J. Cecil Alter, Founding Editor of Utah Historical Quarterly

Utah Historical Quarterly

Vol. 46, 1978, No. 1

J. Cecil Alter, Founding Editor of Utah Historical Quarterly

BY MIRIAM B. MURPHY

FIFTY YEARS AGO, IN January 1928, the first number of Utah Historical Quarterly was issued. In retrospect, the new periodical's chances of survival were slim indeed. Its publisher, the Utah State Historical Society, suffered a chronic lack of funds, a situation that would worsen during the depression years ahead. And the editor and his associates had full-time occupations outside the Society. Against the odds, editor J. Cecil Alter kept the Quarterly alive into the mid-1940s despite crises that included the brief suspension of the magazine for financial reasons and his own move to another state. Although Alter had strong support and help from the Society's Board of Control, the success of the journal during its formative years must be credited in large measure to the editor's hard work, natural ability, enthusiasm, and tenacity.

A man of many talents and broad experience, Alter was born March 31, 1879, on a farm near Rensselaer, Indiana, a son of John E. and Hattie McColly Alter. His father pursued many occupations: farmer, civil engineer, county surveyor and drainage commissioner, and schoolteacher. Young Cecil also displayed versatility. In addition to trying out a number of his father's occupations, he shipped out as a deckhand on a Great Lakes steamer and managed a mine in Minnesota. After attending Valparaiso University, Northern Indiana Teachers Institute, and Purdue, Alter settled upon meteorology as a career, joining the U.S. Weather Bureau in 1902. One of his first assignments took him to Salt Lake City where he married Jennie O. Greene in 1904. They had three sons: J. Winston, E. Irving, and Marvin S. In 1917 Alter was given charge of the Weather Bureau station in Salt Lake City.

Alter's varied talents came to full flower during his Utah years. He designed a precipitation gauge that became standard equipment for all U.S. Weather Bureau stations, and he "originated the mountain snow survey system." As the weatherman "his name was almost a household world." (Local columnists liked to make puns, pleading with Mr. J. Cecil to alter the weather.) In addition to his official Weather Bureau duties, Alter served as chairman of the Utah State Parks Commission during 1920-24; was an active Mason, Christian Scientist, and member of the Utah Academy of Sciences, Arts, and Letters; and wrote two local newspaper columns: "Tribune Travelogs" in the 1920s and "In the Beginning," a historical series on Salt Lake City and Utah that ran in the Telegram in the 1930s.

A true devotee of his adopted state, Alter did extensive research and writing on local topics. This hobby became almost an obsession, leading him to turn down several job advancements that required relocation and to write articles and books on a wide range of subjects. One of his earliest productions was a pamphlet, Trouting at Fish Lake, followed by a string of articles for the LDS church's Improvement Era on alfalfa seed, dinosaurs, cliff dwellers, and Bryce Canyon. His first major book, Jim Bridger, Trapper, Frontiersman, Scout, and Guide: A Historical Narrative, was published in 1925. Two years later, Through the Heart of the Scenic West was issued. A three-volume work, Utah, the Storied Domain, came out in 1932.

By this time, Alter was deeply committed to Utah history and was serving as a member of the Historical Society's Board of Control and as editor of Utah Historical Quarterly. His formal association with the Society began in 1927 when he became secretary-treasurer of the board. The timing was fortuitous.

For some time the board had wanted to publish. In 1920 Andrew Jenson, president of the Society, had reported that "we are taking steps to publish a historical magazine (to be issued quarterly), the first number of which will be issued early in 1921." The board's plans called for publishing original documents. To that end they had obtained permission to print portions of Wilford Woodruff's 1847 diary. The manuscript had been edited and was ready for the printer. "With a periodical at our command," Jenson said, "we shall be able (by exchanging for literature of other historical societies) to secure valuable works for our library." However, funds from the legislature were not forthcoming, and plans for the quarterly magazine were suspended.

Not until the presidency of Albert F. Philips was the Society able to move ahead in publishing. At its meeting on June 18, 1927, the board confirmed Alter's position as secretary-treasurer and also named him editor-in-chief of Utah Historical Quarterly. The other board members were to serve as associate editors. The first issue of the new publication was scheduled to appear in January 1928. The board ordered 1,000 copies printed in large, boldface type on quality paper.

The initial thirty-two-page number contained two articles: "Indian Names in Utah Geography" by William R. Palmer, who would become a board member in 1929, and "Some Useful Early Utah Indian References" by editor J. Cecil Alter. Philips penned a welcome to readers, and the remaining pages listed board members and excerpts from the 1897 articles of incorporation. Alter mailed copies of the first issue to high school and county superintendents and college history teachers.

The first six volumes of Utah Historical Quarterly, 1928 through 1933, comprise a unit. Almost one-third of the articles were on Indian subjects. Military matters, reminiscences, Mormon Battalion journals, and pioneer settlement made up about half of the contents. The remainder of the twenty-four issues was filled with articles on diverse topics such as exploration, industry, fossils, travel, and slavery. One book review was published during the first six years. About 18 percent of the material was written by members of the Board of Control. Alter authored six entries; Palmer five; and William J. Snow, Parley L. Williams, and Albert F. Philips one each. Beginning in April 1928 every issue contained at least one illustration, either a photograph or map. The first six volumes were later bound together.

From the beginning, Alter's dealings with authors illustrate his firm grasp of the editorial reins. For example, he made detailed suggestions to William Palmer concerning his initial contribution to the Quarterly. In response Palmer wrote: "The more lengthy addition to 'Utah's Indians Past and Present' is all your fault. You sent me a long list of tribes and asked me to explain them away . . . perhaps I have taken too much space. . . . Put it in or leave it out as you wish." In submitting a piece on Black Hawk, journalist Josiah F. Gibbs asked Alter to subject it to the "severest criticism" to make it read more smoothly, changing words and transposing sentences or paragraphs where necessary. "Do not spare it," Gibbs urged." Alter must have revamped it considerably, for in returning the manuscript to Gibbs for approval, he noted that the author might "not recognize it in spots.'" Gibbs apparently liked Alter's editing, as the piece appeared in the Quarterly soon afterward.

Alter accomplished most of the business of producing the Quarterly at home during his free time. At board meetings he advised his associate editors of the material on hand for forthcoming issues and occasionally solicited their advice or assistance, but the editor was clearly in charge of the publication. Alter's responsibilities increased rapidly. By April 1931 he was secretary-treasurer, librarian, and curator of the Society in addition to editor-in-chief. In recognition of his many duties the board voted to pay him $100.00 a month beginning in April 1931. Although the sum was called a "salary," it was more like an allowance since it was expected to cover expenses "not provided for in appropriations for properly conducting the Society's business."'

By 1933 the depression was seriously affecting state spending. The Society's appropriation was reduced, and Alter's stipend was cut to $30.00 a month as of July 1, the beginning of the new fiscal year. The board even canceled its October meeting in order to conserve funds so that the remaining 1933 issues of the Quarterly could be published. The October 1933 Quarterly carried a formal suspension notice to members and expressed hope that sales and dues would generate funds for publishing. The board hoped to issue an annual monograph until the Quarterly could be resumed.

The monograph idea was not new. As early as April 1931 board president William J. Snow had asked if a full list of Utah newspapers could be published. Then, at its October 7, 1931, meeting the board's Printing and Publication Committee recommended that any extra monies be used to fund several monographs, the first to be a history of Utah newspaper journalism. A year later the board devoted most of its meeting to the monograph, and Alter "reported some progress on the work." He did not deliver the manuscript until May 28, 1937. Finally, in 1938, seven years after Snow had suggested the project, Early Utah Journalism, a 405-page book, was published. Herbert S. Auerbach, who had become board president in 1936, called it "a monumental work" and praised Alter for the "tremendous amount of time and energy" he had given to it. One board meeting ended with all of the members autographing one another's copies.

The board had good reason to be elated. Not only had the long awaited monograph been published, but 1939 would see the resumption of Utah Historical Quarterly. Sales of bound volumes 1 through 6 of the Quarterly and of Early Utah Journalism were fairly brisk, generating much-needed revenue, and the legislature had appropriated $5,000 for the Society for the biennium beginning July 1, 1939.

The first three numbers of volume 7 of the Quarterly were combined in order to publish the diary of Almon Harris Thompson, astronomer and topographer with the second Powell expedition. The fourth number was devoted to the United Order of Orderville. The resurgent Quarterly retained much of its former appearance, but it contained many more pages than the earlier volumes.

In addition to his editorial duties, Alter continued to produce material to be published in the Quarterly as did other members of the board. Volume 9 contained two articles by Alter, two by Herbert S. Auerbach, two by William J. Snow, and one by William R. Palmer; volume 10 two contributions each by Alter and Palmer; and one by Alter in volume 12. The final two major projects with which Alter was intimately involved were the publication of the Escalante journal edited by Auerbach and Albert Tracy's journal edited by Auerbach and Alter.

Interest in early Spanish exploration of Utah surfaced in volume 1 of the Quarterly with Alter's compilation "Father Escalante and the Utah Indians" which was carried through four issues and into volume 2. Then in volume 9, Alter and Auerbach published three more pieces of the Escalante story. These articles set the stage for the publication of the entire Escalante journal in 1943 as volume 11 of the Quarterly.

Auerbach seemed obsessed by Escalante. In 1942 he located a manuscript copy of the journal in the Newberry Library in Chicago. However, the library could not give Auerbach permission to photostat it because years earlier they had given historian Herbert E. Bolton permission to publish it. Auerbach was dismayed by "the whole discovery of the original manuscript and the manner in which it is tied up so that only Dr. Bolton can reproduce it." Despite this setback, Auerbach located another copy of the journal in Mexico City. Alter commented: "Your usual . . . instincts . . . have prevailed again in the remarkable find of Father Escalante's original journal. I could not be more surprised if you wound up with the doughty Father's robe made into a pup tent."

Alter liked the idea of an English translation of the journal, but realizing, as all editors do, that once something is in print it is beyond recall, he cautioned:

. . . The only trouble with a translation is that Bolton et al can always criticise the translation, just as they did Dean Harris' work. And Spanish authorities are among the worst of that type . . . they NEVER agree with anyone else! But if your translator compares Harris, and puts a modern test on every doubtful word, and footnotes the ancient and probable meanings and so forth, you should have a tip top job.

As the project progressed, Alter reviewed the translation and continued to ask the kind of questions good editors ask authors and to offer the kind of suggestions authors expect from editors.

Was this the only print? Or was it published at another time by some other agency? And does anyone know if the two agree? Did you want to run a credit note, as to where you found this print, and something of its history, authenticity, date and place of publication, &c? Was the translation by you? We should show that, also.

I suggest you use one page of the original Spanish print, as an illustration, preferably from the Utah Valley text. It can go anyplace, wherever the pasting will be easiest, say on the outside of a signature (of pages).

The death of Auerbach on March 19, 1945, ended a productive editorial partnership and left Alter to carry to completion the editing of Capt. Albert Tracy's Utah War journal. Auerbach had found the journal and accompanying drawings in the New York Public Library and had secured permission to photostat and publish them. Both Auerbach and Alter had spent time on the manuscript, and Auerbach had had engravings made of the Tracy drawings to accompany the text. The Reverend Robert J. Dwyer, who replaced Auerbach on the board, assisted Alter and Marguerite L. Sinclair with the final preparation of the journal for publication.

Although Alter remained a member of the Society's board until 1949 and was listed as a member of the editorial board, his active role as editor of Utah Historical Quarterly ended with the publication of the Tracy journal in 1945. Volume 13 was the last to bear his name as editor directly below the Quarterly masthead.

A remarkable facet of Alter's tenure as editor of the Quarterly was the extent of his involvement in the total publication process. He wrote material himself, he revised and polished the contributions of others, he corresponded with authors, he annotated and wrote introductions for primary materials, he consulted with printers, and he promoted and sold the final product. That Alter could perform all of these functions so well, hold down a full-time job where he was known for his inventiveness, and carry out a full slate of other activities seems, in retrospect, astonishing. Alter was close to forty-nine years of age when the Quarterly was founded and seventy when his term on the board expired in 1949. Clearly, this was an unusually energetic and creative man.

During the Quarterly's formative years, Alter wore several hats. He was secretary-treasurer of the board, librarian, historian, and curator in addition to editor. On April 30, 1936, he resigned all duties other than editor and historian. Flora Bean Home filled in as secretary for a year and a half. Then, in mid-1937, Marguerite L. Sinclair was hired as a full-time secretary-treasurer, librarian, and, eventually, manager of the Historical Society. The new secretary freed board members from routine office duties and gave Alter a valuable assistant in the production of the Quarterly. When Alter accepted a new Weather Bureau assignment in Cincinnati in 1941, Miss Sinclair's many skills enabled him to continue as editor through 1945.

Alter's friends held a farewell dinner for him at the Hotel Utah when he left for Ohio. Herbert S. Auerbach presided over the event which was billed as an old-time trapper rendezvous. Several short speeches were given, "but the gifts 'Jake' got were funnier than any speech. He received a rusty old b'ar trap, a couple of pelts, and the most outlandish piece of headgear I've ever seen." The Salt Lake Tribune reported the event and the Telegram editorialized on Utah's loss of a "good citizen."

Twenty-three years later, on May 20, 1964, Alter died in Los Angeles. Utah mourned his loss. The Tribune said he had "won a firm place in the affections of the people of his adopted state." The Deseret News described him as a "scientist, historian, writer, inventor, administrator, conservationist—Cecil Alter was all of these and more." He was more. Utah Historical Quarterly was fortunate to have had J. Cecil Alter as its founding editor. His standard of excellence, his intelligence —appropriately spiced with curiosity, imagination, and wit—provided the journal with an invaluable legacy.

For full citations and images please view this article on a desktop.