J. Willard Marriott Library Special Collections
Helen Clawson Wells papers
Wells, Helen Clawson, 1890-1987
MS 0257
8 linear feet
23 boxes
1814-1995
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.
English
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.
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.
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.
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.
Collection Name, Collection Number, Box Number, Folder Number. Special Collections, J. Willard Marriott Library, The University of Utah.
Donated by David Wells in 2008.
Processed by Nancy V. Young and Sadie J. Kadlec in 1981 and 2009.
Click here to read a statement on harmful language in library records.
See also the Helen Clawson Wells photograph collection (P0090) in the Multimedia Division of Special Collections.
Forms part of the
Aileen H. Clyde 20th Century Women's Legacy Archives.
Wells, Helen Clawson, 1890-1987--Family--Archives
Clawson, Selden, 1863-1958--Archives
Clawson, Clara, 1869-1959--Archives
Clawson, H. B. (Hiram B.)--Archives
Clawson, H. B. (Hiram B.)--Family--Archives
Young, Mary Ann Angell, 1803-1882--Archives
Service Star Legion
State Arboretum of Utah--Records and correspondence
Antelope Island (Utah)
Saltair Resort (Utah)--Archives
Inventors--Utah--20th century--Archives
Inventions--20th century
Latter Day Saint families--Utah--20th century--Archives
Gardening--Utah--Societies, etc.--Archives
Tree planting--Utah--Salt Lake City
Trees in cities--Utah--Salt Lake City
Urban beautification--Utah
Shade trees--Utah
Veterans' families--Societies, etc.--Archives
Forestry and Logging
Family histories
Obituaries
Personal correspondence
Business correspondence
Patents
Minutes (Records)
Annual reports
Conference materials
Financial records
Biographies
Copper plates
Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.)
Etchings (prints)
Family Papers
Brigham Young
1873
1875
1
1
Will and codicil.
Mary Ann Angell Young
1
2
Biography and house floor plan.
Alice Young Clawson
1
3
Will, estate inventory, and property listing.
Hiram Bradley Clawson
1
4
Genealogy and biographical papers.
Hiram Bradley Clawson, Business Documents
1
5
Hiram Bradley Clawson, Government Service Materials
1
6
Hiram Bradley Clawson
1
7
LDS Church service ordinations and correspondence.
Hiram Bradley Clawson
1
8
Nauvoo Legion Service appointment documents.
Hiram Bradley Clawson, Family Organizations
1903-1968
1
9
Selden Irwin Clawson
1
10-11
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.
Senden and Clara Clawson
2
1-2
Genealogy, obituaries, and property transfers.
Selden Clawson
2
3-5
Certificates, family stories, and correspondence.
Clara Clawson
2
6-8
Family and personal correspondence, cards, and other items.
Selden and Clara Clawson
1957
2
9
Estate settlement and will.
Morris Family Gathering
1901
2
10
Invitation and family record.
Irwin Clawson, Correspondence
1927-1959
2
11
Julion "Duke" Clawson, Correspondence
1937-1950
2
12
W. Seymour Wells
1927-1948
2
13-14
Oil and gas leases, business materials, and correspondence.
Miscellaeous
2
15
Personal correspondence
1929-1967, undated
11
1-6
"Christmas" by J. Clawson
1948
11
7
"Trees and Gardens of Europe"
11
8
Outline of speech.
"Civic Beautification"
11
9
"The Child Who Plants is Seldom a Vandal"
11
10
Arbor Day.
Miscellaneous poems
11
11
Abstract of title
1934
18
1
Part of lot 4, block 22, plat "F", Salt Lake City Survey.
Daniel H. Wells: legal documents
1908-1909
18
2
Related to Well's estate.
Selden Wells: military records
1924-1951
18
3
Selden Wells: notebook
1937-1938
18
4
Related to botany.
Wells family: memorials and wills
1947-1987
18
5
Sacraments -- Latter Day Saint churches
1903
18
6
Primarily notes. Includes Plural marriage in America : a critical examination /
by President Joseph Smith, 1903.
University of Utah: miscellaneous
1939-1984
18
8
Primarily printed materials. Includes programs and report cards.
Selden Clawson, Patents and Inventions
General Patent Information
3
1
Patent and Invention Correspondence
1915-1951
3
2
LDS Individual Sacrament Service
1899-1911
3
3
Ore Volatilizing Patent
1906
1916
3
4
Voloelectric Process Test
1913
3
5
Patent Information Inquiries
1900-1919
3
6
Metal Extraction Co., Stock Certificates
1915-1919
3
7
Clothes Rack and Carrier
1915-1923
3
8
Correspondence, drawings, patent forms, sales contract, and petition.
Miscellaneous Inventions and Experiments
1920s
3
9
Hydrometer, vibration conversion, gas engine, loud speaker, fowl's perch temperature machine.
Glauber Salts Process, Feasibility Reports
1920s
3
10
Divident Carburetor Attachment
1925-1927
3
11
Reports, correspondence, and sketches.
Double Diaphragm for Sound Transmission
1928-1929
3
12
Reports, sketches, and patent application.
Miscellaneous Inventions and Experiments
1930s
3
13
Toupee plaster sheets, electrical energy tranformer, silouette-making machine, electric or sound wave transmission machine.
Welding Torch
1937-1938
3
14
Description and sketches.
Air Conditioning Process
1939
3
15
Specifications, process report, and sketches.
Miscellaneous Inventions and Experiments
1940s
3
16
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.
Handy Phone List
1940s
3
17
Correspondence, example, report.
Picture and Memorandum Holder
1940-1948
3
18-19
Patent, application, sketches, examples, and correspondence.
Organizations
War Mothers of America, Correspondence
1919
4
1
Service Star Legion
1921-1968
4
2
University of Utah, Emeritus Club History
4
3
Arbor Day Programs, Correspondence
1951-1971
4
4
Arbor Day National Observance Committee
1958-1959
4
5
Correspondence and miscellaneous.
"Blue Star Highways"
1955-1976
4
6
Statement, correspondence, poem, program.
Salt Lake Council of Women, Welfare Committee
1952-1953
4
7
Assistance materials and correspondence.
Great Salt Lake Development
1964-1965
4
8
Correspondence, statements, bulletins, news releases, programs.
Great Salt Lake Development
1963-1965
4A
9
Pamphlets.
Thomas C. Adams, "The Tourist and Great Salt Lake"
1965
4A
10
Pamphlet.
Antelope Island, Proposal for National Wildlife Refuge
4A
11
Report and name list.
Ogden Bay Bird Refuge
4A
12
Saltair Restoration and Redevelopment
1964-1969
4A
13-16
Bulletins, correspondence, reports, minutes, poster, news clippings.
National Arbor Day: correspondence
1939-1973
12
8-10
Flower Show School: miscellaneous
1950s
12
12
Primarily course materials.
Women's Conservation Council of Utah: miscellaneous
1965
12
15
Includes printed materials; membership; and calendar.
Historical preservation: miscellaneous
1958-1983
14
7
Includes National Trust for Historic Preservation; and Utah State Historical Society materials.
Community Memorial Chapel
1953-1982
14
11-12
Related to reconstruction of building formerly known as Eighteenth Ward Chapel. Includes Eighteenth Ward reunion booklet, 1953.
Community Memorial Chapel: correspondence
1973-1976
14
13
Deveraux House Committee
1970, 1974
14
14
Related to meetings.
Utah Heritage Foundation
1972-1973
15
1-2
Related to meetings.
Utah Heritage Foundation: correspondence
1967-1974
15
3
Utah Heritage Foundation: newsletters
1967-1976
15
4
Utah Heritage Foundation: miscellaneous
1969-1976
15
5
Primarily printed materials.
Nathaniel V. Jones Family Organization
15
8
Minutes.
Brigham Young Memorial Foundation: miscellaneous
1982
18
7
Primarily notes. Includes articles of incorporation.
Utah Garden Clubs
Utah Garden Clubs, List
5
1
Utah Associated Garden Clubs
1950-1976
5
2-3
Constitution, programs, correspondence, booklet.
Salt Lake Flower Garden Club
1923-1973
5
4
Yearbooks and programs.
Junior Garden Clubs
5
5
Organization instructions.
Neighborhood Garden Club
1938-1978
5
6-11
Utah Association Garden Clubs Arbor Day Tree Planting
1974
11
12
Includes other tributes to Wells.
Utah Associated Garden Clubs, Inc.
1976
12
13
Bicentennial Flower Show and Utah State Flower Show "Festival of Heritage and Horizons" program.
Utah Beautification Society: miscellaneous
1957-1965
12
14
Includes correspondence; bylaws; printed materials; and press releases.
Utah Garden Reporter
1960-1976
12
16-21
Official publication.
Neighborhood Garden Club and Utah Associated Garn Clubs
1961-1987
14
1-2
Includes yearbooks; meeting materials; correspondence; and printed materials.
Salt Lake City Shade Tree Commission
Early History
1934-1935
6
1
Ordinances and Policy Statements
1931-1959
6
2
Annual Reports
1941-1949
6
3
Department
1931-1962
6
4-5
Reports, budgets, and other materials.
Minutes
1950-1969
6
6-7
Correspondence
1931-1959
6
8-9
Correspondence
1960-1971
6A
10
Membership List
1962
6A
11
Junior Chamber of Commerce Tree Project
1960
6A
12
Capitol Hill Traffic Study
6A
13
Shade Tree Street List
6A
14
Commission Materials
1969
6A
15
International Peace Gardens, History
6A
16
Brigham City, Shade Tree Ordinances
1922-1923
6A
17
Cedar City, Shade Tree Commission
1950s
6A
18
Ordinances, finance reports, and receipts.
Heber City, Recommended Tree List
6A
19
Logan, Shade Tree Commission Background
1958
6A
20
Provo, Shade Tree Commission
1960s
6A
21
Tooele City, Shade Tree Commission
1954
6A
22
Shade trees: news clippings
12
26
Photocopies.
Utah Association of Shade Tree Commissions
30th Annual meeting of the Utah Association of Shade Tree Commission
1983
4A
17
History
1953
7
1
Organization and List of Officers
7
2
Constitution and By-laws
7
3
Membership Lists
1950s
7
4
Financial Data
7
5
Resolutions
1950s
7
6
Newsletter
1960
7
7
Minutes
1957
7
8
Correspondence
1953-1959
7
9-10
Correspondence
1960-1964
7A
11
Projects and Programs
1955-1974
7A
13-14
Utah Association of Shade Trees: correspondence
1954-1971
12
1-5
Utah Association of Shade Trees: conferences
1961, 1965
12
6
Utah Association of Shade Trees: miscellaneous
1930s
12
7
Includes lists of trees; instructions and guides; and Report of the Conservation Committee of the Utah Federation of Garden Clubs, 1936.
Utah Association of Shade Tree Commission
1957-1979
14
8-10
Includes plaque; printed materials; Western Chapter International Shade Tree Conference newsletters, 1969-1970; and Trees magazine, volume 35, number 2, 1976 April-June.
National and International Shade Tree Conference, Western Chapter
National Conference
1951-1961
8
1
Reports, correspondence, programs.
International Conference
1961-1976
8
2-8
Correspondence, newsletters, membership information, brochures, programs, and reports.
State Arboretum of Utah
History, Officers, and Activities
9
1
Constitution
9
2
Advisory Board Minutes
1963-1979
9
3
Correspondence
1960-1964
9
4
Budget
1964
9
5
Statement of Organization Function and Policies
1978
9
6
Annual Reports
1965-1977
9
7
Guide and List of Planted Trees
9
8
Memorials and Donations
9
9
Fort Douglas Annexation
1965-1967
9
10
Correspondence and land sketch.
University of Utah Arboretum Guild
9
11
Constitution, news release, financial report, membership list.
State Arboretum of Utah
1965-1979
14
3-4
Primarily annual reports. Includes miscellaneous printed materials.
State Arboretum of Utah: correspondence
1974-19777
14
5
State Arboretum of Utah: miscellaneous
14
6
Primarily printed materials.
Trees and Landscaping
Conservation Advocacy
1950s-1970s
10
1
Report and Booklets
10
2
Correspondence
1952-1972
10
3
Landscaping Miscellaneous
10
4
Utah Historical Trees
1960s-1970s
10
5
Correspondence and nomination lists.
Tree Poetry
10
6
Recommended Trees and Plants for Utah
10
7
Wayne Thorne, "One Hundred Ten Years of Horticulture in Utah"
10
8
Utah Horticulture, News Clippings
1960s
10
9
Landscape architecture: miscellaneous
12
11
Includes printed materials; Landscape Plants Proven for Provo, Salt Lake, and Ogden Areas compiled by D. E. Lofgren; and Leaves from a Gardener's Scrapbook by Emil Feulner.
City planning: news clippings
12
22
Photocopies.
Gardening: news clippings
12
23
Photocopies.
Downtown Salt Lake improvements: news clippings
12
24
Photocopies.
Highway beautification: news clippings
12
25
Photocopies.
Biographical and General Materials
Biographical materials related to the Clawson-Wells family.
Brigham Young Granddaughters Association
1961-1972
11
13
Brigham Young Family Association
1938-1971
11
14-15
Hiram B. Clawson Family Association: correspondence
1921-1965
11
16
Hiram B. Clawson Family Association: minutes
1902-1925
11
17-21
Miscellaneous
11
25
Includes notes; news clippings; and "Self" preservation tips from Mildred R. Johnson.
Address book
11
26
Includes loose notes.
Well's Family Temple Ordinances and Genealogies
1814-1990
13
1
Well's Family Reunion Information and Decendant Lineage Charts
1977-1990
13
2
Well's Family Programs and Directories
1917-1954
13
3
Clawson Family Biographical Information
13
4
Clawson Family Birth, Marriage, and Death Certificates
1885-1987
13
5
Clawson Family Reunion Attendence Log
1902
13
6
Miscellaneous Clawson Family Documents
13
7
City Creek Canyon
15
6
Background information.
United States. Department of Agriculture
1961-1964
15
7
Related to Arbor Day and nurseries.
Correspondence
1833-1990
16
News clippings: miscellaneous
1924-1984
18
9
Financial records: miscellaneous
1890-1980
19
1-2
Documents and papers: miscellaneous
1896-1995
19
3-5
Includes correspondence; notes; printed materials; maps; excerpts; United States Department of Agriculture Desert crossroads; Symposium: Frege / Is Frege's concept of function valid? By Rulon Wells, 1963; Was Joseph Smith a polygamist by Elder Heman C. Smith / no. 26, 1899; America's First Department Store; The University Pen, Winter 1938; Auerbach Company celebrating seventy-five years of progress, 1939; and SUP news / Official publication of National Society, Sons of Utah Pioneers, Special Sugar House issue, volume 3, 1956 December.
Plates and Etchings
20
Copper plate of Daniel H. Wells and ETching of "Our Old Corner Home".
Seldon Clawson
Correspondence
11
22-23
Related to Seldon Clawson inventions, 1919-1929 [photocopies].
Seldon Clawson: miscellaneous materials
1947-1948
11
24
Includes notes; and index.
Seldon Clawson Inventions and Patents
1906-1943
17
1-2
Seldon Clawson Invention and Patent Options and Agreements
1912-1925
17
3
Seldon Clawson Miscellaneous Invention and Patent Papers
1917-1941
17
4-5
Seldon Clawson Record Book
1914-1918
17
6
Seldon Clawson Metal Extraction Certificates
1913-1915
17
7
Seldon Clawson Metal Extraction Minute Book
1906-1912
17
8