Clare Marie Hodges

Clare Marie Hodges (1890–1970) was the first paid female ranger for the National Park Service, working at Yosemite National Park.[1]

She first visited Yosemite at age 14, and, in 1916 began teaching at the Yosemite Valley School. In 1918 she applied to become a park ranger and was accepted. Her job was mounted patrol through the park and included delivering the park's gate receipts from Tuolumne Meadows to the park headquarters, which required an overnight trip on horseback.[1][2] She wore a park service badge and Stetson hat and had the same duties as her male colleagues, but refused to carry a gun. She reported to Yosemite's superintendent, Washington B. Lewis. She remained the only paid female ranger for the next 30 years.[1][3]