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Newell Hart papers, 1860-1983

Overview of the Collection

Title
Newell Hart papers
Dates
1860-1983 (inclusive)
Quantity
35 boxes, (17.5 linear ft.)
Collection Number
UUS_CAINE COLL MSS 3
Summary
Subject files are a wide range of materials concerning the histories of Preston (Idaho), Franklin County (Idaho), and Cache County (Utah), including correspondence, biographies, local histories, family histories, a photocopy of Fanny Eliza Swann McQueen's midwife journal (1888-1915), a photocopy of Parley Howell's daybook (1912-1917), histories of Cache Valley schoolhouses, and articles concerning Joseph Geddes; Cache Valley Newsletter files, including correspondence, published articles, obituaries, and submissions to the Newsletter; and Bear River Massacre materials, including first hand accounts that Hart collected about the battle, his correspondence to battle descendants, family and local histories, and other materials pertaining to the battle and to the publication of the book.
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

Open to public research.

Languages
English.
Sponsor
Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant, 2007-2008
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Biographical Note

Newell Hart (1913-1983) was a Preston native and local historian. He served an LDS mission in Minnesota and Montana and founded the Hart Music Company in Preston in 1939. He edited and published the Cache Valley Newsletter and was a frequent contributor to the The Preston Citizen. His books include Home Town Album, Bear River Massacre, Cache Valley Dance Halls, and Hometown Sketchbook. He was instrumental in the restoration of the Oneida Stake Academy in the 1970s. In 1977 he was awarded a certificate of Commendation for his outstanding contributions to the history of Southeastern Idaho and Northern Utah.

In 1938 he married Ruth Cuttler and the couple would have four children.

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Content Description

The Newell Hart collection represents the most comprehensive collection of secondary and primary source materials available about Franklin County, Idaho. Hart, born in Preston Idaho, February 21, 1913, had a lifelong interest in the history and in the people of Cache Valley. During his lifetime he authored three major books on Franklin County history - - Hometown Sketchbook, Hometown Album, and the Bear River Massacre; three essays - - Refuge Rock, Cache Valley Dance Halls, and the Summer of 1937; reissued an expanded of the DUP's Trailblazer; and edited the Cache Valley Newsletter from 1968-1983.

Of Hart's many interests on Cache Valley history, one of his most fervent pursuits was the history of the Battle of Bear River. Hart spent over 25 years compiling the details of that battle. Nearly 25% of the collection relates to this topic in one way or another. Hart collected first hand accounts from published sources and descendants of battle participants, as well as collecting the stories and legends that exist about the famous battle. Another major topic that is found in the collection is historical material on the Oneida Stake Academy. When Hart discovered plans to tear down the historic Preston building he started an organized movement to preserve and restore the school. In doing so he also compiled many items of historical interest from the days when the Academy was a going concern. Included here are letters and stories from former O.S.A. students.

The remainder of the collection is split between many different subjects. As editor of the Cache Valley Newsletter Hart corresponded with many former and present Franklin County residents. This contact brought many stories, historical items and photographs to his attention and many have ended up in his personal papers. In addition to the Franklin County material, a small amount of Bear Lake, Idaho history is found in the papers as well as some Cache County, Utah material. The collection has been organized into three major series. First are Hart's subject files. These cover a broad spectrum of topics. Each file can include correspondence, interviews, published articles and documents about the particular subject. These files have been arranged alphabetically.

The next series contains the files from the Cache Valley Newsletter. Included here are letters, published articles, obituaries, and submissions to the Newsletter. These files have been arranged chronologically by publication date.

The final series are the research files for his book The Bear River Massacre. Included here are first hand accounts that Hart collected about the battle, his correspondence to battle descendants and other materials pertaining to the battle. One of Hart's major contributions in his book, is the section about the battle from the viewpoint of the Shoshoni Indians. This material is contained in this section. The last two boxes contain miscellaneous publications and family histories concerning the same subject area.

The photographs found in the collection have been removed and added to the Special Collections photograph collection. A note has been placed into the file where the item was removed. Correspondents are listed in the register by name and date. Outgoing correspondence from Hart is listed by Newell Hart to the persons name. An index to the collection accompanies the register. The index includes the names of all of the correspondents as well as the names found in the obituary files from the Cache Valley Newsletter. Obituaries are indicated by an asterisk next to the box and folder where they can be found.

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Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

It is the responsibility of the user to obtain permission to publish from the owner of the copyright (the institution, the creator of the record, the author or his/her transferees, heirs, legates, or literary executors). The user agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Utah State University Libraries, its officers, employees, and agents from and against all claims made by any person asserting that he or she is an owner of copyright.

Permission to publish material from the Newell Hart papers must be obtained from the Special Collections Manuscript Curator and/or the Special Collections Department Head.

Preferred Citation

Newell Hart papers, 1860-1983. (CAINE COLL MSS 3). Utah State University. Special Collections and Archives Department.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

Organized into three series: I. Subject files; II. Cache Valley Newsletter files; III. Bear River Massacre files. Arrangement: Subject files have been arranged alphabetically; Cache Valley Newsletter files have been arranged chronologically by publication date; Bear River Massacre materials have been arranged topically.

Acquisition Information

Donated by Ruth Hart in 1984.

Related Materials

Newell Hart photograph collection (P0251)

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Detailed Description of the Collection

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Bear River Massacre, Idaho, 1863--Personal narratives.
  • Bear River Massacre, Idaho, 1863.
  • Midwives--Utah--Diaries.
  • School buildings--Cache Valley (Utah and Idaho)
  • Shoshoni Indians--Wars, 1863-1865.

Personal Names

  • Geddes, Joseph A. (Joseph Arch), b. 1884.
  • Hart, Newell.
  • Howell, Parley. Daybook.
  • McQueen, Fanny Eliza Swann, 1861-1940. Midwife journal.

Corporate Names

  • Oneida Stake Academy (Preston, Idaho)

Geographical Names

  • Bear Lake County (Idaho)--History.
  • Cache County (Utah)--History.
  • Cache Valley (Utah and Idaho)--Biography.
  • Cache Valley (Utah and Idaho)--History.
  • Franklin County (Idaho)--History.
  • Preston (Idaho)--History.

Finding aid created by Special Collections and Archives.
2008

CC Attribution
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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