Edgar Bentley Mitchell Papers, 1950-1959

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Mitchell, Edgar Bentley, 1911-1959
Title
Edgar Bentley Mitchell Papers
Dates
1950-1959 (inclusive)
Quantity
3 boxes, (1 Linear ft.)
Collection Number
UUS_COLL MSS 322
Summary
A small collection of papers from Edgar Bentley Mitchell's career as operator of Mitchell Motel and promoter of regional tourism. The Mitchell Motel is now Utah State University's East Campus Office Building.
Repository
Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections and Archives Division
Special Collections & Archives
Merrill-Cazier Library
Utah State University
Logan, UT
84322-3000
Telephone: 4357978248
Fax: 4357972880
scweb@usu.edu
Access Restrictions

No restrictions on use, except: not available through interlibrary loan.

Languages
English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Edgar Bentley Mitchell was born in Logan, Utah, on September 13, 1911. He remained in Logan throughout his childhood, graduating from Logan High School in 1930 before departing for his LDS mission in Tahiti. Mitchell served there for four years, becoming fluent in the Tahitian language and serving as a valuable translator of LDS literature. Upon his return to Utah in 1934, Mitchell attended Utah State University for two years and maintained an interest in ranching on the family dry farm in the Hansel Valley, Utah. He married Erma Ruth Maughan on May 27, 1936, at the Logan LDS temple. In 1944 Mitchell was called back to Tahiti as mission president, a position he held until 1949.

Mitchell returned to Logan, and soon began to invest his energies in the local tourist industry. He opened Mitchell Motel in 1950, located within the block of Highway 89 and 1200 East. While operating this business, Mitchell served as a director, vice-president, and president of the Utah Motel Association, as well as chairman of the policy-making board of governors for the American Motor Hotel Association. He was also Utah's representative for the Best Western Motel Association and a president of the Logan Motel Association. Mitchell was extensively involved in the formation of the 89’ers International Highway Association, Inc., an organization which sought to promote tourism along U.S. Highway 89, as well as connecting routes in Canada and Mexico. His service as a director for this group required him to travel extensively, which he often did by plane; he earned his pilot's license in 1950. Mitchell also used his piloting skills as a captain in the Civil Air Patrol and squadron commander of the Logan Cache Wing in 1956-57.

Unfortunately, it was this love of flying that would lead to Mitchell's death. On Friday, December 18, 1959, Mitchell picked up a brand new Cessna 157 from the plant in Wichita, Kansas, which he planned to ferry back to Logan for Valley Airmotive Corporation. He flew to Rock Springs, Wyoming, arriving at 2 pm. without incident. He departed three and a half hours later, and was en route to Logan when he encountered some unexpected bad weather over the Wasatch Range. Apparently disoriented, Mitchell smashed into the east face of Birdneau Peak, located about eight and a half miles east of Logan-Cache Airport, at about 8:30 pm. An aerial search for the wreckage located the plane the next morning, and a rescue posse reached the crash site later that day. Mitchell's body, reportedly "badly broken," was brought from the mountains on horseback that evening.

Source: >Logan Herald Journal, December 20-21, 1959.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

This small collection contains papers from Mitchell's career as operator of Mitchell Motel and promoter of regional tourism. A majority of the materials relate to his role in the foundation and organization of the 89’ers International Highway Association, Inc., including meeting minutes, financial statements, correspondence, and promotional materials. Also a part of this collection are materials relating to the Utah Motel Association, the American Motor Hotel Association, the Civil Air Patrol, and the Mitchell Motel.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances.

Permission to publish material from the Edgar Bentley Mitchell Papers must be obtained from the Special Collections Manuscript Curator and/or the Special Collections Department Head.

Preferred Citation

Initial Citation: Edgar Bentley Mitchell Papers USU_COLL MSS 322, box [ ]. Special Collections and Archives. Utah State University Merrill-Cazier Library. Logan, Utah.

Following Citations:USU_COLL MSS 322, USUSCA.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

Arranged in numeric sequence according to box and folder

Processing Note

Processed in October of 2007

Acquisition Information

The papers comprising this collection were placed in USU Special Collections since the Mitchell Motel was converted into the University's East Campus Office Building.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

89'ers International Highway Association, Inc, 1955-1959Return to Top

Container(s): Box 1

(26 folders)

Meetings Minutes and Financial Records.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
1 1
First Annual Membership Meeting minutes
1955
1 2
Annual Board of Directors Meeting minutes
1955
1 3
Board of Directors Meeting minutes
1955
1 4
Second Annual Membership Meeting minutes
1956
1 5
Annual Board of Directors Meeting minutes
1956
1 6
Special Board of Directors Meeting minutes
1956
1 7
Resolutions from Second Annual Membership Meeting
1956
1 8
Third Annual Membership Meeting minutes
1957
1 9
Annual Board of Directors Meeting minutes
1957
1 10
Special Board of Directors Meeting minutes
1957
1 11
Third Annual Membership Meeting announcements
1957
1 12
"Proposed Ten Point Promotional Program"
1957-1958
1 13
Bylaws of 89'ers International Highway Association, Inc.
undated
1 14
Various Legal Agreements
undated
1 15
News Bulletins
1956-1959
1 16
Membership Applications
undated
1 17
Highway 89 International Promotional Account Book
1957-1959
1 18
Highway 89 International Promotional Fund Checks and Charges
undated
1 19
Highway 89 Promotion Fund Deposit Book
undated
1 20
Highway 89 International Promotional Account Statements, First National Bank of Logan
1957-1959
1 21
Collection Report, Remittance Advise, Commission Statement
undated
1 22
Membership Dues Remittance Advise
undated
1 23
Advertising Insertion Orders
undated
1 24
Advertising Remittance Advise
undated
1 25
Letters from Advertisers
undated
1 26
Misc. Financial Material
undated

89’ers International Highway Association, Inc., undatedReturn to Top

Container(s): Box 2

(9 folders)

Promotional Material and Correspondence.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
2 1
Proof for "Highway to Grandeur" brochure
undated
2 2
"Welcome to the Scenic Route of Three Nations" brochure
undated
2 3
89'ers International Highway Association, Inc. blank letterhead and envelopes
undated
2 4
"Treasure Trail" and "Beyond the Border" by Frank Barker and his Latin Aires – a 45 record album
undated
2 5
89'ers International Highway Association, Inc. Promotional Movie
undated
2 6
Martin Cantwell – Bentley Mitchell Correspondence
undated
2 7
Ray Stewart – Bentley Mitchell Correspondence
undated
2 8
Executive Secretary Memos
undated
2 9
Misc. Correspondence
undated

Mitchell Motel and Civil Air Patrol, undatedReturn to Top

Container(s): Box 3

(6 folders)
Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
3 1
Utah Motel Association
undated
3 2
American Motor Hotel Association
undated
3 3
Utah Motel Association – Correspondence
undated
3 4
American Motor Hotel Association – Correspondence
undated
3 5
Mitchell Motel Social Security and Tax Paperwork
1950-1958
3 6
Civil Air Patrol
undated

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Form or Genre Terms

  • Tourism--Cache Valley (Utah and Idaho)--History--Sources.
  • Tourism--Utah--History--Sources.
  • Tourism--Utah--Logan--History--Sources.

Occupations

  • Motel management--Utah--Logan--History--Sources.
  • Motels--Cache Valley (Utah and Idaho)--History--Sources.
  • Motels--Utah--Logan--History--Sources.