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Hubert Howe Bancroft and the History of Utah I
Utah Historical Quarterly
Vol. 22, 1954, Nos. 1-4
HUBERT HOWE BANCROFT AND THE HISTORY OF UTAH
BY GEORGE ELLSWORTHI
ONE OF THE EARLY contributions to Utah historiography and for many years the only brief adequate history of the territory was published in 1889 as Volume XXVI of The Works of Hubert Howe Bancroft under the title History of Utah, 1540-1886 There had appeared the works of several who treated Utah in connection with Mormon studies, in addition to a few monographic or brief studies presented by Latter-day Saint essayists, but it remained for the historian of the Pacific slope of North America to write the first comprehensive treatment of the history of the territory to his own time. Even then it remained the only short general account for a generation. Today, after sixty-five years, it is still a useful standard narrative and is indispensable as a bibliographical guide for the first forty years of Utah's history of settled occupation.
Hubert Howe Bancroft is well remembered for his published works. He will be remembered even longer, however, for his invaluable manuscript collection, coextensive in time and geographical area with the subject matter of the Works. For Utah this means a great deal. It means that one man collected from a great number of his contemporaries statements on the history of the events in which they had intimately participated—statements expressive of their beliefs and motives, treating their activities and institutions —political, economic, social, religious. Collected in the 1880's when Utah had been settled little over thirty years, taken from persons whose memories were comparatively fresh (they often had access to their own records for verification), these manuscripts give life and blood and emotion to the first thirty years of Utah history. Not fully utilized by Bancroft, and barely touched by successors, these manuscripts await the searching eye of today's historian.
To study how Bancroft came to the subject, the method by which he collected the necessary source materials and wrote the history, is to better understand and more correctly use the manuscript collection as well as the printed history. The historian, just as interested in how a book came to be written or a manuscript indited and preserved as he is in what is reported in the work, finds much profit in a history of histories and documents. It is of utmost importance that manuscripts be collected, preserved and made available. The historian's dictum holds that "there is no substitute for documents: no documents, no history." It is just as important that the historian know as much as possible about each document he uses, its origins, authorship and backgrounds.
I
Hubert Howe Bancroft (1832-1918 ) s came early to an interest in literature and books, and historical pursuits, coupled with the publishing business, made up his life. Bookselling led him in 1852 to leave New York for California, and it was success in selling books and stationery supplies that led him in 1858 to establish the publishing and mercantile firm of H. H. Bancroft and Company at San Francisco. It was his publishing activities which led him into the history of the Pacific Coast.
In 1859, while William H. Knight, Bancroft's editor and compiler of statistical works, was engaged in preparing the 1860 edition of Hand-Book Almanac for the Pacific States: An Official Register and Business Directory . . . , a small collection of books on California, Oregon, Washington and Utah was brought together at Knight's desk—"some fifty or seventy-five volumes." This was the beginning of the Pacific Library, later known as the Bancroft Library. Bancroft could now see what the market might be for other books on the Pacific Coast area. There came upon him a sense of the magnitude of the historical developments which so rapidly populated the western borders of North America. He conceived the project of writing that history while the participants were still alive, while the documents were neither scattered nor lost as they might later be. He was wealthy. Printed works and manuscripts were bought up. At sales, auctions, through agents or personal negotiation he purchased single items or whole archives from families, corporations or commercial outlets. Where he could not buy he gained permission to have manuscripts copied by his paid agents. He would have his collection on western North America complete!
A special library and historical workshop was constructed to house the collection and provide the working quarters for his clerks and writers. His collections paralleled the scope of his interest: western North America, to include the Pacific Coast and Rocky Mountain states and territories, Mexico and Central America to the south, and British Columbia and Alaska to the north. By 1868 the library had grown to large proportions (about 60,000 volumes), and Henry L. Oak was employed as librarian, serving as director of the historical enterprise for nearly two decades.
Bancroft purposed to write a history founded upon original sources, and:
Reporters were sent out to receive personal dictations and narratives of prominent pioneers. The staff, employed to copy manuscripts and excerpt notes from the printed and manuscript sources, prepared materials for writing. Bancroft had hoped to do all the writing himself, but he found the task too great. Writers were employed to compose the histories while he served as organizer and general editor. Ultimately, between 1874 and 1890,
The Works of Hubert Howe Bancroft, in thirty-nine volumes, issued from the press.
II
In January of 1880, Hubert Howe Bancroft launched with characteristic vigor his project of writing the history of Utah, to take its place in the history of the Pacific states. To Bancroft, Utah posed a special problem which he was not afraid to attack. Utah Was unique among the territories and states of western America for having been founded as a religious commonwealth by an unpopular religious minority, the Mormons, against whom, he wrote, prejudices existed "so strong and universal, and of such long standing, that anything I could say or do short of wilful and persistent vituperation would not satisfy the people." To espouse the course of "hate" and "injustice" was out of the question; he was determined to tell the truth. "I would do all parties and sects justice, according to the evidence, whichsoever way or into whatsoever pandemonium of criticism or unpopularity such a course might lead me." Strict impartiality, he thought, "would bring upon me the condemnation of both Mormons and gentiles." Nevertheless, he "would not write for the approbation of one side or the other."
But truth in history, if it is to be had at all, must be drawn from the impartial study, critical analysis and accurate synthesis of all existing evidence representing all points of view. Gentile and Mormon sources and viewpoints must be represented. Bancroft knew the wealth of materials that must exist in the archives of the Latter-day Saints Church, and he knew that the history of Utah could not be written without Mormon aid. Still, he wrote, "I would in no wise, by insinuation or intimidation, commit myself to any course, or hold out any hope to them other than that I would treat the subject fairly, according to my custom, as it presented itself to my mind at the time of writing." So, when Orson Pratt, Mormon Church Historian, intimated that he would supply a history of Utah if Bancroft would print it "without mutilation," the latter replied fully explaining to the church leaders his method.
Hubert Howe Bancroft and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints each stood to gain or lose much by this enterprise. Bancroft wanted a truthful history and he wanted to sell it to Mormons and non-Mormons alike. He must have access to Mormon and Gentile records, assistance from Mormons and Gentiles alike. The church needed and desired the best possible representation to the world at a critical time in its history. It stood to gain much by having the currently regarded great and distinguished historian present the facts of her history to the world. But would the church leaders feel that they should help him in his enterprise if they believed he would do their cause no good? The church did not fear the truth of its history; it feared only the want of integrity in those who would write it.
To gain the confidence of the church leaders, Bancroft fully explained his method and expressed his desires. To the Latter-day Saint leadership, he promised to give "as fully as lies in the power of most men, a simple, truthful statement of facts." What he should write would be "digested narration—in a word, exact history," based upon "a careful weighing of all gathered testimony." He wanted Mr. Pratt's material, but he would use it with all other available sources. "Its presence would be felt in proportion as it presented new truths and disclosed unknown facts."
Bancroft pleaded for manuscripts! He made his specific wants known. Of the variety requested, Bancroft pointed out that he had and required many such manuscripts. He named them to the Utahns and urged upon the people of Utah the necessity of gathering materials while those who built the country were yet alive. For each manuscript received, he explained,
The narrative would then be woven. How would he regard his subject? His persuasive argument continued:
The businessman historian drove it home!
Church President John Taylor pleasantly received Bancroft's ideas, and on the 26th of January, 1880, discussed the matter in council with members of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles. There "it was agreed that the material and all the information" Bancroft needed for his history of Utah "should be furnished." There was talk of sending Orson Pratt, although then in ill health and occupied as speaker of the territorial House of Representatives, to San Francisco to consult with Bancroft just as soon as the legislature adjourned.
A month later, shortly after the legislature adjourned, 22 President Taylor wrote to Bancroft apologizing for delays and placed himself in direct correspondence with Mr. Bancroft.
Since materials did not come immediately to Bancroft's workshop, solicitations were again made, and early in June, Orson Pratt proposed an alternate course. Instead of furnishing all the desired materials at once, some of which, he wrote, "might prove of little or no value to you when obtained," he proposed to furnish at once
And he concluded: "It is our desire to furnish you all that you may wish, while we are too closely occupied to spend much time and labor unnecessarily."
However anxious to aid in the great enterprise, the health of Orson Pratt precluded his continuation on the project, and on the 1st of July, Bancroft was notified that the duties assigned to Elder Pratt had been transferred to Franklin D. Richards. Worthy representations were made to Mr. Bancroft of Mr. Richards' abilities. Besides mentioning his practical experience with church and territorial affairs, Orson Pratt represented him as being "one of our leading influential citizens," "one of the most active and zealous laborers in assisting to found Utah and to establish her institutions" and "familiar with the genius, spirit, and policy of our institutions, whether ecclesiastical or civil. . . ," To President Taylor, he was "one of our leading and respected citizens, and a gentleman who is fully conversant in literary and legal matters . . . and has an experience which makes him fully competent and adequate to render all the information requisite pertaining to the rise and progress of the territory of Utah; also of our institutions, either religious or civil."
Franklin Dewey Richards was indeed eminently qualified for the task. Apostle, student of the law, legislator, judge, soldier and scholar, he combined the best qualities desired by Bancroft in one who could personally lead him into the sources and literature of the history of the church, answer his every question about Mormon doctrine, policy and institutions, capable of seeing Bancroft's position, able to present the Mormon point of view with authority, clarity and fairness. A contemporary thought that for general information, he was "probably the peer of any man in the Church," and as a scholar, he "outstripped the majority of collegians."
27 Orson Pratt to H. H. Bancroft, July 1, 1880, loc. cit. 28 John Taylor to H. H. Bancroft, July 1, 1880, loc. cit. 29 Franklin L. West, Life of Franklin D. Richards (Salt Lake City, cl924).
The appointment of Apostle Richards was also fortunate for, as Orson F. Whitney points out
Franklin D. Richards had just returned from a short pilgrimage to places of church historical interest in eastern United States, when on the 1st of July he received the assignment to assist Bancroft. During the first week in July, Elder and Mrs. Richards set out for San Francisco, and there spent two weeks, most of the time as guests of Mr. and Mrs. Bancroft. Printed materials, valuable to the historian, were shipped to the care of Mr. Richards at San Francisco.
Bancroft found the Mormon apostle "everything I could desire .... He was of singularly humane and benevolent mien, and, except on points pertaining to his faith, possessed of broad views and liberal ideas." But even in matters of religion, Bancroft chose not to argue with Richards. "In fact each of us entertained too much respect for the other to attempt coercion or conversion."
In San Francisco, Franklin D. Richards dictated to Bancroft's reporter at the Library a "Narrative" of his life including such information about Mormon history, Utah territorial affairs and the sources for that history as would serve as an excellent introduction to the study. Meanwhile, Mrs. Richards imparted to Mrs. Bancroft much information concerning female life and society in Utah, which was also preserved in writing. Concerning the discussion, Richards wrote:
In this manner began the Bancroft collection of manuscripts relating to the history of Utah.
Mutual satisfaction issued from the Bancroft-Richards conversations of July 1880. On the 23rd, Bancroft wrote to President Taylor:
Apostle Richards wrote on the 8th of August from Ogden: "The council were pleased with the report of our visit and labors in San Francisco, and desire to give all needful information for your use.'
Cooperation typically characterized the Latter-day Saint effort to aid Bancroft in gathering materials for his history. During 1880, undoubtedly with the encouragement or at the request of church leaders, communities compiled their histories, leading women penned autobiographies and various persons presented reports on Mormon institutions. This first year of Bancroft's collecting in Utah witnessed the arrival in his library of about sixty individual manuscript units, most of which came to him through the efforts of Mr. and Mrs. F. D. Richards.
Of special interest, among the 1880 manuscripts, are the community histories compiled by local bishops or pioneers participating in the founding of the settlements—-over forty communities and counties are included in the collection. Written during the period from June to November 1880, they were forwarded along with some of the women's autobiographies to Bancroft at the end of November.
Bancroft acknowledged indebtedness to many persons for information leading to an understanding of Utah affairs and used in writing the history; some individuals are represented in manuscripts, others obviously were influential in other ways.
In the meantime promotional activities accompanied historical endeavors. The public was kept aware of the forthcoming histories, and at San Francisco, while the history was being written, as questions arose, requests were made and F. D. Richards answered.
It was in 1884 that the next major additions to the Utah manuscript collection were made and then under the direction of Bancroft himself. Although much of the history had already been written, and "Notwithstanding the large mass of material, printed matter, manuscripts, journals, dictations, and special investigations" which had been received, there were gaps in the work to be filled. To satisfy these needs, H. H. Bancroft, with wife and son, set out for Salt Lake City.
Arriving in the City of the Saints about the middle of August the Bancrofts made headquarters at the Continental Hotel, remaining about six weeks. The visit was well-timed for the historian to witness the multiple facets of Mormon-Gentile conflicts, then culminating in a "long season of prosecution and persecution, of litigations and imprisonments which has not a parallel in the history of American morals." Bancroft remained aloof from conflicts and adhered to his purposes of
Much of Bancroft's time was spent in close association with Mormon leaders, especially Wilford Woodruff, Church Historian and Franklin D. Richards, Assistant Church Historian. The manuscript of the history of Utah, so far as was completed at that time, was placed in the hands of Wilford Woodruff who spent several days "reading and correcting" it. Woodruff noted in his journal: "As he [Bancroft] was giving both sides of the question for and against, He gave us the privilege of Correcting any mistakes on our side . . . ." On one occasion Mr. Bancroft joined Presidents John Taylor and George Q. Cannon, WilfordWoodruff and Franklin D. Richards in reading portions of the manuscript; "all seemed satisfied with it." On the 16th of September, Mr. and Mrs. Bancroft met Wilford Woodruff at his room and there examined his journals. Bancroft was greatly impressed, and three days later Elder Woodruff spent the afternoon reading his "journals to a reporter."
While Mr. Bancroft was thus "laboriously engaged" in the Historian's Office, "Mrs Bancroft saw many of the Mormon women, making their acquaintance, winning their friendship, and taking dictations from them." In addition to extensive consultations with, and significant manuscript additions received from, Elders Woodruff and Richards, Bancroft "took many lengthy dictations from others," meeting frequently with various leaders.
Furthermore, he laid the foundation for receiving many other similarly important items, chiefly through the Church Historian's Office, including personal dictations as well as histories of pioneer settlements on the fringes of the Mormon country.
It is estimated that about fifty manuscript items were acquired by Bancroft as a result of his efforts in the summer of 1884. Many of them were taken down by his own reporters, some were autographic, while others were furnished by copy services of the Church Historian's Office. The spade work of 1884 paid off, manuscripts kept coming in to him. Nearly three-fourths of those received were from Latter-day Saints; others were from prominent non-Mormons. Bancroft put it well when he said: "There was little the Mormons would not do for us; there was little we desired at the hands of the gentiles."
Toward the end of September 1884 the Bancrofts left Salt Lake City for San Francisco returning by way of Colorado and other western states where the historian continued his ingatherings. In his wake there was established in Utah a sales promotion program aimed at placing a set of The Works in as many homes as possible—a program productive of another augmentation of the manuscript collection. Typical of a policy effected generallyin other regions, agents were sent to the communities soliciting subscriptions to sets of the history, at the same time receiving personal autobiographical statements—material which might be employed in writing later chapters of the work. Bancroft obtained such dictations from pioneers in the other states and territories; their statements constitute one of the unique features of the present collection. Between 1884 and 1888 as many as two hundred and thirty statements were recorded and forwarded to the Bancroft Library at San Francisco, a work accomplished in Utah by Mr. L. Leadbetter and Mr. L. H. Nichols.
To aid in this sales program, and at the request of H. H. Bancroft, letters of introduction were granted to Leadbetter, and later to Nichols, by the First Presidency of the Latter-day Saints Church, who also wrote a letter in March 1886 to presidents of stakes and bishops commending "the work to your support and patronage." Leadbetter was first on the scene, taking his orders and recording dictations in 1884 and 1885; Nichols did his work in the years following, mainly in 1886 and 1888. The former left less than a score of dictations while Nichols acquired over two hundred. Meager in individual contributions as these statements may be, collectively they make up a unique source for demographic and business studies.
In the meantime, at San Francisco the work of writing progressed. The chief groups of sources utilized were the manuscript collection (original documents, copies of documents and dictations), books and periodicals purchased over a long period of time, books and periodicals on loan from the Church Historian's Office and newspapers. The list of "Authorities Consulted in the History of Utah," forms a noteworthy bibliography of twenty-seven pages.
The cooperative method of writing, as elsewhere employed in writing the histories, also produced the Utah volume. Three names, at least', are associated with the authorship of the History of Utah: Alfred Bates, Hubert Howe Bancroft and Edward P. Newkirk. Just what portions were the work of which is impossible to tell at this time.
Bancroft's appeal to the Mormon leaders extended to the final editing of the volume. Wilford Woodruff had been given the opportunity to read and correct portions of the manuscript in the summer of 1884 when the Bancrofts were in Salt Lake. Through most of the year 1885 Franklin D. Richards, representing the church in the matter, was in correspondence with Bancroft and his staff. Proof sheets, "slips," were sent to Richards for study and correction; he in turn passed them on to President Taylor. Some changes were made as a result of Richards' suggestions, although much of the correspondence represents a tone of cooperation and helpfulness in supplying additional information. The very fact that Bancroft submitted the "slips" to Elder Richards indicated to the Latter-day Saints that "erroneous statements" were to be drawn to the historian's attention; in no sense were the Mormons writing the history and in very few instances were modifications made. The usual reaction was expressed by President Taylor: "I am pleased with the tone and manner of the writings of Mr Bancroft in his history of Utah so far as we have received them."
The history was finished in the closing months of 1885, readied for the printer in 1886, and came off the press in October 1889.
Latter-day Saint church leaders had supplied books and copied manuscript sources and encouraged their friends to aid in any way possible; nevertheless, they had not invaded the domain of the historian, they refrained from exerting influences and had only accepted his offer to correct the manuscript in points of fact which they felt could be well established. Aid had been solicited and gained from Utah Gentiles too, possibly in proportion to their numbers, although printed materials generally available were predominately anti-Mormon and far outweighed Mormon literature. Bancroft himself admitted a sympathy for the Mormons. The Mormon-furnished sources were undoubtedly a corrective to the prevailing anti-Mormon view. History has a way of buffing off our more extreme attitudes, reducing our prejudices and balancing our perspective. Initial fears made Bancroft believe that "strict impartiality would bring . . . the condemnation of both Mormons and gentiles." And to satisfy himself, he sought to do justice to "all parties and sects . . . according to the evidence....
Bancroft's expectations were fulfilled in some measure. Anti- Mormons in Utah condemned the History, the Latter-day Saints were pleased with it, while others thought the work to be a good tonic for extremists in either camp.
The Latter-day Saint leadership was grateful for Bancroft's efforts and the historian reciprocated their kindly expressions. They had given full aid to a recognized historian devoted to scholarly ideals. When before or since had the Latter-day Saints given such cooperation and assistance to anyone investigating and presenting their history? They had presented their story and documents to support it. Bancroft had drawn his own conclusions. Although Mormon leaders were given the opportunity of correcting the book from their viewpoint, the number of instances of error which it was in the power of the churchmen to rightfully correct, impels the conclusion that the work must not be accepted as in the category of officially accepted or approved works. Nevertheless, the Latter-day Saints were pleased. Faith in the historian and their history was vindicated.
III
By 1892, with the completion of his historical Works and the Chronicles, 05 Hubert Howe Bancroft had achieved his great ambition. His works published, there remained the library of over 60,000 books and about 100,000 pages of manuscripts which he valued at $250,000. What to do with them? Bancroft knew too well the value of the library for Western America and wanted it kept intact. No sooner had the library and its contents been fairly well known than offers were made for its purchase. In April of 1886 the Bancroft Building on Market Street was burned out (the library had been moved in 1881 to Valencia Street, so was saved); Bancroft began to think and talk of selling. Attempts at sale were made in 1886 and again in 1892 but without satisfaction. Finally in 1898 the project was revived by the University of California. Henry Morse Stephens, brilliant popular lecturer in European history and leading figure in the drive, made an arrangement with Bancroft whereby the University would pay $250,000 if he would donate $100,000 to the University. The Regents demanded to know whether or not the collection was worth that price; after all, J. C. Rowell, University Librarian, although admittedly unqualified to judge, had estimated the collection's value at $ 116,000. Before the Regents would agree, a competent judge must evaluate the collection. Reuben Gold Thwaites, superintendent of the Wisconsin Historical Library and distinguished editor of historical sources, was chosen. After close examination Thwaites estimated the value at $315,000! The deal was on! The agreement between Bancroft and Henry Morse Stephens was effected and the transfer made on the 25th of November, 1905. In May, 1906, the library was moved to the Berkeley campus across the bay.
In the years since 1906 the names of distinguished historians have been associated with the administration of the Bancroft Library—Henry Morse Stephens, Frederick J. Teggart, Herbert Eugene Bolton, Herbert I. Priestley, Charles E. Chapman and George P. Hammond. The University's policy has been to commit the Bancroft Library to "historians, specialists in research and in the training of researchers in the field of western America, rather than to experts in library method."
At the Berkeley campus, the collection was first placed on the top floor of the then new California Hall. In 1911 it was moved to the first floor of the new University Library, across from the Morrison Room, where it remained until 1922 when it was relocated on the east side of the fourth floor of the Library. In 1950 the Bancroft Library settled into more adequate, colorfully modern quarters in the new Annex to the Library.
The researcher in Utah history at Bancroft Library finds himself surrounded by a world of books, manuscripts, newspapers, maps, and, equally important, an eager group of scholars and a most cooperative and excellently equipped library staff. The adjacent University of California Library is an indispensable complement to Bancroft holdings.
Since the time when Hubert Howe Bancroft transferred the collections to the University of California, the Utah collection has been augmented by significant additions, by gift of Hugh F. O'Neil, by purchases from the Herbert S. Auerbach collection and by individual gifts and purchases.
Besides a rather extensive collection of rare books dealing with early Mormon history as well as Utah territorial days, there are on the open Utah shelves the standard histories of Utah, the biographical works, historical quarterlies, some of the Journal of Discourses, a fairly good collection of Utah public documents, a file of the Millennial Star and the Improvement Era as well as The Saints' Herald. All in all there are about 108 feet of bound books and pamphlets with about three feet of unbound, boxed pamphlets.
In the newspaper collection, incomplete files may be found covering Corinne (1869-1875), Ogden (1872-1880), and Salt Lake City: The Deseret Evening News (1868-1873), The Deseret News Weekly (1861-1881), the Herald (1870-1873), the Telegram (1871-1900), and the Vedette (1865-1867), to name more important ones. A few isolated issues touch upon several small communities for the 1880's especially.
Hubert Howe Bancroft felt that if he were successful in his historical writing, his work would be such that all future historians would have to build upon it. Historians today do rely on Bancroft's Works. Time has proved their worth. But historians may forever build, reinterpret and write anew from the very foundation of his histories—the manuscripts collected, preserved and made available in the Bancroft Library.
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