Helen Clawson Wells papers

Helen Clawson Wells papers, 1814-1995

Overview of the Collection

Creator: Wells, Helen Clawson, 1890-
Title: Helen Clawson Wells papers
Dates: 1814-1995 (inclusive)
18141991
Quantity: 8 linear feet
Collection Number: Ms0257
Summary: The Helen Clawson Wells papers (1814-1995) contain organizational papers and records of the Salt Lake City Shade Tree Commission, Utah Association of Shade Tree Commission, and the State Arboretum of Utah. Also present are materials from inventor Selden Clawson and a limited amount of information on Brigham Young, Mary Ann Angell Young, and Hiram and Alice Young Clawson. Helen Wells Clawson was a civic worker in Salt Lake City devoted to the cultivation and propagation of trees.
Repository: University of Utah Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections, J. Willard Marriott Library
University of Utah
295 South 1500 East
Salt Lake City, UT
84112-0860

Telephone: 8015818863
special@library.utah.edu
Access Restrictions: Twenty-four hour advanced notice encouraged. Materials must be used on-site. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.
Languages: English

Historical NoteReturn to Top

Helen Clawson Wells was born on 27 December 1890 in Salt Lake City to Selden Irwin and Clara Morris Clawson. She received her degree in kindergarten education from the University of Utah and taught for two years prior to her marriage to W. Seymour Wells in 1915. Because of her devotion to the cultivation of trees, she was often called the "tree lady of Utah." She was involved in many garden and tree organizations, as well as the Art Barn, the Astronomical Society, the Memory Park Committee, the Alta Club, the Symphony Guild, and others. She served as chairman of the National Arbor Day Observance Committee for Utah and aided in efforts to create the State Arboretum at the Unviersity of Utah campus. Helen Clawson Wells died in 1987.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The Helen Clawson Wells papers (1814-1995) contain organizational papers and records of the Salt Lake City Shade Tree Commission, Utah Association of Shade Tree Commission, and the State Arboretum of Utah. Also present are materials from inventor Selden Clawson and a limited amount of information on Brigham Young, Mary Ann Angell Young, and Hiram and Alice Young Clawson.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

The library does not claim to control copyright for all materials in the collection. An individual depicted in a reproduction has privacy rights as outlined in Title 45 CFR, part 46 (Protection of Human Subjects). For further information, please review the J. Willard Marriott Library’s Use Agreement and Reproduction Request forms.

Preferred Citation

Initial Citation: Helen Clawson Wells papers, MS 0257, Box [ ]. Special Collections and Archives. University of Utah, J. Willard Marriott. Salt Lake City, Utah.

Following Citations: MS 0257.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Acquisition Information

Donated by David Wells in 2008

Processing Note

Processed by Nancy V. Young and Sadie J. Kadlec in 1981 and 2009.

Separated Materials

Photographs were transferred to the Multimedia Division of Special Collections (P0090).

Related Materials

See the original register, located in the Special Collections reading room, for biographies of Clara Morris Clawson and Selden Irwin Clawson.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Family PapersReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	Folder
1	1	Brigham Young Will and codicil.	1873; 1875
1	2	Mary Ann Angell Young Biography and house floor plan.
1	3	Alice Young Clawson Will, estate inventory, and property listing.
1	4	Hiram Bradley Clawson Genealogy and biographical papers.
1	5	Hiram Bradley Clawson, Business Documents
1	6	Hiram Bradley Clawson, Government Service Materials
1	7	Hiram Bradley Clawson LDS Church service ordinations and correspondence.
1	8	Hiram Bradley Clawson Nauvoo Legion Service appointment documents.
1	9	Hiram Bradley Clawson, Family Organizations	1903-1968
1	10-11	Selden Irwin Clawson Polygamy revelation as related to Brigham Young by Joseph Smith as told to Selden by grandmother Mary Ann Angell. Also other recollections of Brigham Young.
2	1-2	Senden and Clara Clawson Genealogy, obituaries, and property transfers.
2	3-5	Selden Clawson Certificates, family stories, and correspondence.
2	6-8	Clara Clawson Family and personal correspondence, cards, and other items.
2	9	Selden and Clara Clawson Estate settlement and will.	1957
2	10	Morris Family Gathering Invitation and family record.	1901
2	11	Irwin Clawson, Correspondence	1927-1959
2	12	Julion "Duke" Clawson, Correspondence	1937-1950
2	13-14	W. Seymour Wells Oil and gas leases, business materials, and correspondence.	1927-1948
2	15	Miscellaeous

Selden Clawson, Patents and InventionsReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	Folder
3	1	General Patent Information
3	2	Patent and Invention Correspondence	1915-1951
3	3	LDS Individual Sacrament Service	1899-1911
3	4	Ore Volatilizing Patent	1906; 1916
3	5	Voloelectric Process Test	1913
3	6	Patent Information Inquiries	1900-1919
3	7	Metal Extraction Co., Stock Certificates	1915-1919
3	8	Clothes Rack and Carrier Correspondence, drawings, patent forms, sales contract, and petition.	1915-1923
3	9	Miscellaneous Inventions and Experiments Hydrometer, vibration conversion, gas engine, loud speaker, fowl's perch temperature machine.	1920s
3	10	Glauber Salts Process, Feasibility Reports	1920s
3	11	Divident Carburetor Attachment Reports, correspondence, and sketches.	1925-1927
3	12	Double Diaphragm for Sound Transmission Reports, sketches, and patent application.	1928-1929
3	13	Miscellaneous Inventions and Experiments Toupee plaster sheets, electrical energy tranformer, silouette-making machine, electric or sound wave transmission machine.	1930s
3	14	Welding Torch Description and sketches.	1937-1938
3	15	Air Conditioning Process Specifications, process report, and sketches.	1939
3	16	Miscellaneous Inventions and Experiments Coin holder, hair tonic, airplane pilot seat, process and machine for effecting glands, airplane device, razor-blade sharpening process, ozone making machine, mechanically elevated steps.	1940s
3	17	Handy Phone List Correspondence, example, report.	1940s
3	18-19	Picture and Memorandum Holder Patent, application, sketches, examples, and correspondence.	1940-1948

OrganizationsReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	Folder
4	1	War Mothers of America, Correspondence	1919
4	2	Service Star Legion	1921-1968
4	3	University of Utah, Emeritus Club History
4	4	Arbor Day Programs, Correspondence	1951-1971
4	5	Arbor Day National Observance Committee Correspondence and miscellaneous.	1958-1959
4	6	"Blue Star Highways" Statement, correspondence, poem, program.	1955-1976
4	7	Salt Lake Council of Women, Welfare Committee Assistance materials and correspondence.	1952-1953
4	8-9	Great Salt Lake Development Correspondence, statements, bulletins, news releases, programs.	1964-1968
4	10	Thomas C. Adams, "The Tourist and Great Salt Lake" Pamphlet.	1965
4	11	Antelope Island, Proposal for National Wildlife Refuge Report and name list.
4	12	Ogden Bay Bird Refuge
4	13-16	Saltair Restoration and Redevelopment Bulletins, correspondence, reports, minutes, poster, news clippings.	1964-1969

Utah Garden ClubsReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	Folder
5	1	Utah Garden Clubs, List
5	2-3	Utah Associated Garden Clubs Constitution, programs, correspondence, booklet.	1950-1976
5	4	Salt Lake Flower Garden Club Yearbooks and programs.	1923-1973
5	5	Junior Garden Clubs Organization instructions.
5	6-11	Neighborhood Garden Club	1938-1978

Salt Lake City Shade Tree CommissionReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	Folder
6	1	Early History	1934-1935
6	2	Ordinances and Policy Statements	1931-1959
6	3	Annual Reports	1941-1949
6	4-5	Department Reports, budgets, and other materials.	1931-1962
6	6-7	Minutes	1950-1969
6	8-10	Correspondence	1931-1971
6	11	Membership List	1962
6	12	Junior Chamber of Commerce Tree Project	1960
6	13	Capitol Hill Traffic Study
6	14	Shade Tree Street List
6	15	Commission Materials	1969
6	16	International Peace Gardens, History
6	17	Brigham City, Shade Tree Ordinances	1922-1923
6	18	Cedar City, Shade Tree Commission Ordinances, finance reports, and receipts.	1950s
6	19	Heber City, Recommended Tree List
6	20	Logan, Shade Tree Commission Background	1958
6	21	Provo, Shade Tree Commission	1960s
6	22	Tooele City, Shade Tree Commission	1954

Utah Association of Shade Tree CommissionsReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	Folder
7	1	History	1953
7	2	Organization and List of Officers
7	3	Constitution and By-laws
7	4	Membership Lists	1950s
7	5	Financial Data
7	6	Resolutions	1950s
7	7	Newsletter	1960
7	8	Minutes	1957
7	9-12	Correspondence	1953-1971
7	13-14	Projects and Programs	1955-1974

National and International Shade Tree Conference, Western ChapterReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	Folder
8	1	National Conference Reports, correspondence, programs.	1951-1961
8	2-8	International Conference Correspondence, newsletters, membership information, brochures, programs, and reports.	1961-1976

State Arboretum of UtahReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	Folder
9	1	History, Officers, and Activities
9	2	Constitution
9	3	Advisory Board Minutes	1963-1979
9	4	Correspondence	1960-1964
9	5	Budget	1964
9	6	Statement of Organization Function and Policies	1978
9	7	Annual Reports	1965-1977
9	8	Guide and List of Planted Trees
9	9	Memorials and Donations
9	10	Fort Douglas Annexation Correspondence and land sketch.	1965-1967
9	11	University of Utah Arboretum Guild Constitution, news release, financial report, membership list.

Trees and LandscapingReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	Folder
10	1	Conservation Advocacy	1950s-1970s
10	2	Report and Booklets
10	3	Correspondence	1952-1972
10	4	Landscaping Miscellaneous
10	5	Utah Historical Trees Correspondence and nomination lists.	1960s-1970s
10	6	Tree Poetry
10	7	Recommended Trees and Plants for Utah
10	8	Wayne Thorne, "One Hundred Ten Years of Horticulture in Utah"
10	9	Utah Horticulture, News Clippings	1960s

Biographical and General MaterialsReturn to Top

Biographical materials related to the Clawson-Wells family.

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	Folder
13	1	Well's Family Temple Ordinances and Genealogies	1814-1990
13	2	Well's Family Reunion Information and Decendant Lineage Charts	1977-1990
13	3	Well's Family Programs and Directories	1917-1954
13	4	Clawson Family Biographical Information
13	5	Clawson Family Birth, Marriage, and Death Certificates	1885-1987
13	6	Clawson Family Reunion Attendence Log	1902
13	7	Miscellaneous Clawson Family Documents
14-15		Organization Documents and Information Documents relating to: Neighborhood Garden Club, State Arboreteum of Utah Society, Utah State Historical Society, Shade Tree Commission of Utah, Community Memorial Chapel Foundation, Devraux House Committee, Utah Heritage Foundation, City Creek Canyon/Memorial Grove, USDA Nursery, and Nathaniel V. Jones Family Organization.	1922-1987
16		Correspondence	1833-1990

Seldon ClawsonReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	Folder
17	1-2	Seldon Clawson Inventions and Patents	1906-1943
17	3	Seldon Clawson Invention and Patent Options and Agreements	1912-1925
17	4-5	Seldon Clawson Miscellaneous Invention and Patent Papers	1917-1941
17	6	Seldon Clawson Record Book	1914-1918
17	7	Seldon Clawson Metal Extraction Certificates	1913-1915
17	8	Seldon Clawson Metal Extraction Minute Book	1906-1912

General MaterialsReturn to Top

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box
18-19	Miscellaneous Papers Boxes contain documents regarding titles, court papers, military services, journals, Mormon sacrement services, Brigham Young, and the University of Utah. Various financial records and newspaper clippings are also included.	1890-1995
20	Plates and Etchings Copper plate of Daniel H. Wells and ETching of "Our Old Corner Home".

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

Inventions
Shade trees--Utah
Trees in cities--Utah
Urban beautification--Utah

Corporate Names

Salt Lake City Shade Tree Commission
State Arboretum of Utah
Utah Association of Shade Tree Commissions

Family Names

Clawson family

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