Utah Historical Quarterly Volume XXX

The President's report for the year 1961, by Grant Iverson

President J. Grant Iverson delivered the PRESIDENT'S REPORT at the Tenth Annual Meeting, Utah State Historical Society. UTAH STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY PHOTOGRAPH THE PRESIDENT'S REPORT FOR THE YEAR 1961 By f. Grant Iverson* During 1961 several changes of personnel in the administration of the Utah State Historical Society occurred. Dr. Russell B. Swenson, Provo, who has served faithfully and well for eight years, was retired as a mem­ber of the Board of Trustees. Mr. Jack Goodman, Salt Lake City, and Dr. Dello Dayton, Ogden, were appointed members of the board. In April Dr. Leland H. Creer resigned as president of the Board of Trustees because of the condition of his healdi. He has contributed much through his able and devoted service in this position. Mr. Nicholas G. Morgan, Sr., who has contributed more generously to the Society than any other patron during its existence, retired as vice-president of the Board of Trustees and was replaced by Dr. Dello Day­ton. Both Dr. Creer and Mr. Morgan are continuing to serve as mem­bers of the board. In July Dr. A. Russell Mortensen resigned as director of the Society and editor of the Utah Historical Quarterly, to accept the position of director of the University of Utah Press. Dr. Creer summarized his ac­complishments well. During this decade of tenure at the Society [August, 1950 to July, 1961] Dr. Mortensen won the admiration and respect of his colleagues and associ­ates throughout the community and the state for his dedication and service, * Mr. Iverson, practicing attorney in Salt Lake City, has been president of the Board of Trustees of the Utah State Historical Society since April, 1961. 328 UTAH HISTORICAL QUARTERLY his unswerving loyalty to his many friends, his sincerity of purpose and for his courageous leadership and consummate vision resulting in the inaugura­tion and implementation of numerous projects which gave the Society dignified status and recognition, not only with the state but throughout the nation. It is fitting that Dr. Mortensen be awarded an Honorary Life Mem­bership in the Society in recognition of his outstanding service. Perhaps the most notable achievement of the Society under Dr. Mortensen has been in the field of publications. The Utah Historical Quarterly emerged as a journal of history of recognized merit under his editorship. During the past year there was published a colorful summer issue entitled Utah's Dixie, The Cotton Mission, written by Juanita Brooks, which has won high praise from all parts of the nation. The loss sustained by the Society through the resignation of Dr. Mortensen might have been irreparable if the Society had not been suc­cessful in obtaining the services of Dr. Everett L. Cooley to replace him. Dr. Cooley first became associated with the Society as state archivist in 1954 and from then until 1960 worked in close association with Dr. Mortensen. During the academic year of 1960-61, Dr. Cooley was asso­ciated with die Department of History of Utah State University. The Society welcomes his return as a worthy successor to Dr. Mortensen. When Dr. Mortensen left to join the University of Utah, he per­suaded his secretary and associate editor, Mrs. Dorothy Summerhays, to go with him. Her absence has been keenly felt. An able replacement, however, was found in the person of Mrs. Margery Ward, who has served for six years in the Archives Division of the Society. During the summer of 1961 it appeared that it would be necessary, due to lack of funds, to suspend the work of editing the Hosea Stout journals. The Society has a substantial investment in this work which could not be abandoned. An appeal to the Society membership resulted in a contribution of more than $1,300 by over one hundred and fifty members to assist in completing this project. With these contributions and a financial arrangement effected with the State Finance Commis­sion, the editorial work of Juanita Brooks has been continued without interruption, and this very significant journal will be ready for publi­cation in the near future. A companion piece to the Hosea Stout journals is the "Hosea Stout Autobiography," currently appearing in serial form in the Quarterly. This is the early life story of a Utah pioneer, one of the territory's lead­ing political figures. THE PRESIDENT'S REPORT 329 The Membership Committee under the chairmanship of Dr. Joel E. Ricks, the dean of die Board of Trustees, in collaboration with Dr. Cooley, has conducted a campaign for the enrollment of new members. Membership has now reached an all-time high. Closely associated with die drive for membership has been the effort to bring the local chapters into closer relationship with the state Society. Each issue of the Newsletter carries notes on the activities of these chapters. The local chapters have been visited on various occasions during the past year. We are pleased to have die presidents of these four chapters as honored guests this evening. During the year there was instituted a program of recognition of outstanding students of history. Each of the four-year colleges of the state has selected its outstanding history student to be the recipient of a certificate award and a year's membership in the Utah State Historical Society. Students selected this year are: Robert White, Brigham Young University; R. J. Snow, University of Utah; Wayne Kendall Hinton, Utah State University; and Curtis Jensen, Westminster College. There is currently being presented weekly a program on KCPX Television Station, Channel 4, in which Dr. Cooley appears. Each time he is interviewed concerning the Society, its activities, and Utah history. This program has resulted in numerous visitors to the Mansion and the presentation of paintings, photographs, books, and manuscripts to the Society. These donors and others too numerous to name have made signifi­cant gifts to the institution. To them we express our sincere apprecia­tion. Another much appreciated contribution to the operation of the Society has been the time donated by young ladies of the Junior League of Salt Lake City. They catalogue books, pamphlets, and photographs; index manuscript volumes; and do various projects which would re­main undone were it not for their voluntary services. The Mansion which houses the Society has for some time been in need of work to arrest its deterioration. Work will soon be started in treating the exterior of the building with a preservative to prevent further weathering. In connection with the Mansion, we now have an interesting group of photographs of the interior of the building as it was during the time it was occupied by the Kearns family, the donors of this beautiful home. These pictures, which were presented by Thomas F. Kearns, have elicited great interest. During 1961 the major emphasis of the Archives Division was directed toward the establishment of a records center for all state agen- 330 UTAH HISTORICAL QUARTERLY Head Table of the Utah State Historical Society Annual Meeting, held in the Panorama Room of the University of Utah Union on May l2, 1962. UTAH STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY PHOTOGRAPH cies under the excellent direction of Mr. Ferdinand T. Johnson, records manager. In July the secretary of state made available to die records manager four rooms in the basement of the State Capitol. These rooms were renovated and partially equipped with warehouse-type, open shelv­ing. The State Records Center was officially opened on September 19, 1961, by representatives from the governor's office, the secretary of state's office, other state agencies, and board and staff members of the Utah State Historical Society. This State Records Center has been well re­ceived by the state agencies. To date 3,284 cubic feet of records, or the equivalent of approximately 370 filing cabinets of records, have been accessioned into the Records Center. When compared with the cost of storing these same records in filing cabinets, there has been a net saving to the state of approximately $30,000. This does not give consideration to the freeing of expensive floor space in offices in the Capitol and annex for other uses. Present plans call for increased emphasis on records management, especially by the state agencies themselves. Monthly training meetings for state agency records officers were started on January 19, 1962, and will continue until the record making and keeping practices of all state agencies have attained a reasonable standard of excellence. Also, in­creased emphasis will be placed on the protection of essential public records. Time will continue to be spent with county and municipal officers to assist them with their records problems. THE PRESIDENT'S REPORT 331 During the past year the Military Records Section has continued to pursue diligently its objectives under the direction of Mr. Robert W. Inscore. The library has continued to grow and expand its many services under Mr. John James, Jr., and his associates. The most imperative present need of the Society is the construction of a properly designed archives building for the reception and preserva­tion of the permanent records of the state of Utah. Such a structure must be built which will contain controlled light, fireproof vaults, air-conditioned and humidity-controlled storage areas, microfilming facil­ities, repair and restoration department, and fumigating and cleaning facilities to prevent the introduction of harmful organisms into the archives. To obtain such a building, it will be necessary to have the same placed on the state's ten-year building schedule. Recently, there have been conferences held by members of the Archives Committee, the board, and staff members of the Society with representatives of the Utah State Building Board. Work is now under way to assemble the needed data to enable the State Building Board to call for an archi­tectural study of the proposed archives vault. It is hoped that by the time of our next annual meeting we may be able to report that the building of an archives vault has been approved by the state legislature. Another goal for the coming year is the employment of an archivist. With the hiring of a records manager in July, 1960, the archives used the salary, which was previously paid to an archivist, for the records manager. It was hoped that additional funds could be obtained from the 1961 legislature to hire another archivist. In this we were disap­pointed and die archivist position has gone unfilled. It is a distinct privilege to be associated with the members of the Board of Trustees, the administration and staff, the officers of local chapters, and the members of the Society in the work of the Utah State Historical Society. Special recognition is extended to Secretary of State Lamont F. Toronto, ex officio member of the Board of Trustees, for his sincere interest in and his willingness to work for the best interests of the Society. Governor George D. Clyde's sympathetic understanding of the problems of the Society is sincerely appreciated. Quoting from Dr. Cooley: "Rarely has a group of employees been drawn together into such a loyal team as is found in the Mansion of the Historical Society." The continued interest, support, and activity of so many should insure the future success of this organization.