the 60s where people were able to really start experimenting with new technologies. And you can see that transition happen within these maps when you start to look through them all.” (03:25)

This progression reflects broader changes in the design community and technological advancements, allowing for more dynamic and experimental approaches in park promotions.

Favorite National Park: Olympic National Park Kelly shares his personal connection to Olympic National Park, emphasizing its profound impact on him:

“That was the first time I had ever seen big trees in my life. And that was just something that I think kind of blew my mind. It allows you to have a pullback moment of like, I'm looking and I'm standing next to this 800 to 2000 year old tree and like you can't even comprehend it.” (04:09)

This experience underscores the awe-inspiring natural beauty that national parks offer, fostering a deep appreciation for their preservation.

Incorporating Essays and Inspiring Others "Parks 2" is enriched with essays from individuals passionate about the outdoors. Kelly explains his criteria for selecting contributors:

“It was people that I knew made a career out of the outdoors and were incredibly passionate about it, and people that I think could also, like, help inspire others to take interest and try to go on an adventure or try a new hobby.” (04:45)

These essays aim to inspire readers to engage more deeply with nature, whether through hiking, photography, or other outdoor activities.

Future Endeavors: Adirondack Park Expedition Towards the end of the interview, Kelly hints at his future projects, expressing excitement about photographing some of the oldest and largest eastern white pines:

“I'm hopefully going to be planning a trip up to Adirondack Park. It's not a national park, but I'm hoping to get up there and photograph some of the oldest and largest eastern white pines in the country.” (05:12)

This forthcoming adventure promises to add further depth to his exploration of America's natural landscapes.

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Conclusion

"Parks 2" stands as a testament to the enduring allure of America's national parks and the meticulous design that accompanies them. Through Brian Kelly's extensive collection and thoughtful essays, the book not only preserves historical artifacts but also inspires a renewed appreciation for the natural world. NPR's Book of the Day effectively captures the essence of this work, inviting listeners to explore and engage with the treasures found within America's treasured parks.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Andrew Limbong (00:02): "Whether you're looking to engage with the big questions of our times – or temporarily escape from them – we've got an author who will speak to you."

• Brian Kelly (02:32): “I really wanted to find a way to bring all these to life and let people kind of go down memory lane if they did experience them back in the day.”

• Brian Kelly (03:25): “You had this moment in the 60s where people were able to really start experimenting with new technologies."

• Brian Kelly (04:09): “That was the first time I had ever seen big trees in my life. And that was just something that I think kind of blew my mind."

• Brian Kelly (04:45): “It was people that I knew made a career out of the outdoors and were incredibly passionate about it..."

• Brian Kelly (05:12): “I'm hopefully going to be planning a trip up to Adirondack Park... photograph some of the oldest and largest eastern white pines in the country.”

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Note: This summary excludes advertisements, sponsor messages, and non-content sections to focus solely on the insightful discussion surrounding "Parks 2."

Transcript

[Andrew Limbong]

Hey, it's NPR's Book of the Day. I'm Andrew Limbong. Today's interview is just some inspiration for you to get up and go for a hike. It's with photographer Brian Kelly, who helped put together a new book titled Parks 2. If you couldn't guess from the title, it's a sequel, a coffee table book that's all about national parks and the iconography and the design that goes into the maps and brochures and pamphlets you can find there. And he talks to NPR's Sarah McCammon about how the book is really an argument for trying new things, whether that's a hike in a new place or just a new hobby like nature photography. That's coming up.

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[Sarah McCammon]

New book, Parks 2 by the Indie bookmaker Standards Manual, is a celebration of America's national parks and the iconic designs that went into over 300 national park maps, brochures and other materials over more than 100 years. The volume also includes essays by fans of the parks, including photographer Brian Kelly, who joins me now to talk about this project. Hey, Brian, thanks for being here.

[Brian Kelly]

Hey, thanks for having me.

[Sarah McCammon]

You are the collector behind this book, Parks 2. Just first of all, tell us how this project got started. How'd you conceive of it?

[Brian Kelly]

Back in 2017, I had just completed my first book with Standards Manual, which was a collection of New York City Transit Authority maps, brochures, just general ephemera. At the time, I had just been starting to travel around to a lot of the national parks in the United States and started collecting those maps. And then about a year and a half later, we were able to put together Parks 1, basically that kind of took off. And after Parks 1, I still have probably about 1200 of these maps. And so we just figured might as well try to do Parks 2 and keep it going.

[Sarah McCammon]

I think a lot of us who've been to a national park might have collected a map or a flyer or a brochure with the those classic photos of mountains and landscapes. I think a lot of people end up throwing those in the trash. What made you start collecting them?

[Brian Kelly]

Well, I think it was like holding onto one at a time. And so if you just have one map, it doesn't feel as significant. It might hold a memory, but then when you start getting this massive collection of them, it feels more like an archive. I feel as though a lot of these maps, especially from the early 1900s all the way up to 1965, you know, unless you were visiting these parks, then you weren't seeing these amazing designs that are just more or less non existent in the landscape. So I really wanted to find a way to bring all these to life and let people kind of go down memory lane if they did experience them back in the day.

[Sarah McCammon]

And a big feature of this book is not just, you know, the photos of these natural places, but also the design of some of these pieces of memorabilia. You know, that blocky font a lot of people have probably seen on national park brochures. What is it about the design that you find compelling?

[Brian Kelly]

Well, I feel as though with the design aspect of these maps, you go from, you know, really traditional romantic typefaces and the black and white photography, you know, all the way up to Ansel Adams. And then you have the introduction, I think, of advancements in design within the design community as far as to the design technology. And so you had this moment in the 60s where people were able to really start experimenting with new technologies. And you can see that transition happen within these maps when you start to look through them all.

[Sarah McCammon]

Do you have a favorite place? The national park system is so vast. But as you think about everything in this collection, is there a place that's most important to you?

[Brian Kelly]

Yeah, I talk about it in my essay for the book where it's probably Olympic National Park. That was the first time I had ever seen big trees in my life. And that was just something that I think kind of blew my mind. It allows you to have a pullback moment of like, I'm looking and I'm standing next to this 800 to 2000 year old tree and like you can't even comprehend it.

[Sarah McCammon]

Now, these essays are another big feature of this book, sprinkled in with all of these photos of landscapes and of memorabilia that we mentioned. How did you decide who to include in this book?

[Brian Kelly]

It was people that I knew made a career out of the outdoors and were incredibly passionate about it, and people that I think could also, like, help inspire others to take interest and try to go on an adventure or try a new hobby. Whether it was rock climbing or photography.

[Sarah McCammon]

Now, Brian, before I let you go, I have to ask, are there any big trips to national parks that you're planning or excited about?

[Brian Kelly]

I'm hopefully going to be planning a trip trip up to Adirondack Park. It's not a national park, but I'm hoping to get up there and photograph some of the oldest and largest eastern white pines in the country.

[Sarah McCammon]

That's Brian Kelly, the photographer behind the new book Parks 2. Thanks so much for your time.

[Brian Kelly]

Thank you.

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