The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-07-23

The need for a state historical soci-
ETY. has been apparent for some years
past. but il was left to the Jubilee
days" to see the first steps taken-to
| effect such an organization. During
the busy scenes of last spring incident
to the preparation for the great cele-
bration in honor of the advent of the
pioneers it was the privilege of The
Herald TO call attention 10 this par
ticular subject and to suggest the pro-
priety of its Inauguration.
In an editorial under date of April 8,
1897. it said: IS There could be
/ founded a historical society in this our
semi-centennial year and there should
! be ; il would be the means of
arousing a direct interest in the early
history of the state of Undue
ing those VINO were participants in
that history to write down their ex-
periences and these should be
deposited in the archives of such d So
ciety. Utah will be found
rich in historical material
and the work of gathering this should
be postponed no longer. How fitting
it would be 10 found the Utah histori-
cal society IN the year of Jubilee
Four days later another article ap-
peared calling the attention of the
semi centennial commiss on 20 the mat
ter and suggesting that al least part
Of one day should be devoted TO the
consideration of this subject. These
articles began to awaken new interest
and on the 23d of June the following
communication was sent the commits
sion:
Salt Lake City, Utah, June %, 1897.
Spencer CiawSon, Esq, Chairman OF the
Executive Committee, Jubilee Com
mission:
Dear Sir.I avail myself of the rules
of your commission, requiring that all
suggestions promotive OF the success of
the coming Jubilee be made in writing
accompanied by the necessary appro-
priations), so far as TO second the mo-
tion,'' heretofore presented through the
editorial columns OF Inc Salt Lake Her
aid. relative to the organization of "A
State Historical Society,"" and 70 the
end that all things pertaining thereo
may be in readiness by the appointed
time. / offer as an amendment. That
the board now appoint a suitable COM
mittee to arrange the necessary details
for carrying out such suggestion
There seeming TO be no occasion for
extended remarks, 1 ask for an imme-
date vote on the suggestion and
amendment" and inclose a check for
$40 to aid the cause.
Very respectfully,
JERROLD r. LETCHER.
To this the commission responds by |
referring the matter to the governor |
with the recommendation that Mr.. |
Letcher be appointed to arrange the |
preliminaries for the organization of /
such q society, and after a conference |
with the executive, he prepared the /
following call and obtained signatures |
thereto:
To the people of Utah:
Believing the Jubilee celebration of /
the advent of the pioneers an appropri-
ate time for the founding of a SOCIETY
which shall have for its objects the en-
coura cement OF historical research and
inquiry by the exploration. and invest
igation of aboriginal monuments and
the collection of such material
as may serve to illustrate the growth
IF Titan and the inter-mountain region,
the preservation in a permanent de-
pository of manuscripts. documents,
papers and tracts of value; the dissent
nation of information and the hold
ng of meetings at stated intervals for
he Interchange of views and criticisms,
he undersigned take this mode of ask
ng all who may be disposed TO aid IL
such an undertaking 10 meet at the
hotel in Salt Lake City on
Thursday the 22d day of July, 1897, at
D. m, for the purpose of taking the
steps looking TO the incorpo-
alton of an organization to be known
is The Utah state Historical Soci-
.ty''
It is desired that every section of the
tate should be represented, and full