Utah Governor's Correspondence Research Guide This research guide was created to facilitate student research during the 2020-2021 academic year National History Day celebration. In 2020-2021 students were asked to explore topics relating to the theme Communication in History: The Key to Understanding. This theme asks students to consider how people exchange information and interact with each other. Students have the chance to explore how the methods and modes of communication have changed over time and how they have shaped the present. There are few records held by the Utah Division of Archives and Records Service (State Archives) that illustrate the power and importance of communication like the correspondence sent and received by Utah’s governors. As the chief executive of the State, the governor directly engages with issues of both local and national importance. They serve as the representative for the state on a wide range of issues. The governor’s office has routinely proven to be a place where citizens engage with their government. This ongoing information exchange is foundational to the historic record as it provides unique, often personal, insights into key historical moments and circumstances. As the permanent repository for Utah’s government records, the State Archives holds the correspondence generated by Utah’s governors in public trust. These records are available for research and access through its Research Center. This research guide intends to bring together the correspondence from the various administrations of Utah’s governors into a central location that will help with research. Descriptions of each correspondence record set are provided. Where possible, a list of topics of state and national interest unique to any given administration are also included. While each governor has had their own unique set of challenges and circumstances to navigate, recurring themes tend to recur in all correspondence generated by Utah’s governors. These themes include: ● Correspondence with the Federal Government and Utah’s Federal Delegation. ● Communication and Coordination with other Governors and State Governments. ● Communication and Coordination with Local Governments. ● Communication and Coordination with Utah’s State Government Agencies that report to the Governor. ● Communication with the Utah State Legislature. ● Correspondence and Coordination with the Business Community (State and National). 1 ● Correspondence and Coordination with Professional Associations and Non-Profit Groups. ● Correspondence Relating to Crime, Prisoners, and Pardons. ● Correspondence on Education and Schooling in Utah. ● Correspondence on Environmental Issues. ● Correspondence on Infrastructure and Development in the State of Utah. ● Correspondence on Industry, Mining, and Extractive Industry in Utah. ● Correspondence on Publicity and Tourism in Utah. ● Correspondence on Military Issues. ● Correspondence on Social Issues of Importance to Utah’s Citizens. 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS: BRIGHAM YOUNG (1850-1857) 5 Letterbooks 5 ARTHUR LLOYD THOMAS (1889-1893) 6 Correspondence 6 HEBER MANNING WELLS (1896-1905) 7 Correspondence 7 JOHN CHRISTOPHER CUTLER (1905-1909) 8 Correspondence (Incoming) 8 Correspondence (Outgoing) 8 WILLIAM SPRY (1909-1917) 10 Correspondence 10 Employment Correspondence 10 Joseph Hillstrom Correspondence 11 Letterbooks 11 Personal Correspondence 12 CHARLES RENDELL MABEY (1921-1925) 13 Correspondence 13 GEORGE HENRY DERN (1925-1933) 14 Correspondence 14 HENRY HOOPER BLOOD (1933-1941) 15 Colorado River Correspondence 15 Correspondence 15 State Agency Correspondence 16 HERBERT BROWN MAW (1941-1949) 17 Correspondence 17 Defense Agencies Correspondence 17 JOSEPH BRACKEN LEE (1949-1957) 19 Correspondence 19 GEORGE DEWEY CLYDE (1957-1965) 20 Correspondence 20 CALVIN LEWELLYN RAMPTON (1965-1977) 21 Constituent Correspondence 21 Correspondence 21 Federal Correspondence 22 3 Issues Correspondence 22 Outgoing Correspondence 23 State Agency Correspondence 24 SCOTT MILNE MATHESON (1977-1985) 25 Correspondence 25 Federal Correspondence 25 Legal Association Correspondence 26 Outgoing Correspondence 27 State Agency Correspondence 27 State Correspondence 28 NORMAN H. BANGERTER (1985-1993) 30 Chief of Staff Correspondence 30 Correspondence 30 First Lady Correspondence 31 Office Correspondence 31 Significant Issues Correspondence 32 MICHAEL OKERLUND LEAVITT (1993-2003) 34 Administrative Constituent Correspondence 34 Executive Constituent Correspondence 34 Executive Correspondence 35 OLENE S. WALKER (2003-2005) 36 Constituent Correspondence 36 Executive Correspondence 36 JOHN M. HUNTSMAN JR. (2005-2009) 38 Constituent Correspondence 38 Executive Correspondence 38 4 BRIGHAM YOUNG (1850-1857) Governor: Series: Series Title: Dates: Young Series 13844 Letterbooks 1853-1857 DESCRIPTION: This letterbook consists of 713 pages of outgoing correspondence covering the years 1853- 1858. These letters were written by Brigham Young in his capacity as Utah's first territorial governor and as superintendent of Indian Affairs. The bulk of the correspondence relates to Indian Affairs--e.g. property and trade negotiations, reports of attacks, and the licensure and bonding of individuals to act as Indian agents. SPECIFIC TOPICS: ● Indian Affairs ● US War Department ● US Treasury ● Territorial Government ● Pardons 5 ARTHUR LLOYD THOMAS (1889-1893) Governor: Series: Series Title: Dates: Thomas Series 245 Correspondence 1874-1892 DESCRIPTION: This series is a miscellany of correspondence to Territorial Governor Arthur Lloyd Thomas and his personal staff. The correspondence was received from federal officials, governors, and the general public as well as from friends and family regarding the activities and duties of the governor. Also included are letters from 1915 and 1918, more than two decades after his tenure as territorial governor. 6 HEBER MANNING WELLS (1896-1905) Governor: Series: Series Title: Dates: Wells Series 235 Correspondence 1895-1904 DESCRIPTION: The major political and social issues faced by the Governor during his nine years in office are examined in this correspondence. Included are letters from private citizens requesting favors and expressing opinions; there is correspondence with members of the legislature, officers of executive departments, and managers of state institutions about topics related to their respective duties. Also included is correspondence with national officials and officials from other states. Correspondence may have attachments. SPECIFIC TOPICS: ● Appointments ● Job Requests ● Financial Crisis ● Spanish American War ● Scofield Mine Explosion 7 JOHN CHRISTOPHER CUTLER (1905-1909) Governor: Series: Series Title: Dates: Cutler Series 202 Correspondence (Incoming) 1905-1908 DESCRIPTION: This series contains letters to Governor Cutler. This was the Governor's primary way of communication with the Utah citizenry and other principal officials of other states and nations. The correspondence is in the form of letters, reports, and notices. Correspondence includes that with federal and state agencies as well as individuals. Education is a prominent theme, but many other subjects are also included. SPECIFIC TOPICS: ● Agriculture ● Education Governor: Series: Series Title: Dates: Cutler Series 203 Correspondence (Outgoing) 1905-1908 DESCRIPTION: Governor Cutler's outgoing correspondence is organized into eighteen folders and five bound letterbooks; the first letter book has been unbound and constitutes seventeen of the folders. This correspondence consists of copies of letters sent from the governor's office. SPECIFIC TOPICS: ● Infrastructure ● Environment ● Water ● Laws of Utah ● Military 8 ● Uinta Reservation ● Vital Records ● Lewis and Clark Centennial Celebration 9 WILLIAM SPRY (1909-1917) Governor: Series: Series Title: Dates: Spry Series 226 Correspondence 1908-1916 DESCRIPTION: An account of the primary activities of Governor Spry's two terms in office has been preserved in this series. As chief executive of the state, the correspondence reflects his involvement in a wide range of important administrative matters. Described are his efforts to see completion of a permanent home for state government, to increase development of the state's natural resources, to improve irrigation and water rights, to establish higher standards for agricultural products, to upgrade banking practices, to institute more equitable taxation, to provide better working conditions for children, and to promote industrial safety. Contained in the series are letters from citizens, private institutions, and businesses requesting assistance and making suggestions; descriptions of legal positions; fiscal information; correspondence within state government, with officials from other states, and with officials from the federal government. SPECIFIC TOPICS: ● State Capitol Construction ● Finance ● Taxation ● Women’s suffrage ● Prohibition Governor: Series: Series Title: Dates: Spry Series 2937 Employment Correspondence 1908-1909 DESCRIPTION: This series consists of letters from applicants who sought state appointments during the governor's election campaign and first year in office. Typically, they stated their 10 qualifications, describing their experience and sometimes their education. These were frequently accompanied by letters of recommendation and petitions of endorsement from supporters who praised the applicant's character and competence. Governor: Series: Series Title: Dates: Spry Series 2941 Joseph Hillstrom Correspondence 1914-1916 DESCRIPTION: As chief executive