Governors: George Henry Dern

The Utah State Capitol’s first floor will see changes in the upcoming weeks with the addition of biography plaques in the Hall of Governors. A biography plaque will hang next to each portrait of our Utah’s governors. We will be posting an example of what will be on the plaque every day. Stay tuned to read about your favorite Governor!

GEORGE HENRY DERN
1872–1936

George Henry Dern was born in Nebraska in 1872 and came to Utah at age 22. He co-invented the Holt-Dern ore roasting process and worked for the Mercur Gold Mining and Milling Company and other local mining companies. Despite being a non-Mormon and a Democrat, Dern was successful in politics. He was elected to the state Senate in 1914, and his election as governor in 1924 made him the only Democrat elected to a statewide office.

Governor Dern was a progressive politician, with accomplishments including requiring teachers to have a teaching certificate and revising tax laws so that they favored middle and lower-income groups. He also secured federal funds for road construction and other programs. Dern declined to run for a third term in 1932 and promoted Henry Blood as his successor.

Dern became the first Utahn to hold a position in a presidential cabinet when President Franklin D. Roosevelt named him Secretary of War, despite Dern’s lack of military experience. He oversaw the enlarging and motorizing of the nation’s military in its preparation for World War II and the creating of the Civil Conservation Corps.

ARTIST

John Willard “Will” Clawson (1858–1936) was a nationally known portrait painter. He studied locally with George Ottinger and in Europe with Impressionist masters Edouard Manet and Claude Monet. Clawson painted the portraits of many society figures of his day, including a portrait of his grandfather Brigham Young and three other Utah governors: Wells, Cutler, and Bamberger.

Governors: Charles Rendell Mabey

CHARLES RENDELL MABEY

1877–1959

Charles Rendell Mabey was born in Bountiful, Utah in 1877. He attended the University of Utah and worked for ten years as a teacher and administrator. Mabey served in the Utah National Guard during the Spanish-American War and received a citation for gallantry.

Mabey began his political career as a justice of the peace and later served as city councilman and mayor of Bountiful. He also served two terms in the state Legislature. When WWI began, Mabey served again with the Utah National Guard.

In the gubernatorial race of 1920, Mabey campaigned vigorously, promising development of the state’s resources and economy in state administration. As governor he quickly began his plan to streamline state administration, which was very successful—the administration costs decreased nearly $170,000 in one fiscal year. Upgrading the quality of public education was important to Mabey, and under his encouragement, the Legislature increased education funding to the entire state. The state saw the construction of nearly 500 miles of new roads during Mabey’s leadership.

ARTIST

Lee Greene Richards (1878–1950) was a well-known Utah artist who studied with J.T. Harwood and trained in France. In 1904, he received honorable mention at the Paris Salon, making him the first Utah painter to receive this honor. Richards’ artwork can be seen throughout the Capitol with murals in both the rotunda and Senate chamber as well as portraits of Utah governors Spry and Maw.

Governors: Simon Bamberger

SIMON BAMBERGER

1846–1926

In 1916 Utah voters elected Governor Simon Bamberger, a Jewish Democrat, making him the second Jewish governor in the nation. Bamberger was born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany and immigrated to the United States at the beginning of the Civil War. He later became involved in the mining and railroad industries. Bamberger opened Lagoon, a local amusement park, in 1896 as a stop on his railway between Salt Lake City and Ogden.

Bamberger’s career in public service included serving on the Salt Lake City Board of Education and in the state Senate. Bamberger had a reputation as a philanthropist who bought flour and coal for those in need and offered free days at Lagoon for disadvantaged groups. He was publicly supported by prominent citizens when he announced his intention to run for governor in 1916.

Bamberger ran on a very progressive ticket, and he fully supported Prohibition, which was considered part of the progressive movement. In his message to the Legislature in 1917, Bamberger urged strict economy and more efficient government. By the time he left office three years later (declining to run for a second term), the state’s budget deficit of nearly half a million dollars had been eliminated.

ARTIST

John Willard “Will” Clawson (1858–1936) was a nationally known portrait painter. He studied locally with George Ottinger and in Europe with Impressionist masters Edouard Manet and Claude Monet. Clawson painted the portraits of many society figures of his day, including a portrait of his grandfather Brigham Young and three other Utah governors: Wells, Cutler, and Dern.

Governors: William Spry

WILLIAM SPRY
1864–1929

William Spry was born in England and came to Utah in 1875 when his family joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Spry lived in Tooele County and worked at a variety of jobs until he found his place in politics. He served as the tax collector for Tooele County and later as a representative in the state Legislature. An important member of Senator Reed Smoot’s “Federal Bunch,” Spry secured the nomination for governor in 1908 and was elected.

Spry emphasized to the Legislature the need for a state capitol. At first denied, the project was able to go forward in 1911 when the estate of multimillionaire Edward H. Harriman was settled and the state received $798,546 in inheritance taxes. Spry appointed a Capitol Commission to oversee the project, and the Capitol was officially dedicated on October 9, 1916.

Spry’s second term was marked by controversy. Swedish immigrant and Industrial Workers of the World songwriter Joe Hill, was convicted of murdering two Salt Lake City men despite circumstantial evidence and was sentenced to death. Spry received appeals from all over the world, including a plea from U.S. President Woodrow Wilson, to give Hill a new trial. He refused—a stance that resulted in the Spry family receiving numerous death threats. Spry ran for a third term in 1916 but lost the Republican nomination.

ARTIST

Lee Greene Richards (1878–1950) was a well-known Utah artist who studied with J.T. Harwood and trained in France. In 1904, he received honorable mention at the Paris Salon, making him the first Utah painter to receive this honor. Richards’ artwork can be seen throughout the Capitol—murals in the rotunda and Senate chamber as well as portraits of Utah governors Mabey and Maw.

Governors: John C. Cutler

JOHN CHRISTOPHER CUTLER
1846–1928

John Christopher Cutler was born in Sheffield, England and immigrated to Utah in 1864 when his family converted to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He became a businessman in Utah and worked for many local companies and banks. Cutler secured the GOP nomination for governor and won the 1904 election with the support of the Federal Bunch—a powerful group of Republicans led by Senator Reed Smoot. In his inaugural address as the state’s second governor, Cutler promised to make “no great changes” in state government and to continue following successful policies.

Cutler’s contributions to the state included establishing a juvenile court system and creating a board to manage state parks. In 1907, Cutler proposed that the Legislature fund the construction of a state capitol building; the Legislature refused. The Legislature also denied Cutler’s request for an institution to care for handicapped individuals. Cutler lost favor with the Federal Bunch and withdrew from the 1908 election for governor in support of William Spry.

ARTIST

John Willard “Will” Clawson (1858–1936) was a nationally known portrait painter. He studied locally with George Ottinger and in Europe with Impressionist masters Edouard Manet and Claude Monet. Clawson painted the portraits of many society figures of his day, including a portrait of his grandfather Brigham Young and three other Utah governors: Wells, Bamberger, and Dern.

Coming Soon: Hall of Governor Plaques!

The Utah State Capitol’s first floor will see changes in the upcoming weeks with the addition of biography plaques in the Hall of Governors. A biography plaque will hang next to each portrait of our Utah’s governors. We will be posting an example of what will be on the plaque every day. Stay tuned to read about your favorite Governor!

HEBER MANNING WELLS

1859–1938

Heber Manning Wells was born in 1859 in Salt Lake City, Utah. While in his teens, Wells began his public service career as a tax collector for Salt Lake City. In 1882, he was appointed City Recorder to fill a vacancy and was elected for three additional terms, serving until 1890. He ran for Salt Lake City Mayor in 1892 but lost. Wells participated in Utah’s 1887 and 1895 constitutional conventions.

At age 36, Wells became Utah’s first (and youngest) governor when Utah achieved statehood on January 4, 1896. Operating from the City and County Building, Governor Wells tackled the job of organizing state courts and offices for the new state of Utah. He signed into law many bills, including Alice Merrill Horne’s bill; which created the State Institute of Art (now the Utah Arts Council), the first state-sponsored arts organization in the country. Wells served two terms as Utah’s governor and spent the rest of his career in various public offices, both for Salt Lake City and the federal government.

ARTIST

John Willard “Will” Clawson (1858–1936) was a nationally known portrait painter. He studied locally with George Ottinger and in Europe with Impressionist masters Edouard Manet and Claude Monet. Clawson painted the portraits of many society figures of his day, including a portrait of his grandfather Brigham Young and three other Utah governors: Cutler, Bamberger, and Dern.

CURATOR’S REPORT MARCH 2009

First Floor


Two new first floor cases were recently installed. The Utah Mining Association donated the cases and requested the approval of the Art Placement Subcommittee for designing their contents with the understanding that they will not control the contents forever. The designs must be approved by the Subcommittee before installation.


The new case contents with dinosaur bones and items found in an archaeological dig was designed in collaboration with the Utah Museum of Natural History. A press announcement detailed the contents but an education worksheet geared to 7th grade curriculum is in the works.


Nobel Prize winner Mario Copechi and his department and college at the University of Utah have (a) brought the interactive kiosk about bio-genetic studies and Professor Copechi to be on loan to the Capitol for at least three years and (b) agreed to design the contents of one of the cases around great science/scientists in Utah and the Nobel Prize. The medal and scenes from the ceremony will be part of the case.


The People of Utah case designed in cooperation with the Living Traditions and Chase Home Museum in Liberty Park is complete. Text labels should be self-explanatory.


The case on the arts in Utah will be complete In the next few weeks. We have been working with Lila Abersold of the Art Council.


A case on the Supreme Court and famous cases heard in the Capitol’s Chamber is progressing. Actual court dockets and other memorabilia will be loaned from State History and Archives.


They are making a bound facsimile of the original docket and record showing the transition from a territorial court to a State of Utah Supreme Court. We have had superb help and support from Pat Bartholomew and other members of the Supreme Court.

The Visitor’s Center greeting room will have a new panel showing the U.S.S. Utah exhibit and the Gallery Guide and student worksheet. (The exhibit will be on the Fourth Floor until December 23, the date it was officially de-commissioned.)


The mahogany base recently installed in front of the Utah Capitol Store will hold a 3-D model of Pearl Harbor showing the final resting place of the U.S.S. Utah. The model will arrive as soon as the plexiglass cover is finished.

The Topographical Map will be re-installed as soon as we have either (a) updated the old map which is missing any new geographical or man-made/created improvements in the last twenty years since its creation or (b) identified a source and donor for a topographical map made from an image of the State of Utah from space. We made the decision not to install the old map as is for two reasons: It is not accurate; it lacks modern wiring and interactive descriptor panels.

The Freedom Shrine will be installed next to the Liberty Bell. It will feature an authentic 45-star flag and newly printed digital facsimile documents about the United States and Utah in new archival frames.

The Mormon Meteor will not return. John Price purchased the car from the Jenkins family, restored it and our understanding is that it is on loan to a car museum in Denver.

A new case, often referred to as “H” will shortly be installed in the middle of the Hall of Governors. It is a four-sided lighted case built in mahogany and glass. It will hold digital facsimile documents important to the state: the Enabling Act of Congress, the Petition for Statehood, the state Constitution and the Statehood Declaration from the Congress. Those are in process of production which takes a considerable amount of time to “build” quality facsimiles of lasting, convincing appearance. In addition, the case will hold several artifacts (such as the Great Seal of Utah and period photographs) connected to the history of the state.)

New brass and text labels for the governors have been written. Bids and designs for them are still in discussion.

Exterior Sculpture and Monuments



We have recently had some historical information on Massasoit which will shortly be supplied to you if it has not already been. We have selected new stone for the base, discussed the sculpture coming beck to the Capitol with Forest Cuch, sent the plaques to the foundry for repair and polish, and sent measurements of the existing base and the new space for the sculpture to the appropriate individuals and companies.

All plaques (including Fourth Floor Sculptures) will have been moved from the warehouse to the foundry by next week. They will be reinstalled as they become available.


The newest addition to plaza sculpture will be installed perhaps in early May. The sculpture is of Marriner S. Eccles.


The sculpture of Martha Hughes Cannon will be installed in the foyer entry of the Senate Building. She is currently at the foundry for repairs and cleaning.

We will make the appropriate press alerts and release whenever there is a new return or installation.

Fourth Floor Galleries










The U.S.S. Utah exhibit opened on the Fourth Floor on March 9, the date on which she was begun. Gallery Guides, more labels, educator materials will come on-line within the next two to three weeks.














The exhibit is sponsored by Ancestry.com. Ron Fox and Ephriam Dickson, of the Fort Douglas Military Museum, are guest curators. Ephriam, pictured at left in a vintage World War II uniform, has agreed to record a digital tour of the exhibit which can be downloaded to an MP3 player or Ipod.

We will send photos and documents to the web designer for CPB with links to other lending museums and historical societies.