Dr. Steve Lacy (b.1951) is a Utah historian and the author of books including
Utah Governor Herbert B. Maw (1893-1990, Gov. 1941-1948) was born in Ogden, Utah to Emma Brown and Ephraim Goodman Maw, who later moved their family to Salt Lake City. After attending Latter Day Saint (LDS) High School and the University of Utah, Maw served in World War I as one of the army's first Mormon Chaplains. He married Florence Buehler in 1921. Having earned his J.D. degree at Northwestern University in 1927, Maw returned to the University of Utah to teach speech and political science from 1927-1940, and he served as Dean of Men from 1928-1936.
In 1928, Maw was elected to the state senate where he served until 1938. He was president of that body from 1934-1938. One of the Utah Democratic Party's more liberal members, Maw promoted old-age assistance programs, government control of public utilities, and direct primary elections. He won the Democratic Party's gubernatorial nomination in 1940 in the state's first primary election of that kind and went on to defeat his conservative opponent, Don B. Colton to become Utah's eighth governor.
As governor of the state of Utah, Maw reorganized various commissions, bureaus and boards under the somewhat controversial Publicity Industrial Department (PID) to promote tourism and new business. The PID built roads to scenic attractions in Southern Utah and built a natural history museum in Vernal. Maw's administration also built the "This is the Place Monument" at the mouth of Emigration Canyon. While governor, Maw supported a major highway building program and approved the creation of a state water and power board to oversee the use of Colorado River water within the state. During World War II, he successfully attracted military and other war related industries to Utah, creating many jobs and reviving the state's economy.
Herbert Maw was defeated in the 1948 gubernatorial election by Republican J. Bracken Lee. After his term as governor, he ran a private law practice until well into his 90s. He died in 1993.
The Steve Lacy collection of Herbert B. Maw audio recordings (1941-1946) consists of several audiocassettes recorded from 16" radio transcription discs. The recordings are of speeches made by or on behalf of Herbert B. Maw during his term as governor of Utah. The collection also includes two episodes of the 1940s Natoinal Broadcasting Company (NBC) radio program
This collection is arranged in loose chronological order.
Audio-visual materials can be fragile and require specialized equipment to play back. For this reason, access to audio-visual materials is provided through digital copies, and it might take longer to provide access to items that are not yet digitized. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law, condition of the material, or by donor.
See also the Herbert B. Maw audio-visual collection (A066) and papers (Ms 532).
Processed by Mark Jensen in 1991.
Side A
"A Challenge to Utahns," by Royal Garff.
circa 1941; 13 minutes
Local teacher and public speaker Royal Garff delivers a speech which beseeches Utahns who have left the state for educational or career pursuits to make a contribution back to the state. The speech also promotes Herbert B. Maw as a candidate for governor. An identical recording of this speech follows on the cassette.
Side B
1. Interview with Governor Herbert B. Maw.
1946; 14 minutes
Recorded by KDYL radio at the 1946 National Conference of Governors in Oklahoma. The governor praises Oklahoma and its oil resources; discusses topics of the conference (veteran's affairs, agriculture and labor), the 1946 presidential campaign, and the purpose of the conference.
2. Inaugural address of Governor Herbert B. Maw, part 1.
January 6, 1941; 19 minutes
The governor praises his predecessor, Governor Henry H. Blood, a fellow Democrat. Topics include the need for the state to remain debt-free, control of state money, the spending power of the population and economic problems. Continued on cassette 2, side A.
Side A
1. Inaugural address of Herbert B. Maw, part 2.
January 6, 1941; 5 minutes
Continued from cassette 1, side B. The Governor continues by praising and expressing gratitude for his wife, family and Russell L. Tracy, local banker and founder of Tracy Aviary.
2. Speech by Governor Herbert B. Maw, part 1.
January 13, 1941; 13 minutes
In an address before the Utah State Legislature, topics include addressing the needs of farmers and laborers, the stimulation of industry, government finances and taxation. Continued on Item 3, Side A.
Side B
circa 1941; 30 minutes
A recording of two episodes of the NBC radio program,
Side A
Speech by Governor Herbert B. Maw, parts 2 and 3.
January 13, 1941; 26 minutes
Address before the Utah State Legislature continued from cassette 2, side A. Topics include appropriations, the state budget, and creation and operation of new government departments.
Side B
Speech by Governor Herbert B. Maw, parts 4 and 5.
January 13, 1941; 28 minutes
Topics include the restructuring of the State Liquor Commission, control of and restructuring of higher education, administration of welfare programs, stimulation of employment opportunities, reappraisal of freight rates, and development of hydroelectric power. Continued on cassette 5, side A.
Side A
Speech by Governor Herbert B. Maw, parts 1 and 2.
1943; 30 minutes
An address before the 25th Utah State Legislature. Topics include problems of governing during wartime, praise of government's and citizen's response to demands of wartime, progress of government restructuring initiated two years earlier, and use of government funds. Continued on cassette 4, side B.
Side B
Speech by Governor Herbert B. Maw, parts 3 and 4.
1943; 30 minutes
Topics include criticism of current welfare/relief system, proposals for alternatives for Social Services Department, state debt, and proposed legislation. Part 4 is an incomplete recording. Cassette 5, Side A has a complete recording of part 4.
Side A
1. Speech by Governor Herbert B. Maw, part 6.
January 13, 1941; 10 minutes
Continued from cassette 3, side B. Topics include development of a coal industry, as well as other mineral, agricultural and manufacturing industries around the state, promotion of tourism, revenue collection, and use of tax funds for roads.
2. Speech by Governor Herbert B. Maw, part 4.
1943; 17 minutes
The complete recording of part 4 of this address to the 25th Utah State Legislature, described in cassette 4, side B.
Side B
Speech by Governor Herbert B. Maw, part 5.
1943; 15 minutes
Topics include war, emergency legislation, construction of a coal processing plant, centralization of state accounting needs in Finance Department, funding of higher education and condition of state finances.
Cassette 6 is a duplicate of cassette 1.
Cassette 7 is a duplicate of cassette 2.