Series 3896

Governor Spry Letter books

Dates: 1909-1913.

2.50 cubic feet

These records are housed in the Utah State Archives' permanent storage room.

Historical Note

An agency history is available.

Scope and Content

The letterbooks consist of copies of letters, most of which were sent from the Governor or from the Governor's office. Included are replies to citizens, private institutions, and businesses; communications within state government; with officials from other states; with officials from the federal government; and with officials from foreign governments.

Governor Spry, as the chief executive officer of the state, dealt with a wide variety of administrative and political issues. The series gives an insight into the Governor's role in the accomplishment of several goals: to construct a state capitol building, to erect a new arsenal and armory, to build and maintain roads, to develop conservation measures, to protect natural resources, to find a larger market and establish higher standards for agricultural products, to expand water resources for irrigation and power, to drill wells in dry farming areas, to increase mining resources, to upgrade banking practices; to institute more equitable taxation, to improve the accuracy of property assessment; to provide better working conditions for children, and to promote industrial safety.

Documented is the Governor's support for participation in several events and celebrations, the more prominent include the following: the presentation of a silver service during the ceremonies for the launching of the Battleship Utah, the participation of the High School Cadets at the World's Fair, the creation of exhibits for the United States Land and Irrigation Expositions, and the entertainment of Civil War veterans at the encampment of the Grand Army of the Republic.

Spry offered rewards for the arrest and conviction of criminals, directed communication to the legislature about various bills, issued proclamations about a variety of topics, participated in relief programs for victims of disasters, and notified applicants for state positions of their acceptance.

The Governor frequently became involved in helping people with personal problems. He wrote letters of recommendation for persons seeking employment, recommended releases for prisoners who he felt deserved their freedom, and arranged visits for patients in the mental hospital.

Arrangement

Chronological by date.

Related Records

Correspondence from the Governor Spry, Series 226, contains letters responded to in this series.

Employment correspondence from the Governor Spry, Series 2937, contains job application requests responded to by letters in this series.

Custody History

This series was transferred to the Archives from the Office of the Governor in 1955.

Access Restrictions

This series is classified as Public.

Preferred Citation

Cite the Utah State Archives and Records Service, the creating agency name, the series title, and the series number.

Processing Note

This series was transferred to the Archives from the Office of the Governor in 1955. Processing was completed during 1991 by Brent Brinkerhoff.

Finding Aids

Indexes: The Letterbooks contain alphabetical indexes, usually by name and occasionally by subject; they list the page numbers where specific letters are located,.

Indexing Terms

• Utah. Governor (1909-1916 : Spry)—Administration.
• Industrial safety—Laws and legislation—Utah.
• Natural resources—Utah.
• Irrigation—Utah.
• Water rights—Utah.
• Banking law—Utah.
• Taxation—Utah.
• Exhibitions—Utah.
• Congresses and conventions—Attendance.
• Utah—Politics and government.

Container List

BOX	FOLDER	DESCRIPTION
1	1	Vol. 1, Jan. 4, 1909-July 29, 1909
1	2	Vol. 2, July 29, 1909-Feb. 28, 1910
2	1	Vol. 3, Feb. 28, 1910-Oct. 7, 1910
2	2	Vol. 4, Oct. 7, 1910-Mar. 23, 1911
3	1	Vol. 5, Mar. 23, 1911-June 29, 1911
3	2	Vol. 6, June 30, 1911-Feb. 19, 1912
4	1	Vol. 7, Feb. 20, 1912-Aug. 6, 1912
4	2	Vol. 8, Aug. 6, 1912-Feb. 15, 1913
5	1	Vol. 9, Feb. 15, 1913-July 8, 1913
5	2	Vol. 10, July 9, 1913-Sept. 19, 1913