In This Issue

Sa/£L«&g Seagulls in action against an unidentified team.

Sixty-five years ago volume 1, number 1, of Utah Historical Quarterly appeared under the editorship of J. Cecil Alter. It was a risky venture, but Alter and his associate editors (the entire Historical Society Board of Trustees) had committed themselves, despite meager funds, to publishing Utah's history. Their vision endured, and the magazine they began with such high hopes in 1928 now circulates throughout the United States and in many foreign lands.

History reminds us, however, that ambitious plans sometimes fail. Witness the first and last articles in this issue which relate the fascinating stories of two ideas that briefly flamed and then died: the Salt Lake Seagulls professional football team and the People's Progressive Telephone Company As each story unfolds we see a cast of extraordinary characters battle difficult odds.

The three remaining articles also engage the reader with unique individuals and unusual circumstances. First there is the cautionary tale of Abner Blackburn's reminiscenses and "the original flimflam man" responsible for their loss to the historical record. Next, the career of Melba Judge Lehner reveals the profound effect the best efforts of a dedicated professional had upon child care in the WPA and Lanham nursery schools. Finally, the case study of the Stephen Hales family of Bountiful illustrates that, like institutions and businesses, the struggle of families to survive economically often depends on high hopes and risky ventures.