Winter of 1849-1850, Salt Lake City

File — Box: 86, Folder: 8

Identifier: XIV

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

From the Series: This section contains documents related to Exploring the Great Salt Lake: The Stansbury Expedition of 1849-50 (University of Utah Press, 1989), Madsen's compilation of all documents associated with the nineteenth-century military survey of the Great Salt Lake. This project had originally been undertaken by Dale Morgan, who discovered the official expedition journals in the National Archives in 1944. Morgan offered to bring the documents together and provide supplementary biographical information for publication in the four-volume 1945 edition of the Utah Historical Quarterly, but the project never reached fruition. Madsen discovered Morgan's files in the Bancroft Library while researching the John Hudson book and recognized the historical value of the project. With the Utah statehood centennial and the expedition sesquicentennial approaching, the University of Utah Press agreed that the timing was right for this venture. Principle members of the Stansbury party were Captain Stansbury himself, in command; Lieutenant John Williams Gunnison, an Episcopalian surveyor with a strong religious bent; John Hudson, a young English artist and draftsman; and Albert Carrington, Brigham Young's private secretary, whose presence on the crew ensured Young's support. For further information on Carrington, see the Albert Carrington Papers (Ms 549).

Madsen's files for this manuscript begin with research-related correspondence and maps used to envision the routes discussed on lesser-known portions of the expedition. Folders 12-22 of box 85, labeled "Gunnison Journals," contain supplementary material relative to the journals rather than the journals themselves. Folders 19-22, "Carrington Journals," contain photocopies of an original diary in the possession of the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers, the 1947 version published by that organization, and supplementary biographical material. Folder 25, "Stansbury Journals," contains biographical information and documents pertaining to Stansbury's career with the topographical engineers. Box 86 contains research material used to prepare footnotes for the various legs of the journey outward, the lake survey and side-trips, and the return to Washington D. C. Here Madsen has replicated the organizational scheme he used in editing the John Hudson journals, filing source material according to where the topic under consideration was mentioned by the travelers. Folders 15-17, "James Blake, M. D." and "Odometer," were added later, and contain new information used to amplify Madsen's interpretation of the journey. This material was utilized in Madsen's 1991 speech before the American Association for the Advancement of Science, "Dr. James Blake, Scientist," which is located in box 96, folders 34-35. The research materials used to prepare footnotes and appendices on the flora and fauna of the great plains begins in box 86, folder 28, and continues through box 87, folder 9. Folders 10-26 of that box contain information on the two nineteenth-century publications which came out of the expedition: Stansbury's Exploration and Survey of the Valley of the Great Salt Lake and Gunnison's The Mormons. Folders 21-26 also contain information on Stansbury's career at the topographical engineers.

Material photocopied by Madsen from the Dale L. Morgan Papers (in the possession of the Bancroft Library at the University of California at Berkeley) is located in boxes 88 and 89. These materials include photocopies of original documents, transcripts prepared by Morgan, and selected items from Morgan's research and correspondence. The Marriott Library has a microfilm copy of the entire Morgan collection, which is available to researchers (Ms 560). Madsen's index to the relevant Morgan documents is located in box 88, folder 10. Many of the Morgan documents have been placed with the route files in box 86. Boxes 90 through 92 contain photocopies of the 28 official journals and field notebooks of the Stansbury expedition that Madsen obtained from the National Archives. These documents are described and summarized by Madsen in his essay on editorial methods following the introduction to the Stansbury book, and have been filed according to the order established by Madsen at that time. These journals and notebooks are those referred to by Madsen in his introductory essay as the "Stansbury Collection at the Marriott Library." The Gunnison letters contain many references to nineteenth-century religious thought (including descriptions of "knockings" and other expressions of spiritualism) excised by Madsen, which may be of interest to researchers. The manuscripts for this project begin in box 92, folder 9 and continue through box 95, folder 26. Reviews for Exploring the Great Salt Lake are located in box 96, folder 27, followed by various drafts and printed versions of speeches and articles on related topics produced by Madsen between 1987 and 1991.

Dates

1849-50

Language of Materials

From the Collection: Collection materials are in English.

Conditions Governing Access

Twenty-four hour advanced notice encouraged. Materials must be used on-site. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.