Utah Historical Quarterly Volume XXVI

Historical notes - 1

HISTORICAL NOTES At Columbus, Ohio, on October 4-6,1957, the American Association for State and Local History staged one of the most successful programs in the history of the organization. Several meetings were held jointly or concurrently with the Society of American Archivists, which had begun its sessions on October 2. In a particularly pertinent session on "The Historical Society IS an Education Institution," it was agreed that the historical society has lost its exclusiveness and its one-time monopolistic position in historical work, and today is facing hitherto unknown chal­lenges in the fields of collecting, public education, and publication, and challenges from universities, libraries, radio and television, popular his­tory magazines, colleges, and the university presses. It was suggested that the modern historical society make a deliberate effort to clarify its objectives, and called for greater co-operation between historical socie­ties and the history personnel of the colleges and universities to solve common educational problems. The Rocky Mountain Region again attained its share of honors in the Awards of Merit program. Director Mortensen, who has served for several years as chairman of the Mountain States, was pleased to have had a part in the selection of the worthy Award winners and proud of the accomplishment of the workers of the West. Colorado was particularly outstanding in historical effort this past year, and consequently received a "lion's share" of the honors. Citations 102 UTAH HISTORICAL QUARTERLY and engraved Awards have been presented to: James Grafton Rogers and the State Historical Society of Colorado, "For their conception and development of the highly popular Gold Rush Centennial public lec­tures series"; to Robert L. Perkin, "For his excellent reviews of western books in his Sunday column in the Rocky Mountain News, 'One Man's Pegasus'"; to the Star-Journal, Pueblo, Colorado, a daily newspaper in a community under 300,000 population, "For its column 'Colorful Colo­rado' written by Ralph C. Taylor"; and to the Industrial Federal Sav­ings Association, Denver, Colorado, "For inaugurating and sponsoring, through the Rocky Mountain News, a Contest for Historical Materials." Two books by western authors in the serious history field were given Awards: When Grass was King, an outstanding and invaluable study of the cattle industry and the open range days, principally in Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, the Dakotas, and New Mexico, by Maurice Frink, W. Turrentine Jackson, and Agnes Wright Spring; and The Sagebrush Saga, by Lester W. Mills, a history of Elko County, Nevada, and the only authentic book on Nevada history to be written in twenty years. In the field of popular history, The Ghost Towns of Wyoming, by Mary Lou Pence and Lola M. Homsher, a book rich in historical lore and the special frontier that was Wyoming, was given an Award of Merit. On Friday and Saturday, November 8 and 9,1957, the fall meetings of the Utah Academy of Sciences, Arts, and Letters were held at the Union Building of the Utah State University, Logan, Utah. On Friday, Richard D. Poll, Chairman of the History Section, presided and the fol­lowing papers were presented: "The Mormon Economy and the Panic of 1837," R. Kent Fielding; "Fremont and Columbus: A Study in Parallels," C. Gregory Crampton; "Some Aspects of Joseph Smith's Concept of the Political Kingdom of God," Hyrum L. Andrus; "Brig­ham Young's Ideas on the Best Form of Government," J. Keith Mel­ville; "The Discovery of Glen Canyon: The Escalante Expedition," David E. Miller. On Saturday morning S. George Ellsworth was chair­man of the joint meeting of the History and Social Sciences Section. The symposium: "Governments in Territorial Utah," and papers thereto included: "The Council of Fifty and the State of Deseret," James R. Clark; "Carpet-bag-Rule - The Federal Officials," Everett L. Cooley. It was regrettable that time ran out and Leonard J. Arrington was unable to present "The School of the Prophets." However, he HISTORICAL NOTES 103 promised to present his paper at a future meeting of the Academy. It was felt by all that the fiftieth anniversary program of the Utah Academy of Sciences, Arts, and Letters was a most successful affair. The Cache Valley chapter of the Utah State Historical Society held its first meeting of the year at the Oldham Memorial Building in Logan on Wednesday evening, September 25, 1957. Dr. Leonard J. Arrington was the speaker, and he chose as his topic "The Utah War." Dr. Arring­ton has returned to Utah State University after a year's sabbatical leave at the Huntington Library, San Marino, California, where he was work­ing on his forthcoming book on the economic history of the Great Basin region. The Cache Valley chapter is making a concerted drive to in­crease membership and stimulate interest in writing local histories, reports Dr. Joel E. Ricks, president. Board member Charles R. Mabey has published recently a book of great charm, September Sunflowers. The book comprises about 124 writings by Mr. Mabey. About twenty of them are brief addresses given by Governor Mabey on state occasions, and are typical of his fine oratori­cal style through a half century of activity in public life. A hundred or so of the writings are poems composed over the years, the inspiration for which arose out of the varied experiences of a rich life. Readers will find this book a delightful and inspiring volume. The Utah Library Association held their annual convention meet­ings in the rooms of the Society at 603 East South Temple, on Friday, October 11,1957. Two sister historical societies of the West have started publishing a magazine on a quarterly basis. The Idaho Historical Society, Boise, Idaho, has published spring and summer issues of Idaho Yesterdays; and Nevada State Historical Society, Reno, Nevada, recently published the first issue of The Nevada Historical Society Quarterly. Best wishes for success are extended. Robert Glass Cleland, distinguished California historian, died in September, 1957, after an extended illness. It will be remembered that he was co-editor with Juanita Brooks of A Mormon Chronicle: The Diaries of John D. Lee, 1848-1876 which won an Award of Merit in the field of biography for 1956. 104 UTAH HISTORICAL QUARTERLY Mr. C. Corwith Wagner of St. Louis, Missouri, died last August 13, 1957. Mr. Wagner was a valued friend and supporter of the Society. Over the years he contributed much valuable historical material to the library collections, the recently published Hascall letters in Volume XXV (1957) being among them. The Society wishes to thank the following for their gifts to the library: Lucile Francke, Robert Inscore, Ralph Hansen, D. C. Dix, Joseph Blackburn, Arizona Development Board, Utah State Industrial Commission, Stanley S. Ivins, Sharp M. Larsen, Charles R. Mabey, G. Homer Durham, Browning Arms Company, Wayne Stout, Jacob Heinerman, State Historical Society of Iowa, New-York Historical Society, Nicholas G. Morgan, Sr., Hugh F. O'Neil, Frank H. Jonas, Illinois State Historical Society, Ouida Nuhn Blanthorn, Everett L. Cooley, Indiana State Library, California Historical Society, and LaMar Petersen. UTAH STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY BOARD OF TRUSTEES (Terms Expiring April 1,1961) JUANITA BROOKS, St. George LELAND H. CREER, Salt Lake City NICHOLAS G. MORGAN, SR., Salt Lake City JOEL E. RICKS, Logan RUSSEL a. SWENSEN, PrOVO (Terms Expiring April 1,1959) LOUIS BUCHMAN, Salt Lake City GEORGE F. EGAN, Salt Lake City CHARLES R. MABEY, Bountiful WILLIAM p. MCCREA, Ogden LEVI EDGAR YOUNG, Salt Lake City (Ex-Officio Member) LAMONT r. TORONTO, Secretary of State OFFICERS 1957-59 LELAND H. CREER, President NICHOLAS G. MORGAN, SR., Vice-President A. R. MORTENSEN, Director EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE LELAND H. CREER, Chairman LOUIS BUCHMAN GEORGE F. EGAN CHARLES R. MABEY NICHOLAS G. MORGAN, SR. LEVI EDGAR YOUNG PUBLICATIONS COMMITTEE A. K. MORTENSEN, Chairman JUANITA BROOKS NICHOLAS G. MORGAN, SR. JOEL E. RICKS RUSSEL B. SWENSEN EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS: The Society was or­ganized essentially to collect, disseminate and preserve important material pertaining to the history of the state. To effect this end, contri­butions of manuscripts are solicited, such as old diaries, journals, letters, and other writings of the pioneers; also original manuscripts by present-day writers on any phase of early Utah history. Treasured papers or manuscripts may be printed in faithful detail in the Quarterly, without harm to them, and without perma-nendy removing them from their possessors. Contributions for the consideration of the Pub­lications Committee, and correspondence relat­ing thereto, should be addressed to the Editor, Utah State Historical Society, 603 East South Temple, Salt Lake City 2, Utah. The Utah State Historical Society assumes no responsibility for statements made by con­tributors to this publication. MEMBERSHIP: Membership in the Society is $3.00 per year. The Utah Historical Quarterly is sent free to all members. Non-members and institutions may receive the Quarterly at $3.00 a year or $1.00 for current numbers. Life membership, $50.00. Checks should be made payable to the Utah State Historical Society and mailed to the Editor, 603 East South Temple, Salt Lake City 2, Utah. 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