Note: this is the second of a two-part blog on Orson F. Whitney’s seminal History of Utah. I originally wrote part one’s material around 2007, before I did the research for my biography of Whitney. That publication, “Orson F. Whitney: Bishop, Poet, Apostle,” issued in 2014, contains a chapter, reproduced below as this blog part, about the creation of History of Utah with further detail than is given in the first blog part. There is some repetition of materials from the Abraham H. Cannon diary in both parts, but this second part has material about the project from Orson F. Whitney’s own diary. It also has a few excerpts from the journal of George Q. Cannon, which has been and still is unavailable to most researchers. [Editor's note: the Church just put the first installment of the journals online a week ago.] Writing and publishing the history was a complex, lengthy, involved, and difficult venture, reading both blog parts will give the fullest explanation of this work that exists.
Orson F. Whitney, History of Utah, 4 Volumes:
By the latter
half of May, 1890, President Lorenzo Snow’s promise to Whitney that “means” (money)
would flow to him as he had need of it was fulfilled when he learned that he
had been chosen as author for a new literary project of expansive scope: “Today
at a meeting in the Gardo House, I was appointed to write a History of Utah.
The publisher is one Dr. Williams, formerly with Bancroft, who puts up the
money and will be the proprietor of the work—he to employ me as the author of
the same. Pres. Woodruff, Joseph F. Smith, F[rankling]. D. Richards, George
Reynolds, Prof. Maeser, Dr. Talmage, Dr. Williams, and myself were present. Dr.
W[illiams] proposes to pay me $200 a month while I am working on it, plus 25%
of the net proceeds from sales. The History is to be written from a Mormon
standpoint and has the full sanction and approval of the Authorities of the
Church. I begin work next month.”[1]
This taxing
and time-consuming endeavor would become Ort’s most voluminous work, and would
rank with his Life of Heber C. Kimball
in importance. A few days later, he noted: “[I] wrote my prospectus of the
proposed History of Utah, and a few lines of Chap. I.”[2] Then:
Had
interviews with Dr. Williams. He says Judge Goodwin of the Tribune, who is getting out the Gentile History of Utah told him
Ort W[hitney] was the only man the Mormons had that could write the history of
Utah from their standpoint, and that he was a very able writer. Williams went
east this evening and is to be back in a week or two to begin canvassing. Zina
and the children went to Provo today for the summer. I am at home all alone
with my work.
Am
[illegible] forward the “Pioneer Women” so as to be ready to begin on the
[Utah] history June 1st if possible. Judge Goodwin also told Dr.
W[illiams] that he needed no contracts with the Mormons, for they would keep
their word. Said he: “Your work will be a big success, with Whitney as author
and the Church authorities at your back to help sell it. I shall do all I can
to help you but when the book comes out I’m going to “roast it.” All right,
Goodwin! So it’s not a roasted chestnut. We can stand it. We take our roasting
here. You may get yours hereafter.[3]
Then worries
about Dr. Williams financial stability and some of his employees arose:
There
being some delay in the History Project, owing to the derogatory reports
concerning Dr. John W. Williams, the publisher, [illegible] which now think advisable
the appointment of a committee of seven by the Presidency, to investigate,
etc., and said committee having rendered its report. I stopped today at the
Gardo House to ascertain definitely whether I want to go on with my work or
not.
Pres.
George Q. Cannon was present this time. He said: “I am thoroughly in favor of
the work and thoroughly in favor of Orson as the writer of it.” “Your style,
said he, is admirable for the purpose but you should be concise.” I told him I
should aim at it. Finally he made the motion, which carried, that if the
Committee were satisfied with Dr. Williams, and would make suitable preliminary
arrangements, that the work be promoted without delay—thank the Lord! Williams
will give a bond for $50,000, and the work will at once begin.[4]
Conciseness
in writing was never Ort’s strength and because President Cannon knew it he counseled
him to adjust his style early on. The month Whitney turned thirty-five he began
his work on the history of Utah in earnest. He signed a contract with Dr.
Williams’ publishing company on July 12, with Elder Heber J. Grant and Francis
Armstrong as his sureties (legal financial guarantors that Ort would do the work
he was being paid to do). An announcement about the project and its author
appeared in the Deseret News[5],
and other local newspapers[6], and Ort was given a desk
near the relevant historical materials: “Spent my first day in my new office in
the west room of [the] President’s Office—between the Beehive and the Lion
House, where I am permitted by the Presidency to [sit?] and write for the present. Wrote a description
of Salt Lake Valley as it doubtless appeared to the Pioneers July 24, 1847. A
few thoughts jotted down for my History.”[7] He was given free railway
passes, helping him travel with less financial burden as he collected
historical data.[8]
The mammoth
project would occupy Whitney on and off for fourteen years to come, and would be
viewed as a seminal historical endeavor. It was to consist of at first three,
and then later four, very large volumes—three reviewing the history of Utah in
narrative form, and a fourth to contain brief biographies of the most prominent
Latter-day Saints and other prominent citizens of Utah. Sets were priced by
contract at $30 each, or $10 per book, with the final volume to be given as a
free reward to subscribers who bought the other volumes. Ort originally
determined not to accept any payment from individuals for their life sketches
included in the biographical volume, but his noble intentions became
impractical and he was forced to accept remuneration.[9]
To assist
with sales of the very expensive sets, promotional endorsements from leading
authorities were distributed, including those of the First Presidency. They
wrote:
No
want has been more keenly felt for a number of years past than a thoroughly
trustworthy history of Utah and the surrounding regions. Regrets have been
frequent that no such work exists. The man and the opportunity have now
appeared. Orson F. Whitney has undertaken the work. We know of few men so
capable of worthily performing the task. His ability as a writer, his long
experience, being a native of Utah, his deep acquaintance with the subject, his
sterling integrity, all combine to fit him most eminently for the undertaking.
He occupies the unique position of being the son of one of the pioneers of
1847, who helped lay the foundation of Salt Lake City, and the grandson of
another distinguished member of that heroic band, and the history of Utah is
the familiar theme of childhood, youth and manhood. Dr. John O. Williams, a
gentleman of wide experience, will publish the history here in Utah. We
heartily commend the project, and hope the author and the publisher will meet
with that support and encouragement from our citizens and the general public
which we feel assured their labors and the results thereof will abundantly
deserve.[10]
Some of the
apostles and the Presiding Bishopric also wrote commendations of the proposed
volumes. Whitney was obliged to have the work completed in two years, and was
to be paid on the 15th of each month. The publishing contract
provided for a first edition of 2,000 sets.[11] Even so, as Whitney moved
forward with the research and writing, numerous complications and delays arose,
with financial troubles looming largest. He wrote: “The inner history of this
period would tell for author and publishers a tale of protracted toil, with
many interruptions and suspensions, and a final triumph over obstacles and discouragements
innumerable. . . . The undertaking was gigantic. To carry it to success
required years of hard labor on the part of the author, as well as the business
heads of the concern; fighting against adverse conditions which were at times almost
overwhelming;”[12]
Early 1891
found Whitney hard at work on the history: “I have done little of interest for
the past several months but work hard upon the History of Utah. Have written 12
chapters, concerning the Church narrative from the birth of the Prophet to his
martyrdom.”[13]
Several weeks later he again wrote: “Am too busy with my History to desire much
speaking.”[14]
By June,
reports of misrepresentation by the canvassers (door to door salesmen) employed
by the publisher, had reached the ears of some of the apostles, who worried.
Elder Abraham H. Cannon, the son of President George Q. Cannon, an Apostle
himself, and the general manager of his father’s publishing company, became
involved. Elder Cannon wrote: “Bro. [Heber J.] Grant and I went to the Gardo
House . . . and in the course of the conversation the Whitney History of Utah
At
4 p.m. I was at a meeting
of the committee on publication of Whitney’s History of Utah. The members
present were, John R. Winder, Chairman, F. S. Richards, O. F. Whitney, George
Reynolds, C. W. Penrose and myself. We
considered the charges made against Williams and his agents which come from
various parts of the Territory, and Bishop Whitney said that whenever
complaints had reached Dr. Williams they had been investigated and corrected.
He had made personal visits to settle some feelings which had been created by
an agent in Sanpete
County
To
allay our suspicions concerning the honesty of Dr. Williams a number of letters
were read testifying to his good character, and the bond of $25,000 which he
has furnished as security for the faithful performance of his labor has been
fully verified.
It
was finally resolved to have Bishop Whitney get an extension of time on his
bond for the completion of his part of writing the history. The history was to
be completed within two years from its commencement, or about one year from
today, the bond for which is $5,000, but the author has only done about one
half of the first volume up to the present.
An extension of time was, however, proffered him. This done we decided to invite the publisher,
Dr. Williams to be present at a meeting and hear the charges made against him,
after which we will request him to increase his bond to $50,000 as he
originally agreed to do.
My
fears concerning this matter are very much calmed by the conversation of today.[16]
It seems
the sales agents had long been using the names of members of the First
Presidency to sell the books in a manner beyond that originally envisioned, and
they resented it. Worse than that, it was learned that certain people were
representing themselves as salesmen working for Dr. Williams publishing company
that did not work for him, and were taking subscribers money for themselves, or
selling other history books as Whitney’s. This problem caused a warning circular
to be sent to stake presidents and bishops. It read:
Beware
of Frauds
Information
has reached the undersigned that certain parties are traveling through the
Territory taking orders for a history of Utah, and that in many instances the
people are led to believe that they are purchasing the history that is now
being written by Bishop Orson F. Whitney.
To
guard the public against imposition, we will state that all authorized agents
for Whitney’s History of Utah will be
the bearers of autograph letters to that effect from the author, and that as
they enter the various fields proposed to be canvassed for subscriptions, their
names will appear in the papers as the accredited representatives of the
publisher and promoters of this work. Be careful whom you do business with. Let
it be distinctly understood that Whitney’s History
of Utah is not yet published, and that any book now being offered to the
public purporting to be such a work, is a fraud. Whitney’s History of Utah is the only history now being endorsed by the First
Presidency and the Apostles of the Church. The accompanying letter just
received from the First Presidency speaks for itself. Salt Lake City, Nov. 14,
1890.
The referenced
letter from the First Presidency noted that Whitney was “engaged in preparing
the History of Utah,” and that they, the stake presidents and bishops, had
“probably received the Author’s prospectus with accompanying testimonials from
ourselves and other citizens.” They continued: “We wish it understood that we
are heartily in sympathy with the project, and that it has our entire support.
The author of the proposed work is a native of Utah, one in whom we have great
confidence as an able writer and a conscientious historian. We believe his
history which is to be published in three large volumes, will be complete and
reliable, and should be in the possession of every family; and can recommend it
to the general public who desire to know the truth about our territory and its
people. We trust that the Latter-day Saints will give it their support and
encouragement. Wilford Woodruff, George Q. Cannon, Joseph F. Smith, First
Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.”
With the
letter was a note from Whitney that read: “It is the purpose to issue the first
volume of our history, which was begun in May, 1890, in about six months. It
will be printed on super-calendared paper and handsomely bound, with gold gilt
edges, profusely illustrated with steel engravings, type matter running from
700 to 800 pages. Very respectfully, Orson F. Whitney, Author.”[17] In his autobiography,
Orson explained further: “My duties were purely literary. At no time did I have
anything to do with the business management; yet my name was used, without my
consent, as if I had been the very head and front of the enterprise. Certain
agents employed by Dr. Williams were reprimanded by him and discharged for this
and other irregularities.”[18] By this time, Dr.
Williams had also heard negative comment about his handling of the business,
and he decided that he wanted out. Elder Abraham H. Cannon recorded the
meetings and deliberations:
I
. . . then had a conversation at my room with Bishop O. F. Whitney concerning
the History of Utah. He says that Dr. Williams has become so
annoyed at the numerous reports which have been circulated concerning his
trustworthiness, and his character has been so maligned, that he is determined
to get out of the business if Bishop Whitney can find someone who will be
congenial to him to buy his interest, which is 45% of the whole enterprise; 5%
is owned by F. S. Richards, who is the attorney, 25% by O. F. Whitney, who
receives $200 per month as an advance on his share for writing the work, and
25% by Mr. Webster, who is the secretary.
The Bishop thinks there is big money in the enterprise for anyone who
will buy it. He thinks the Dr. will take $10,000 for his share of a business
which he feels is worth $30,000. Orson
is very anxious for George Q. Cannon and Sons’ Co.
to take the business, and thus reassure the doubting people of the certainty of
the issuance of the work. We together laid the matter before Father and then
before the First Presidency. After
considerable talk on the subject, on suggestion of Pres. Joseph F. Smith it was
decided that O. F. Whitney and F. S. Richards make another effort to get Dr.
Williams to continue in the business, but if he refuses to do so, then I had
better investigate the matter, and if the results warrant it, buy out his
share.[19]
Three days
later:
At
9 a.m. I met O. F. Whitney
and Dr. Williams and had some conversation about the History of Utah. The latter
is very desirous that we purchase his interest and thus reassure the people of Utah that it will be
issued, though he expresses a desire to continue with the thing and work to
make it a gigantic success. I presented
the matter to the First Presidency who told me to investigate the affair, and
if everything was satisfactory to engage in it.
Two of Dr. Williams’ agents, Waterman and Clark, called to see me in the
afternoon, as they had heard rumors of the pending sale, telling me of claims
which they hold against the concern for canvassing services. The former spoke as though Mr. Williams is a
rogue, but he was very desirous that I should not tell the latter of his visit
to me. Mr. Clark said Mr. Webster had
always treated him in the best possible manner. Their claims are really not due
until the first volume is issued and delivered.
Father’s principal objection to the enterprise is the length of time
required by Bishop Whitney to complete the manuscript—5 years from the time it
was commenced.[20]
The next
day:
At
11 a.m. Frank [Cannon] and
I met with Dr. Williams, Mr. Webster and O. F. Whitney. We spent several hours
in looking over the accounts of the Utah Historical Society [the name of the
business] and inquiring into the details of the publishing arrangements. The
proposition finally made was that the Dr. remain with the business and receive
33-1/3% commission on all orders for books and pictures, and that he sell us
70% of the business with his already accrued commissions for $15,896. The actual orders taken for the book amount
now to over 2,500 at $30 per set.
Available notes would be turned over to us in this deal to the amount of
seven or eight thousand dollars. As
pictured by Williams and Webster there is big money for us in this undertaking,
but it also means a considerable outlay before returns are had. We presented
the matter to the First Presidency and they decided to consider it for a day or
two.[21]
Three days
later:
I
. . . wrote a letter to Dr. John O. Williams making him a proposition in regard
to the purchase of his interest in the History
of Utah. I submitted the letter to Father and Joseph F. Smith before
sending it and they approved it. The offer is that we give him $12,000 for all
his right, title and interest in the work to date. He is then to receive
33-1/3% commission on all book and picture orders. The amount is to be paid as
follows: $6,000 cash down; $3,000 when the first copy of the first volume is
issued, and the remaining $3,000 when 2,000 copies of the first volume are
issued. In the afternoon he came in the office and accepted our offer with
these changes, that he be engaged as canvasser for at least three years, and
that a certain date be fixed for the payments of the two latter notes, at such
a time as we think the conditions of our proposition are fulfilled. We agreed to these modifications.[22]
Five days
later:
About
five hours of today I was engaged in my room with Dr. Williams and Mr. Webster
checking up the History of Utah
business. I found that about 2,700 bona fide contracts for the work have been
obtained. Notes for about $7,500 are on hand. There are time commissions due
agents when the books are delivered to the amount of about $7,000. Judging from
what appears on the books the business is in a very good condition. We agreed
to meet F. S. Richards tomorrow to prepare the legal papers necessary to the
transfer.[23]
The next
day Elder Cannon attended the meeting: “At 11 a.m. I met Dr. J. O. Williams and Mr. Webster at F. S.
Richards’ office where we talked over with the latter the terms of our
agreement in regard to the publishing of Whitney’s History of Utah, and instructed him to prepare the necessary papers
for the transfer.”[24] Two days later:
F.
S. Richards, Frank Cannon and I had a conversation with him [President George
Q. Cannon] in relation to the Utah History, and read him the papers in relation
thereto. He approved of them with two or three slight changes. At 2:30 p.m. F. S. Richards, O. F.
Whitney, Dr. Williams, Mr. Webster, Frank and myself met in the office of the
first named and consulted about the agreements for the transfer of the Utah
History business. We had considerable talk about their receiving their full
commissions out of the first collections on the books, and finally compromised
by their agreeing to accept ¾ of their commission out of collections on the
first volume, and the other ¼ when the second volume is delivered and paid for.
We adjourned till Monday to finish the business, as we could not do it today
owing to the changes to be made in the papers.[25]
Two days
later, the business transfer took place, with George Q. Cannon and Sons taking
ownership: “I was engaged in the office till 10 a.m. at which time Frank and I met Dr. Williams and the
others of Saturday’s meeting and made final arrangements for the payment of the
money ($6,000) and notes ($6,000) this afternoon and the transfer of the
business to us. This was done at 4 p.m. when all the papers, etc.,
were completed and properly signed, and with the very best of feelings we
started out on our new venture.”[26] Whitney’s diary condensed
the meetings of June to their conclusion: “The 29th of this month
George Q. Cannon and Sons assumed the management of the History Business,
buying out Dr. Williams and Mr. Webster—who owned 70 percent of it—and the
latter returning the contract to canvas for the works.”[27]
Some three
months later, as Ort worked furiously on the history, he noted: “Today the
first type was set and the first galley of proof sent me of the History of Utah. It is being published
by George Q. Cannon and Sons in Salt Lake City. Only 19 Chapters are completed.”[28]
In
December, a question of history arose that Whitney wanted help with. Elder
Cannon recorded: “In the afternoon I attended my Quorum meeting at which were
present all the First Presidency, Franklin D. Richards and myself; George
Gibbs, clerk. . . . Bishop Orson F. Whitney was present to obtain information
concerning the object in settling this Territory when the Pioneers came here,
as he desires to make a statement concerning it in the History of Utah. He had
prepared something in which he affirms that the Mormons came here to found a
new state for the United States. This is incorrect, as it was the expectation
when the people arrived here to establish an independent state, and it was only
when this western tract of land was ceded to the United States by Mexico in the
treaty of Guadelupe Hidalgo (February 1848) that the Mormons began to seek for
admission into the Union as a State, and saw therein their success and destiny.”[29]
By the next
Spring, Orson Whitney finally reached a major milestone: “About the time I
finished the first volume of my History
of Utah, a banquet in honor of the event was given me at the Templeton
Hotel by my friend H[eber] M. Wells and C. S. Burton, et. al. The first copy of
the History arrived from St. Louis,
where a few are being bound, on the 21st of April, 1892. Twenty more
came a few days later.”[30]
That July
he found cause to celebrate: “On the 1st of July this year I
completed my 37th year. Am in excellent health, weigh 182 lbs and am
about half-way through vol. II of my history of Utah, much of which is already
printable.”[31]
He finished volume two nearly a year after finishing volume one: “Completed the
second volume of the History of Utah.
This volume was begun last February.”[32]
Whitney
worked hard, but the financial ceiling was about to fall in on the project.
When the business first began things looked promising, largely because no one
knew that by 1893 a severe financial panic would hit the nation and Utah,
lasting for several years at its worst. This meant that George Q. Cannon and
Sons, the publishers, no longer had the financial viability needed to pay the
publishing costs, including payments to the author. Whitney recorded: “Had an
interview with the First Presidency about the History of Utah. Messrs Cannon and Sons being unable to proceed
with it for the time being owing to their inability to make collections, the
Church authorities have consented to lend aid—that is to pay me for writing the
mss [manuscript]. I am to complete Vol. III within a year from date and receive
$2,700 for it. Andrew Jensen to assist me in collecting facts whenever
necessary. This mss will belong to the Church from whom Cannon and Sons will
afterwards purchase it if they are able. Cannon and Sons owe me $750 back
salary from May 15 to Aug. 15, 1893.”[33] The main problem was that
the depression was so bad that people who had signed a note to buy the set
could no longer afford to—food and clothing suddenly becoming more important
than expensive history books, as marvelous as they were. President George Q.
Cannon himself explained the situation in greater detail:
At
the meeting this morning with Bishop Whitney and Elder A. H. Cannon, to take
into consideration the question of continuing the preparation of the History of Utah, in manuscript, upon
which Bishop Whitney has been engaged some years (the financial stringency
rendering it impracticable for George Q. Cannon and Sons Company to continue
the publication of the third volume; and Bishop Whitney having prepared the
manuscript to the extent of between a third and half of this volume), the
question arose, whether it is advisable to have him continue the work until the
volume is completed or suspend the publication of the work where it is? The
Presidency felt that as Bishop Whitney’s mind was full of this work, and he had
his data in hand, that it would be better for him to continue until it was
finished, and then, when the time shall come, for the publishers to continue
the work, the manuscript will be on hand. There is a fourth volume also
contemplated which is to be given gratuitously to subscribers by the
publishers: this fourth volume is to contain biographical sketches and brief
sketches of the history of the cities and counties of the Territory. The
question was asked Bishop Whitney, what it would cost to do this work—that is,
finish the third volume? He answered that the publishers have been paying him
$200, a month, and his wife $50, and that he had been engaged on the part
already written between seven and eight months. President Smith made the
estimate that the part already written had cost $1,750. Bishop Whitney said he
thought he could do the remainder for $3000, which would make the manuscript
for the volume $4,750. The Bishop was asked if Brother Andrew Jenson could
assist him in furnishing data, and save his time, as he claimed it would take
him a year or thereabouts to complete the work. Bishop Whitney thought Bro.
Jenson could be of assistance to him. President Smith then suggested that as
Bro. Jenson’s time and assistance ought to be worth $300, to Bro. Whitney, he
was asked whether that would be satisfactory—that is, the Bishop to receive
$2,700 for the work, with the liberty, of course, to finish it as much earlier
than the year, with the assistance of Bro. Jenson, as he pleased. He agreed to
do this. A motion was made that $2,700 by given to him for finishing the
remainder of the manuscript, carrying the history down to the end of the volume
which he intimated would be at the issuance of the Manifesto. President
Woodruff was quite pointed in remarking (which he did at least twice) that he [Whitney]
must not expect cash for his work, as the Church was unable to pay cash now;
that even the Apostles who drew their pay from the Church had to take it in
tithing office pay. Bishop Whitney said, that which is due him now he ought to
have in cash to meet his obligations, which were cash; but as this was a matter
between himself and the publishers the Presidency had nothing to say about it.[34]
Whitney had
now passed his original contract time allotment of two years, by over a year, with
only two and a half volumes finished. His perceived slowness in finishing the
work was frustrating to those with a vested interest in his finishing as soon
as possible, such as President and Elder Cannon, owners of the publishing
company. Ort himself felt the pressure, literary as well as financial. Regarding
his pay, he wrote: “Drew from James Jack, [Church financial] clerk, on above
account $225; only $50 of it being in cash. The rest Tithing Orders and a
little store pay.”[35] He finished the third
volume a year later (August 1894), an agonizingly slow rate for all involved. And
Whitney’s woes continued, he needing to approach the First Presidency to collect
pay the publisher owed him. President Cannon explained:
$750
appropriated favor of Brother Orson F. Whitney. Some time ago $2,700 was
appropriated also in favor of Bro. Whitney as compensation for his services in
producing the third volume of Whitney’s History
of Utah. The firm of George Q. Cannon and Sons Company having made
representations to the First Presidency through President Cannon of their
inability to go on with the history in consequence of the financial loss of the
enterprise. This $2,700 was appropriated to enable Bro. Whitney to complete the
third volume of the history, it being understood by the Presidency that the
manuscript of the third volume should become the property of the Church by
reason of this appropriation. Bro. Whitney now represented that at the time
this appropriation was made the publishing company owed him $750 which they had
since failed to pay him and that he himself was in debt fully to this amount at
that time and was obliged to settle with his creditors out of the $2,700
appropriation. He represented that the publishing company was still unable to
pay him this amount and he asked that the Church be kind enough to assume it so
that he might be enabled to continue his labors on the third volume. President
Woodruff at first expressed himself averse to doing this but afterwards consented
and it was agreed with Bro. Whitney that he draw it in provisions at the rate
of $75 per month.[36]
The
Cannon’s frustration with Whitney’s work began to show, affecting as it did
their publishing company that was barely surviving the lean years, struggling
under heavy debt. Elder Abraham Cannon recorded: “We [Abraham and George Q.] had
a talk with the Presidency about the History
of Utah, and they gave Bishop Whitney notice that they were through with
him so far as writing on it is concerned, now that he has finished the third
volume. I suggested that we hire a
cheaper man, and a better worker to write the biographies for the fourth
volume. It was thought that this will be
the best thing to do.”[37] But Elder Cannon’s idea
to change authors did not pan out, and Whitney was used as planned for volume
four.
There are
no further entries in Ort’s diary mentioning the project until mid-1897,
leaving us to the conclusion that even though volume three had been written,
the tough financial conditions prevented anything being done with it (except to
revise and improve the manuscript) for just under three years. By July, 1897,
the publisher’s financial position had evidently improved sufficiently that
they could finally have the manuscript turned into a book. Orson wrote, “[I] ran
down to Salt Lake [from Logan] to take the last chapter of mss (History of Utah Vol. III) to the
printer.”[38]
Some weeks later he recorded: “The final proofs of Vol. [3] of the History are
read and all printed but the index which I am now getting ready. The book will
be issued shortly.”[39] Volume three finally
found life when it was issued in January of 1898. The Tribune did their usual hatchet job reviewing it: “I don’t know
whether to attribute the Tribune
assault [on Whitney for a published poem about Utah Volunteers] to Judge
Goodwin, or to Col. Nelson. The latter hates me and all Mormons, and has never
got over the dressing down I gave him in the History of Utah, Vol. III, which he so bitterly attacked when it
was published. The ‘dressing down,’ however, was only a plain statement of what
Dr. Clinton, a prisoner in Nelson’s custody, said in court about his treatment
by that venomous Mormon-hater while U. S. Marshal. Still, it may have been
Goodwin.”[40]
While the
publisher was turning his volume three manuscript into a printed book, to his
relief, Ort learned he was still on the
job: “Today it was told me that final arrangements had been made for me to go
to work on the 4th Volume of the History
of Utah. Cannon and Sons will devote $1000 to it and the Church $400. The
latter in scrip.”[41]
“Tuesday, the 19th [I] began work on Vol. IV of the History of Utah. Jacob Pearts’ biography
was the first one I prepared. Then came Joseph Perry’s.”[42] Finally Ort had found a
source of income: “In Salt Lake again. Got another $100 from Cannon and Sons on
acct.”[43] Also, “Have received from
President’s Office $100 Church script on acct.”[44] Whitney had to coordinate
with about three-hundred and fifty prominent Utahns, to obtain their
biographical information that he would then write and edit. Those too busy, lazy,
or slow to work with him had their life sketches left out.[45]
The work
progressed in starts and fits: “U. S. Senator Rawlins called on me today and
made arrangements with me to prepare his biography for the History of Utah. Paid me next day $100 on acct. Gave ½ to E[lias].
U. S. Senator Frank J. Cannon has also arranged with me to prepare his
biography offering me $100.”[46] Nine months later: “A few
days ago I resumed work on Vol. 4 of my History
of Utah—the biographical volume—suspended since last fall. I have completed
Willard Richards’ biography; revised A. W. McCune’s and submitted it to him,
and am now on Wm Budge.”[47] Further, “This is Monday
and the beginning of another year [1900]. I find myself in good health, firm in
the faith of the Gospel, the Bishop of the 18th ward and employed in
the Church Historian’s Office. For the past three months I have been engaged
upon the 4th volume of my History
of Utah, the biographical volume. I have just completed a sketch of the
life and character of Pres. Lorenzo Snow to be published in the New Year number
of the Juvenile Instructor and
afterwards in this History, and have
been asked to prepare an address on the life and character of the late Pres.
Franklin D. Richards, to be delivered before the State Historical Society and
afterwards published in the History.
Spent most of today in my office.”[48] The work continued, with
some humorous exchanges with those whose opposition to the Church was ommitted:
“Judge Goodwin, of the Tribune, sent
me back the biographical sketch I had prepared for the History of Utah—his sketch, which I had submitted to him and which
was rather complimentary to him, with this line upon the margin, “Bishop, is
there any forgiveness for lying in your religion?” To which I answered by
postal card: ‘Judge: Yes, there is, Come along, Bishop.’ ”
Along with
his own work, Whitney was asked to help President Cannon with the preparation
of History of the Church: “I have
just about completed my 4th volume of Utah History, and it is almost
ready for the press. I am assisting (with John Q. Cannon) his father President
George Q. Cannon, to prepare for publication the autobiography of the Prophet
Joseph Smith. . . .”[49]
A year and
a half later, the publisher’s finances reached a point where they could proceed
with printing: “Started today to get out Vol. 4 of the History of Utah—biographies—which the Cannon Sons are now preparing
to publish. The mss [manuscript] has been ready for a year or two, waiting
their action; all I need now to do is the part or the finishing touches and
[illegible] issue it through the press. The Deseret News Office is to do the
printing.”[50]
Issuing the work became a time-consuming undertaking: “[51]Am very busy getting out
my 4th Volume of Utah History—the first form is printed containing
the biographies of Presidents Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball and Willard
Richards; and Orson Pratt and Wilford Woodruff are partly in type.” Contrary to
his original hope, he needed to be paid by those who wanted their biographies
in volume four.
For his
part, Whitney was aware of the impatience concerning completion of the history,
but felt he could do no better, stating: “To complete it required several
years, during which I had many other duties to perform, and responded, as
usual, to numerous calls for extra service in various directions. I was in love
with my task—which lightened it greatly—but still it was strenuous and
exacting, as anyone must know who has ever brought out a work of that character
and magnitude.”[52]
Elder Abraham
H. Cannon died in the summer of 1896, and management of the daily operations of
George Q. Cannon and Sons passed to a relative, Brigham T. Cannon, who then
oversaw the publication of the fourth biographical volume from 1902 to 1904. He
also had to deal with the remaining unsold one-thousand sets, of the original
printing of two-thousand three-volume sets, of the history. The financial panic
of 1893 to 1895 had kept subscribers from being able to pay for their set.[53] Brigham Cannon then
proposed that the Church buy them. In a letter to the First Presidency, which
no longer included his father (the
deceased George Q. Cannon), he wrote:
December 11, 1902:
Dear Brethren:
In
accordance with a conversation had with President Anthon H. Lund, we beg to
submit to you a proposition to sell 1000 complete sets of Whitney’s History of Utah in four volumes. About
1000 sets, possibly a few more, would be the entire residue of the only edition
of this work ever published. Originally, the complete History was to be written in three volumes, and subscriptions were
taken at $30 per set, or $10 per volume. As the work was proceeded with,
however, it was found that a fourth volume would have to be issued to make the
work complete, and bring it up to date. This fourth volume is now in press, and
is to be given gratus [free] as a premium to all paid up subscribers. The
materials and workmanship in these books are the best which can be obtained. As
to the letter press and the steel plate work, nothing of a higher class can be
obtained anywhere.
Mr.
H[orace]. G. Whitney [Orson’s brother], Manager of Deseret News, states to us that considerable inquiry about the History is made at that establishment
and of its agents, and believes that many sets of the History could be sold by these agents, as a mere incident of their
other work. We feel sure that in a comparatively short time, this History will be at a premium, not only
here, but elsewhere in the United States, as the publication of the second
edition will involve a very great outlay of money. In fact, at present, there
is quite a steady demand for sets of History
from various public libraries throughout the country.
We
offer you 1000 complete sets, or thereabouts, unbound, at $12.00 per set.
We
would like to have you give the matter consideration at your convenience, and
let us know if you desire any further information on the subject.
Yours
respectfully, Brigham T. Cannon.[54]
Despite
Brigham Cannon’s best efforts, it took two more years for the final volume to
be issued: “It [rights to the project] was purchased by the present proprietors
at a time when the whole project was imperiled, and their purchase was
virtually a rescue of the enterprise. They are now about to make good their
pledge to the public by the issuance of this gift volume, even though it
entails upon them a heavy financial sacrifice.”[55] The economic difficulties
of the mid to late 1890s had been formidable, becoming the chief cause of
delay. Yet Whitney was able to make use of the last unavoidable lull: “The
major portion of this volume was written several years ago, and was ready for the
printer, but financial disappointments, encountered by the management,
prevented the publication, and Bishop Whitney, in the interval caused by the
unavoidable delay, has re-written the whole book and brought it down to the
present [1904], thus making it a more valuable work than it would otherwise
have been.”[56]
Evidently
the change in management of George Q. Cannon and Sons had improved the
relationship between author and publisher: “In conclusion the author desires to
express his appreciation of the pleasant relations that have always existed
between him and the publishers, and to give a word of due praise to Mr. Brigham
T. Cannon, the present manager, through whose energetic labors, loyally backed
by his company, the publication has been brought to a successful issue. Nothing
further need be said, except that the author and the publishers are perfectly satisfied
with the reception accorded their work.”[57]
Whether the
First Presidency agreed to some kind of arrangement with Brigham Cannon of
George Q. Cannon and Sons is not clear. Evidently he and Horace G. Whitney
again overestimated the sales potential in 1904 for Whitney’s History of Utah, because by 1908, the Deseret News bookstore put it on sale:
Whitney’s History of Utah at Half Price:
The
Deseret News takes pleasure in
announcing that it has secured the sole rights to the History of Utah, by Orson F. Whitney, originally published by the
George Q. Cannon & Sons Co. . . .
In
the three volumes are included 235 full page steel plates, mostly portraits of leading
figures in the history of the State, originally obtained at a cost of many
thousand dollars. The volumes each contain approximately 800 pages, a total of
2,351 pages in the three. The binding is quarto size, full morocco with gilt
edges, no other style of binding being issued. . . .
The
News having obtained the unsold
copies of the edition, will sell to first comers at half the original price, or
$15.00 for the three volumes. . . .
The
low price at which this rare work is offered will undoubtedly exhaust the
edition in a short time. The work will then be out of print, so that every
book-lover should avail himself of this last chance. . . .[58]
After the
last sets were sold, it did indeed go out of print and after decades became an
expensive collector’s item. Because Whitney wrote from the perspective of a
strong believer and defender of the Faith—Mormonism—that served as the impetus
to colonize and found Utah Territory, reviews of the history were mixed.
Mormons thought it marvelous, and Mormon-haters hated it.[59] Such has been the fate of
most positive histories of Utah written since.
[1]
OFWJ, May 17, 1890.
[2]
OFWJ, May 20, 1890.
[3]
OFWJ, May 21, 1890.
[4]
OFWJ, June 20, 1890.
[5]
See “The History of Utah,” in Deseret Evening
News, July 12, 1890.
[6]
The “bitterly anti-Mormon” Salt Lake
Tribune editorialized: “Of course it will be a history from the Mormon
standpoint. It would not be otherwise very well, being written by Bishop
Whitney. He is a sincere fanatic, and it would not be fair to expect that he
would not color his writings, even as his mind is now colored, in favor of the
faith he believes in and the people who are his personal associates and
friends. He has better facilities for writing a history than any man not a
member of the Mormon Church could have. He is a man of real ability. Perhaps he
is better fitted to undertake a work of this kind than almost any other man in
the Mormon Church” (OFWJ, ca. July 12 or 13, 1890).
[7]
OFWJ, July 14, 1890.
[8]
See OFWJ, July 22 & 23, 1890.
[9]
The prospectus stated: “A prominent feature will be the biographies of notable
men and women, with fine portraits accompanying. It is the almost universal
custom, in a work of this character, to take pay from those whose histories are
inserted. The author proposes to express his own views, and accept no
perquisites; not a line of reading matter will be paid for—not a cent accepted
for biographical notice. The characters chosen to illustrate the work will be
placed in the order where they belong, irrespective of considerations which
should have no weight in the preparation of a just and impartial record of men
and events.” The prospectus is dated Salt Lake City, July 1st, 1890,
and signed by Whitney.
[10]
See promotional item in Orson F. Whitney Collection, Church History Library
Archives.
[11]
For a copy of the contract, see Orson F.
Whitney Collection, Church History Library Archives.
[12]
“Preface,” History of Utah, Vol. 4.
[13]
OFWJ, April 20, 1891.
[14]
OFWJ, June 1, 1891.
[15]
AHCJ, June 8, 1891. Elder Abraham H. Cannon’s participation in the project is
documented herein as found in Horne, An
Apostle’s Record: The Journals of Abraham H. Cannon, under dates given.
[16]
AHCJ, June 9, 1891
[17]
As quoted in a collection of documents related to Whitney’s History of Utah, found in Orson F.
Whitney Collection, Church History Library Archives.
[18]
TMH, 202.
[19]
AHCJ, June 12, 1891
[20]
AHCJ, June 15, 1891
[21]
AHCJ, June 16, 1891.
[22]
AHCJ, June 19, 1891.
[23]
AHCJ, June 24, 1891.
[24]
AHCJ, June 25, 1891.
[25]
AHCJ, June 27, 1891.
[26]
AHCJ, June 29, 1891.
[27]
OFWJ, June, 1891, no exact date given.
[28]
OFWJ, September 26, 1891.
[29]
AHCJ, December 3, 1891.
[30]
OFWJ, February 21, 1892.
[31]
OFWJ, ca, July 1, 1892.
[32]
OFWJ, January 31, 1893.
[33]
OFWJ, August 25, 1893.
[34]
George Q. Cannon diary, August 25, 1893; as found in Orson F. Whitney
Collection, Church History Library Archives.
[35]
OFWJ, August 28, 1893.
[36]
George Q. Cannon diary, August 3, 1894; as found in Orson F. Whitney
Collection, Church History Library Archives.
[37]
AHCJ, October 19, 1894.
[38]
OFWJ, July 9, 1897.
[39]
OFWJ, September 27, 1897.
[40]
OFWJ, August 21, 1899.
[41]
OFWJ, October 12, 1897.
[42]
OFWJ, October 19, 1897.
[43]
OFWJ, November 13, 1897.
[44]
OFWJ, November 15, 1897.
[45]
In a note concluding volume four, Whitney wrote: “In explanation of the placing
here of the biography of William Jex, whose steel plate portrait will be found
on page 525 of this volume, it is but necessary to say that the materials for
the sketch did not reach the historian in time for its insertion elsewhere. The
reader will probably notice other portraits, scattered through the four
volumes, for which there are no corresponding biographies. The reason for their
non-appearance is that the persons interested have failed to supply the
necessary data, though urgently and in most cases repeatedly requested to do
so, in order that the work might be completed to the satisfaction of all
concerned” (as found in “Notes,” last page of the book).
[46]
OFWJ, November 18, 1898.
[47]
OFWJ, August 30, 1899.
[48]
OFWJ, January 1, 1900.
[49]
OFWJ, January 1, New Year’s, 1901. This refers to the beginning of the work on
volume one of History of the Church,
which began under President Cannon’s direction but was largely compiled and
completed by B. H. Roberts. For further information on this project, see Horne,
Latter Leaves in the Life of Lorenzo Snow,
293, 386, 398, 406, 408, 410. See also Searle, Early Mormon Historiography: Writing the History of the Mormons,
1830-1858. Various volumes of the Joseph Smith Papers being published by
the Church Historian’s Press of the LDS Church History Department also contain
information about this project.
[50]
OFWJ, July 14, 1902.
[51]
OFWJ, September 19, 1902.
[52]
TMH, 203.
[53]
For example, Elder Rudger Clawson’s diary, speaking of a meeting of the Twelve,
noted: “Apostle Clawson said he had made an investigation relative to the
fourth volume of the History of Utah and found that the church is in no
wise obligated to bear an[y] part of the expense of its publication; that the
manuscript is now ready for the printer and bids are being sought by the Geo.
Q. Cannon Co., who are prepared to meet the expense, with an idea of delivering
the book at the next Oct. conference” (Rudger Clawson journal, June 12, 1902;
as quoted in Rudger Clawson, A Ministry
of Meetings: The Apostolic Diaries of Rudger Clawson, Stan Larson, ed.,
(Salt Lake City, 1993), under date given.
[54]
As quoted in Orson F. Whitney Collection, Church History Library Archives.
[55]
“Preface,” in History of Utah, Vol.
4.
[56]
“Preface,” in History of Utah, Vol.
4.
[57]
“Preface,” in History of Utah, Vol.
4.
[58]
Deseret News, October 28, 1908; p.
10.This advertisement also mentioned that “several thousand sets” were sold in
previous years. This is likely an incorrect figure, since all other sources
point to but one edition of 2,000 copies having been manufactured.
[59]
For an effort to review and compare and contrast Whitney’s History of Utah with that of a prominent anti-Mormon of his day,
see Brigham D. Madsen’s “Foreword” in Robert N. Baskin, Reminiscences of Early Utah (Salt Lake City: Signature Books, 2006).
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