Briant H. Stringham papers
Scope and Contents
The Brian H. Stringham Collection is contained in twenty-five boxes. Processing of the papers was undertaken in large part by Jeff Smith. In organizing the material a topical arrangement was chosen to provide easy access to its information. All correspondence not directly related to a topical category was compiled as a separate category titled "General Correspondence." As with the topical arrangement, the correspondence is organized alphabetically and chronologically.
Photographs, other than those permanently attached in scrapbooks, were removed from the manuscript collection and can be found in collection P0365.
Dates
- 1940-1980
Language of Materials
Collection materials are in English.
Restrictions
Open to public research.
Copyright
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 Briant H. Stringham papers must be obtained from the Special Collections Manuscript Curator and/or the Special Collections Department Head.
Biographical Note
Stockman, conservationist, and reclamation advocate, B. H. "Bry" Stringham was born in the Ashley Valley (Vernal) of Utah Territory on April , 1889 to Philip and Caroline Crouch Stringham. As biographer L. Don LeFerve remarked, "though his birth went all but unnoticed" by those outside his immediate family, Bry's life-time accomplishments and leadership would one day "leave a significant mark on the community, the valley, and the state" in which he lived.
B. H. Stringham received his early education from the LDS Church operated Uinta Stake Academy at Vernal. Afterward he attended Brigham Young University in Provo. There he trained for a teaching position and, graduating in 1912, accepted a post in Storrs, Utah. He spent three years in this small Carbon County mining town. At the end of this tenure, he returned to the Ashley Valley to join his brother in the sheep business. Vernal became his permanent residence and stock raising his life-long career.
His chosen vocation did not restrict his other interests, however. He devoted much of his life to public service. His political achievement include four terms as a legislator in the Utah House of Representatives, two terms as state senator and four terms as mayor of Vernal.
Stringham's civic contributions were not limited to elected offices. He was a member of the Board of Trustees for Utah State University; a member of the Board of Regents for the University of Utah; a member of the Board of Directors for the Utah State University Development Fund; and a member of the Vernal Lions Club and the Vernal Rod and Gun Club.
In addition, he was President, Vice-President, and Director of the Utah Wool Grower's Association; Chairman of the Bureau of Land Management's State Advisory Board; a member of the Bureau of Land Management's National Advisory Board; and a member of the Board of Directors, Central Utah Water Conservancy District.
As a conservationist, B. H. Stringham aided in the passage of the Taylor Grazing Act legislation and other national grazing laws. His cooperation with the Bureau of Land Management facilitated the construction of fourteen stock-watering reservoirs on the range land of northeastern Utah. Overall his contribution to range improvement programs in Utah merited him the Bridger Award, an honor bestowed by Utah State University for outstanding work in the field of conservation.
As an advocate of reclamation in the West; B. H. Stringham was instrumental in the development of the monumental Colorado River Storage Project. He also played a significant role in the development of the Central Utah Project, and offered his assistance to the plans of such groups as the Colorado River Development Association, the Central Utah Water Conservancy District, the Upper Colorado River Commission, the Colorado River Water Users Association, the Uinta Water Conservancy District, and the Utah Water and Power Board.
On March 30, 1908, B. H. Stringham married Delpha Rolfe, but the marriage quickly ended in divorce. He later married Catherine Chipman of American Fork, Utah, in 1912. Their marriage of fifty-three years ended with her sudden death in 1965. In 1966, he remarried to Lottie Ward Hickenlooper. He passed away on July 13, 1983 at the age of ninety-four.
Extent
23 boxes, 6 scrapbooks, 14 framed items (14 linear ft.)
Abstract
Primarily correspondence and subject files. Includes materials relating to Stringham's political career as a Utah legislator and mayor of Vernal, Utah; material concerning water conservationist issues and projects, including the Central Utah Project, Colorado River Storage Project, and the Echo Park Dam controversy; political speeches; meeting minutes from the Uintah Water Conservancy District Board of Directors meetings; and materials concerning the Wool Growers Association. Also includes diaries, sheep business materials, and memorabilia.
Arrangement
Subject files have a topical arrangement; the correspondence is organized alphabetically and chronologically.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Briant H. Stringham, 1979.
- Central Utah Water Conservancy District (Utah)
- Echo Park Dam (Colo.)
- Mayors--Utah--Vernal--Archives.
- Politicians--Utah--Archives.
- Ranching
- Sheep industry--Utah.
- Uintah Water Conservancy District (Utah)
- Utah--Politics and government.
- Vernal (Utah)--Politics and government.
- Water resources development--Utah.
- Title
- Guide to the Briant H. Stringham papers 1940-1980
- Author
- Finding aid created by Special Collections and Archives.
- Date
- ©2008
- Description rules
- Finding Aid Based On Dacs (Describing Archives: A Content Standard)
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding guide is in English in Latin script.
- Sponsor
- Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant, 2007-2008
Revision Statements
- 2009: Template information was updated to reflect Archives West best pratice guidelines
- July 10, 2014: Four items were added to the collection, two certificates and two plaques.
Repository Details
Part of the Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections & Archives Repository
Merrill-Cazier Library
Utah State University
3000 Old Main Hill
Logan Utah 84322-3000 United States
435 797-8248
435 797-2880 (Fax)
scweb@usu.edu