A great old idea

guest commentary by David Turk, historian for the U.S. Marshal Service

In September 1965, the son-in-law of U.S. Sen. William Fulbright, D-Ark., Dan Douglas, was the U.S. Marshal for the Western District of Arkansas. According to U.S. Marshal Richard O’Connell, who once worked with him, Douglas was a visionary who indicated “the passion of the people of Fort Smith towards their history and affiliation with the Marshals Service.”

Indeed, Douglas felt the home of U.S. District Judge Isaac “Hanging Judge” Parker and his court would be the ideal location for a permanent exhibit on the U.S. Marshals. He wrote Chief U.S. Marshal James J.P. McShane on the subject in a letter discovered in our collections (see image of letter at the end of this commentary). There was no response found in response to Douglas’ request, but then again McShane was knee-deep in keeping the U.S. Marshals front and center during the Civil Rights Era. This was the same year as the march in Selma, the Watts Riots and the heightened presence in Vietnam. McShane died three years later, and Douglas was succeeded in office in December 1969.

Although U.S. Marshal Douglas’ request was the first official request for a museum, the idea of a permanent exhibit began in the early 1950s. There was a conscious effort was made to collect our historical badges into a display, and approximately 40 badges were obtained. District contributed pieces of our story, both artifact and information. The badges remained together in a collection that lasts to this day, but once made an interesting conversation piece in our then-fledgling headquarters. In the 1970s, there was an exhibit constructed for selected conferences. Our story was being told, but it was in the 1980s, when the agency hired a historian and resources to commemorate its 200th birthday, did the museum become a reality. Then-Director Stanley Morris worked with others to create a traveling exhibition designed by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibit Service.

“America’s Star,” as it was called, was a smashing success that excited people in 14 cities. Starting in December 1988, the mahogany framed cases carried some of best history assembled from the nearly 220-year story of the U.S. Marshals. “America’s Star” covered its entire nationwide framework, from Judge Parker to Oxford, Miss., and beyond.

The unsung heroes of this exhibit were many. It was often difficult assembling and dissembling the roughly 5,000 square feet of display space and conform it to each institution stop. The Supreme Court was the first stop for “America’s Star,” where Chief Justice Warren Burger cut the ribbon, and subsequently made 13 more stops — including Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and lastly in Tallahassee, Fla. Upon its finale in July 1991, “America’s Star” stayed in Laramie, Wyo., for 11 years.

When U.S. Marshal O’Connell resumed Dan Douglas’ quest as the search for a new location loomed, he saw the natural fit with Fort Smith. He saw the culmination of events from the past few years akin to “a love affair [with history] that has been ongoing for over 150 years.” The 10-member U.S. Marshals Site Selection Committee visited and weighed the options. Keep in mind that the committee was one of the best-balanced and cohesive groups I have worked with in my nearly 20 years with the agency — and the process went smoothly and fairly.

After several years, the committee delivered its recommendation to the Director between four cities. U.S. Marshals Director John Clark made the final call. Fort Smith worked hard for the prize — one can only remember the amazing DVD that grabbed everyone’s attention, the sea of people and a brass band played to the awestruck members while attending a barbeque lunch, and the Chiefs of the Cherokee and Choctaw Nations coming together to speak to us — a true honor given our utmost respect for their rugged individualism and bravery over the course of history.

With our intertwined history, Fort Smith will be to the U.S. Marshals what New York is to plays. It will be a place to gather and reflect on “America’s Star.” The museum, with its inspired ideas, will house artifacts and information from George Washington and the first 13 appointed U.S. Marshals to our successes in Operation FALCON today.

The U.S. Marshals Museum will be a national monument and a good partner to the Fort Smith Historic Site and the Nations across the Arkansas River. I wonder how proud Dan Douglas would have been.