The Hobart G. Cawood Papers contains appointment books, articles, brochures, charts, clippings, correspondence, job descriptions, memoranda, pamphlets, press releases, reports, speeches and testimonies. Also included in the collection are photographs and oversize materials.

Materials in this collection cover the period 1957 to 2006. The bulk of the materials dates from 1971 to 1989, and documents Hobart Cawood's long career with the National Park Service.

The Cawood Papers are arranged alphabetically by folder title, and chronologically within each folder. The photographs are arranged by chronological dates first and then by alphabetically by individual and subject matter.

This collection emphasizes Cawood's tenure as the Superintendent of Independence National Historical Park, especially during the bicentennial celebration era of the United States. It also contains materials relating to his other National Park Service assignments. In addition, the papers reflect Cawood's interest in American history.

The majority of the correspondence filed in the collection is appreciatory, laudatory and congratulatory letters. Other topics covered in the correspondence include the American Civil Liberties Union's objection to the National Park Service's regulation allowing the Park Service the right to deny permits for public meetings if they present a clear and present danger to the public's health or safety; the possible visit of Prince Charles to Philadelphia during the Bicentennial of the U.S. Constitution; the National Park Service's study of the Pine Barrens area and the historic village of Batsto in New Jersey; exhibit cases for the South Carolina Tricentennial Year 1970; Cawood's evaluation of the 1967 Seminar for Historical Administrations; and an oral history project in Chattanooga. Also included are letters recommending that Cawood be considered as William J. Whalen's replacement as Director of the National Park Service, and a copy of a report on the Congress in Philadelphia from 1790 to 1800.

Memoranda filed in the collection cover such topics as the Chattanooga Battlefield Prospectus, the Living History Interpretation Report about the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, the Leasing of Historical Property for Appropriate Use Task Force Report, Black History Month activities, and participating in National Park Service training courses and programs.

There are a number of items relating to Independence National Historical Park and the bicentennial celebrations of the United States in this collection. There is background information about the Liberty Bell and the buildings that make up Independence National Historical Park, as well as memoranda, drafts of legislative bills, an annual operating requirements report, figures about protection and visitor service requirements, testimonies regarding the proposed additions of Independence Mall and Washington Square to the park, and information about Carpenters' Hall where the First Continental met in 1774, Jefferson House, Old City Hall and City Tavern. In addition, reports about Independence National Historical Park's possible participation in the bicentennial anniversaries and the critical issues that the park was facing in 1989; a proposal for the National Commission of the Bicentennial of the United States Constitution to participate in the celebrations in Philadelphia; histories of the legislation relating to Independence National Historical Park and day by day activities of the Constitutional Convention; a listing of the ages of the delegates to the Constitutional Convention; a schedule of events and a briefing paper about the celebration as well as staffing rosters, an annual operating requirements report, and correspondence relating to the Magna Carta Exhibit at Old City Hall and materials about other exhibits can be found in this collection.

Other well-documented areas in the collection relate to We the People 200 and The Friends of Independence National Historical Park. Appointed by W. Wilson Goode, Mayor of Philadelphia, in 1984, We the People 200 was charged with the responsibility to develop a program for the commemoration of the 200^th anniversary of the U.S. Constitution, as well as serve as the coordinating body for the events in and emanating from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1986-1987 under the name of "We the People 200." Cawood served as chairman of the steering committee. The files contain an index of committee members, listings of members of the National Advisory Committee and participating institutions, a blueprint for the celebration, a calendar of events, press releases, activity record of events, newspaper clippings, and an organizational chart. Also included are correspondence, memoranda, a briefing packet about costs and other information regarding ceremonies, exhibits, and other events of the celebration, as well as a draft report by Cawood about continuing the celebration beyond 1987. In addition, there is a notebook, a meeting agenda and background information about projects and programs. Finally, there is a Memorandum and Order, dated July 10, 1987, regarding Pledge of Resistance, et al. v. We the People 200, Inc., et al. which concerns the denial of First Amendment rights to protestors to peacefully demonstrate during public functions in Independence National Historical Park during the Bicentennial Celebration of the U.S. Constitution, as well as infringement of their constitutional rights through alleged improper surveillance and undercover infiltration of their meetings.

The Friends of Independence National Historical Park, officially incorporated on September 17, 1972, is a independent non-profit organization whose purpose is to create an endowment for the annual support of Independence National Historical Park's extension interpretative activities and the acquisition of significant works of art and artifacts for which government funds are not available. The files contain drafts of the proposal, the memorandum of understanding, the by-laws, and the articles of incorporation, as well as minutes of the meetings. In addition, there are listings of the Board of Directors, the Advisory Committee, companies and foundations that showed past interest in INHP, museum accessions for INHP through the "Friends of INHP." a pamphlet and organizational chart about the organization, as well as some information about fund-raising and a pamphlet about the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Newspaper clippings can be found in the collection documenting topics such as the moving of the historic Liberty Bell from Independence Hall to a new $800,000 federally financed steel-and-glass pavilion on Independence Mall to mark the opening of the Philadelphia Bicentennial year 1976; the final restoration stage of Independence National Historical Park in preparation for the Bicentennial Year 1976; the visits of President Gerald R. Ford, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip, and the Dalai Lama to Independence National Historical Park; the firing of William J. Whalen as Director of the National Park Service; the court settlement protestors received because they were denied the right to hold protest rallies on Independence Mall during Vice President George H.W. Bush's speech for the Bicentennial Celebration of the U.S. Constitution; Independence National Historical Park facing decay and financial cutbacks; and setting up the Independence Hall Preservation Fund, a private funded trust which would ensure that major repairs to the complex were done.

Other information relating to Cawood's career in the National Park Service in the collection include his personnel files containing federal job applications, and job descriptions; memoranda and correspondence dealing with the eligibility to work for the federal government, promotions, training, and other job-related topics; and reports relating to performance ratings, time and attendance, and summaries of the progress of the work. Also included are historical reports by Cawood which cover such topics as the Cubo Line (the wall around St. Augustine), Cumberland Gap, the combat history of Fort Sumter, and the ironclad gunboat Cairo. Speeches by Cawood, as well as one by George B. Hartzog, Jr. about preserving our natural and cultural heritage, are filed here as well. There is little information pertaining to the other parks where Cawood was posted early in his career aside from a few brochures. A small group of photographs can be found in the collection. The majority of the photographs show Cawood involved in various activities as the Superintendent of Independent National Historical Park. Also included are photographs showing some of the famous personalities who visited the park: Presidents Gerald R. Ford and Ronald Reagan; First Lady Betty Ford; U.S. Supreme Court Justices William J. Brennan, Jr., William H. Rehnquist, Bryon R. White and Sandra Day O'Connor; U.S. Secretaries of the Interior Roger C.B. Morton and James Watt; Directors of the National Park Service Ron Walker and William J. Whalen; Lech Walesa; and Archbishop Desmond Tu Tu. In addition, photographs of the buildings of the Independent National Historical Park can be found here, including the move of the historic Liberty Bell to its new pavilion.