Utah Historical Quarterly Volume XX

Historical notes - 1

HISTORICAL NOTES The files of the Society have recently been enriched by the acquisition of copies of 33 personal letters from Frederick S. Dellenbaugh to the late Raymond T. Stites and his wife. The Society obtained copies of these letters from Mrs. Stites who is a member of our staff. The letters were written during the years 1926-1935, the last one written shortly before Dellenbaugh's death. They contain a great deal of important historical material on the West as well as interesting material on the writer himself. Dellenbaugh was the youngest member of the Powell Colorado River Expedition of 1871-1872. During a long lifetime he made a substantial reputation as an artist, author, and explorer. Among the many recent centennials observed in recent years was the outstanding celebration on last May 30-31 at Fillmore, Millard County. There was dancing, music, a speech by Governor Lee, an historical pioneer parade, and many other events. The Historical Society has recently had the pleasure of send­ing volumes 15, 16, and 17 dealing with the Powell Colorado River exploration to B. H. Blackwell, bookseller of Oxford, Eng­land. The new $3,500;000 bridge spanning the Missouri River from North Omaha, Nebraska to Council Bluffs, Iowa, where the Mor­mons wintered in 1846-1847 has been called the "Mormon Mem­orial Pioneer Bridge." In connection with the 82nd celebration of the driving of the Golden Spike at Promontory a rededication ceremony was held in Ogden. A Golden Spike Monument was unveiled by William H. Reader, Vice Chairman of Utah Trails and Landmarks Asso­ciation. Governor Lee was an invited guest speaker. Among those attending were railroad officials of the Union Pacific and Southern Pacific Railroads. Dr. Joel E. Ricks represented the Utah State Historical Society. The Historical Society was proud to have furnished material to the artist of the Collier's Magazine cover for May 12, 1951, which commemorated the completion of the trans-continental rail­road on May 10, 1869. HISTORICAL NOTES 105 Stone markers erected in 1850 as triangular points for the first authentic survey of Great Salt Lake stand now at the summits of various islands as monuments to the man who conducted the first survey, Captain Howard Stansbury. He is credited with draw­ing the first authentic map of the lake and valley and also naming several of the islands and other geographic features. In 1861 Mark Twain learned about the Great Salt Lake Desert by riding across it in an overland stage coach. In a deso­late area west of Eureka in Juab County stands a little log cabin called the "Mark Twain Cabin." Here he paused to recuperate on his journey to Nevada and California. The Secretary of the Society, Dr. A. R. Mortensen, will be glad to meet with any group or organization in the state to dis­cuss historical research possibilities in Utah, the organization of local historical societies, archival problems, or any other historical problems dealing with Utah and the West. Recent important acquisitions to the Society's library include copies of the diaries of John Bennion covering the period from 1855-1877. Copies of two John D. Lee journals have also been obtained. One deals with the Mormon Battalion Mission and covers the period from August 30 to November 20, 1846. The other deals with the settlement of Iron County and covers the period from December 10, 1850 to March 31, 1851. The Society has been presented a photostat narrative by Heinrich Lienhard, folios 66-74. This was the gift of Mrs. J. Roderic Korns. Significant local histories also added to the library include Providence and Her People and Willard Centennial, 1851-1951. Other outstanding books obtained by purchase include: Henry R. Wagner, The Plains and the Rockies; A Bibliog­raphy of Original Narratives of Travel and Adventure 1800-1865. Aurora Hunt, The Army of the Pacific; Its Operations in Cali­fornia, Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, . . . 1860- 1866. Ralph B. Bieber and LeRoy R. Hafen, eds., Southwest His­torical Series, 12 vols. 106 UTAH HISTORICAL QUARTERLY Roscoe P. Conkling, The Butterfield Overland Mail 1857- 1869, 3 vols. Thomas Flint, Diary of Dr. Thomas Flint. F. W. Hodge, Handbook of American Indians North of Mexico, 2 vols. Julia A. Holmes, A Bloomer Girl on Pike's Peak. Nathaniel Wyeth, The Correspondence and Journals of Cap­tain Nathaniel J. Wyeth, 1831-6.