Charles Kelly papers
Collection
Identifier: MS 0100
Scope and Contents
The Charles Kelly papers (1889-1971) document the work of a man of varied talents and interests. The papers contain personal materials, including his diary (1918-1971), a copy of his autobiography (1936), day books, and logs and journals of six river trips taken from 1932 to 1942. Included also is correspondence with colleagues exchanging information on research and writing, miscellaneous research materials, and published and unpublished manuscripts. Also present are periodicals in which some of his articles and photographs are published; a typescript copy of "The Field Notes of Robert Brewster Stanton, 1889-1890," which is an examination of the Colorado River for a railway line; and the "Journal of Albert King Thurber," an explorer of the area between the Sevier River Valley and the Colorado River. The collection contains copies of Kelly's six books published between 1930 and 1938. Several of Kelly's paintings of Southern Utah's red rock country are also part of the collection. The correspondence in box 2 includes individuals such as Frank Beckwith, Hoffman Birney, Juanita Brooks, Maurice Howe, Otis "Dock" Marston, and Dale L. Morgan, writers and friends of Charles Kelly who for many years exchanged information concerned with their research and writing. Other correspondence is included and filed alphabetically. In the preface of most of his books, Charles Kelly solicited additional information that might be known or discovered which could be used in future editions. The correspondence in box 3 is, to a great extent, responses to these requests. It is filed under the name of the book to which it refers.
Dates
- 1889-1971
Creator
- Kelly, Charles, 1889-1971 (Person)
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.
Conditions Governing Use
The library does not claim to control copyright for all materials in the collection. An individual depicted in a reproduction has privacy rights as outlined in Title 45 CFR, part 46 (Protection of Human Subjects). For further information, please review the J. Willard Marriott Library’s Use Agreement and Reproduction Request forms.
Biographical Sketch
Born at Cedar Springs, Michigan, on 3 February 1889, Charles Kelly was the oldest of six children. His father, a Baptist minister who started a religious movement of his own, set up a print shop to publish literature pertaining to his newly organized religious cult. Because of this, Charles learned the printing business at a very young age. At seventeen he went to work on a newspaper in Dixon, Tennessee, and from this job he saved enough money to attend Valparaiso University in Valparaiso, Indiana, for three years. Kelly never graduated from high school because his father believed the public schools would corrupt his faith and he was not allowed to attend, but his mother had been a good teacher. He was able to assimilate much at the University.
After this period of formal education, Kelly returned to the printing trade. He got a job with the Salina Sun in Salina, Kansas, where he learned to be a linotype operator and repairman which assured him good employment on almost any newspaper in the country. From Salina, he went to Pendleton, Oregon, and then to Great Falls, Montana, working as a linotype operator on various newspapers.
In 1919, because of his love of music and the hope that he might make music his career, Charles moved to Salt Lake City where he tried to affiliate with musical groups and continue his study of music. He had studied music since he was eight years of age and could play several instruments. When he was unable to secure employment with any of the musical companies in Salt Lake City, he set up his own printing business. In 1924 he sold his business and bought interest in the Western Printing Company where he remained until 1941.
Kelly's natural curiosity and interest in the West led him to explore the Salt Desert looking for old trails and gathering information on the trails from every available source. After he accumulated considerable material he wrote an article about the trails and the Donner Party and submitted it for publication, only to have his manuscript rejected. He decided he had enough data for a book which he would publish himself. Salt Desert Trails was the result of his research--his first published book, reprinted in 1969, and now a collector's item. In eight years, 1930-1938, he authored four books besides Salt Desert Trails. The books were: Hold Murder: The Story of Porter Rockwell; Old Greenwood: The Story of Caleb Greenwood; Miles Goodyear: First Citizen of Utah; and Outlaw Trail: A History of Butch Cassidy and His Wild Bunch. He also edited the Journals of John D. Lee, 1846-1847 and 1859 during this time. The second edition of Outlaw Trail was revised and enlarged, and published in 1959, and a revised edition of Old Greenwood: The Story of Caleb Greenwood, with Dale L. Morgan collaborating, was published in 1965. Three journals, "Captain Francis Marion Bishop's Journal," "Journal of W. C. Powell," and "Journal of Robert Chalmers" were edited by Charles Kelly and published in the Utah Historical Quarterly. Numerous articles and book reviews dating from 1930-1971 appeared in many western publications.
The Saturday Evening Post of 6 May 1939 featured an article by Charles Kelly of a boat trip down the Glen Canyon of the Colorado River. This was one of six river trips Charles Kelly made, the first being in 1932 with Julian Steward of the University of Utah to assist in an archaeological survey of Glen Canyon. With Russell G. Frazier, he also boated the Yampa in Dinosaur National Monument and ran the Middle Fork of the Salmon River.
Kelly developed a keen interest in archaeology and visited sites throughout Utah in search of petroglyphs and artifacts. He assisted in many excavations and for years, with Frank Beckwith and others, explored the desert studying Indian petroglyphs, searching for trilobite fossils, studying geology, and researching various subjects. It was through these archaeological pursuits that he came to know the little community of Fruita within the Capitol Reef National Monument, and chose it as an ideal place to retire in 1941 when he sold his interest in the printing business. Here he could pursue his research and writing.
In 1943 Charles Kelly was appointed custodian (without pay) of Capitol Reef National Monument. He lived on government land in a two-room frame house free of charge and was allowed to sell the fruit grown on the property as income for taking charge of the Monument. Kelly served in this position until 1950 when he received a civil service appointment as superintendent. It is this beautiful Red Rock Country he loved that he depicted so well in his paintings.
In 1959 at the age of seventy, Charles Kelly retired as superintendent of Capitol Reef National Monument. Faced with failing eyesight he was, nevertheless, able to revise and reissue two of his books and continued to research on some of his favorite subjects. He was named an Honorary Life Member of the Utah State Historical Society in 1960, and in 1969 he was chosen to receive an Award of Merit by the American Association of State and Local History.
Charles Kelly married Harriette Greener in 1919. He died 19 April 1971; Harriette Greener Kelly died 13 July 1974.
After this period of formal education, Kelly returned to the printing trade. He got a job with the Salina Sun in Salina, Kansas, where he learned to be a linotype operator and repairman which assured him good employment on almost any newspaper in the country. From Salina, he went to Pendleton, Oregon, and then to Great Falls, Montana, working as a linotype operator on various newspapers.
In 1919, because of his love of music and the hope that he might make music his career, Charles moved to Salt Lake City where he tried to affiliate with musical groups and continue his study of music. He had studied music since he was eight years of age and could play several instruments. When he was unable to secure employment with any of the musical companies in Salt Lake City, he set up his own printing business. In 1924 he sold his business and bought interest in the Western Printing Company where he remained until 1941.
Kelly's natural curiosity and interest in the West led him to explore the Salt Desert looking for old trails and gathering information on the trails from every available source. After he accumulated considerable material he wrote an article about the trails and the Donner Party and submitted it for publication, only to have his manuscript rejected. He decided he had enough data for a book which he would publish himself. Salt Desert Trails was the result of his research--his first published book, reprinted in 1969, and now a collector's item. In eight years, 1930-1938, he authored four books besides Salt Desert Trails. The books were: Hold Murder: The Story of Porter Rockwell; Old Greenwood: The Story of Caleb Greenwood; Miles Goodyear: First Citizen of Utah; and Outlaw Trail: A History of Butch Cassidy and His Wild Bunch. He also edited the Journals of John D. Lee, 1846-1847 and 1859 during this time. The second edition of Outlaw Trail was revised and enlarged, and published in 1959, and a revised edition of Old Greenwood: The Story of Caleb Greenwood, with Dale L. Morgan collaborating, was published in 1965. Three journals, "Captain Francis Marion Bishop's Journal," "Journal of W. C. Powell," and "Journal of Robert Chalmers" were edited by Charles Kelly and published in the Utah Historical Quarterly. Numerous articles and book reviews dating from 1930-1971 appeared in many western publications.
The Saturday Evening Post of 6 May 1939 featured an article by Charles Kelly of a boat trip down the Glen Canyon of the Colorado River. This was one of six river trips Charles Kelly made, the first being in 1932 with Julian Steward of the University of Utah to assist in an archaeological survey of Glen Canyon. With Russell G. Frazier, he also boated the Yampa in Dinosaur National Monument and ran the Middle Fork of the Salmon River.
Kelly developed a keen interest in archaeology and visited sites throughout Utah in search of petroglyphs and artifacts. He assisted in many excavations and for years, with Frank Beckwith and others, explored the desert studying Indian petroglyphs, searching for trilobite fossils, studying geology, and researching various subjects. It was through these archaeological pursuits that he came to know the little community of Fruita within the Capitol Reef National Monument, and chose it as an ideal place to retire in 1941 when he sold his interest in the printing business. Here he could pursue his research and writing.
In 1943 Charles Kelly was appointed custodian (without pay) of Capitol Reef National Monument. He lived on government land in a two-room frame house free of charge and was allowed to sell the fruit grown on the property as income for taking charge of the Monument. Kelly served in this position until 1950 when he received a civil service appointment as superintendent. It is this beautiful Red Rock Country he loved that he depicted so well in his paintings.
In 1959 at the age of seventy, Charles Kelly retired as superintendent of Capitol Reef National Monument. Faced with failing eyesight he was, nevertheless, able to revise and reissue two of his books and continued to research on some of his favorite subjects. He was named an Honorary Life Member of the Utah State Historical Society in 1960, and in 1969 he was chosen to receive an Award of Merit by the American Association of State and Local History.
Charles Kelly married Harriette Greener in 1919. He died 19 April 1971; Harriette Greener Kelly died 13 July 1974.
Extent
12.25 Linear Feet
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The Charles Kelly papers (1889-1971) contain personal materials, including his diary (1918-1971), a copy of his autobiography (1936), day books, and logs and journals of six river trips taken from 1932 to 1942. Included also is correspondence with colleagues exchanging information on research and writing, miscellaneous research materials, and published and unpublished manuscripts. Also present are periodicals in which some of his articles and photographs are published; a typescript copy of "The Field Notes of Robert Brewster Stanton, 1889-1890," which is an examination of the Colorado River for a railway line; and the "Journal of Albert King Thurber," an explorer of the area between the Sevier River Valley and the Colorado River. The collection contains copies of Kelly's six books published between 1930 and 1938. Several of Kelly's paintings of Southern Utah's red rock country are also part of the collection.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donated by Harriette Kelly in 1974 (includes books, papers and 3 acrylic paintings).
Donated by Della L. Dye in 1983 (1 painting).
Purchased by the University of Utah in 1997 (two letters).
Donated by Margery W. Ward in 2006 (1 painting).
Donated by Della L. Dye in 1983 (1 painting).
Purchased by the University of Utah in 1997 (two letters).
Donated by Margery W. Ward in 2006 (1 painting).
Separated Materials
Photographs were transferred to the Multimedia Division of Special Collections (P0100).
Processing Information
Processed by Della L. Dye in 1975.
- Beckwith, Frank
- Brooks, Juanita, 1898-1989
- Cassidy, Butch, 1866-
- Expeditions and Adventure
- Goodyear, Miles Morris, 1817-1849
- Greenwood, Caleb, 1763-1853
- Morgan, Dale L. (Dale Lowell), 1914-1971
- Outlaws -- West (U.S.)
- Stanton, Robert Brewster, 1846-1922
- Thurber, Albert King, 1826-1888
- West (U.S.) -- History -- 1848-1950
Creator
- Kelly, Charles, 1889-1971 (Person)
- Title
- Inventory of the Charles Kelly papers
- Author
- Finding aid created by Della L. Dye.
- Date
- 1975 (last modified: 2019)
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English.
Repository Details
Part of the J. Willard Marriott Library Special Collections Repository
Contact:
295 South 1500 East
Salt Lake City Utah 84112 United States
801-581-8863
special@library.utah.edu
295 South 1500 East
Salt Lake City Utah 84112 United States
801-581-8863
special@library.utah.edu