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Dr. William H. Hopkins addendum

 Collection
Identifier: UUS_P0360

Scope and Contents

The Hopkins addendum consists of 1551 original negatives taken between 1918 and 1939 from southern and northern Utah by Dr. William H. Hopkins. Southern Utah images include Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks, Cedar Breaks National Monument, Monument Valley, Tuba City (AZ), St. George, Ruby's Inn at Bryce Canyon, and Dixie National Forest. Other images in the collection include Salt Lake City and Provo, Wasatch Mountain Club hikes, Bear Lake, ski jumping, downhill skiing in Brighton and Bingham. A later accrual added various items gathered by a longtime neighbor, Phil Garn, including correspondence and postcards, a botanical sketchbook, and several news articles related to the Monumental Highway. Caution: Also included are photocopies of images that depict torture and execution, known as Lingchi, or Death by a Thousand Cuts.

Dates

  • Creation: 1916-1958

Conditions Governing Access

Nitrate negatives require 24 hours notice in order to access. No other restrictions on access, except: not available through interlibrary loan.

Conditions Governing Use

It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances.

Permission to publish material from the Dr. William H. Hopkins addendum must be obtained from the Photograph curator and/or the Special Collections Section Head.

Biographical / Historical

William H. Hopkins (1873-1958) was a dentist and tourism booster in Salt Lake City in the 1910s and 1920s. In 1917 he encouraged federal appropriations to build a "Monumental Highway" which would run from Bluff to St. George and from St. George through Monument Valley to the Grand Canyon. In 1920 he wrote articles in the Salt Lake newspapers promoting Fish Lake near Richfield. In the 1920s he was active with the Wasatch Mountain Club where he organized hikes and skiing trips for young men and women. Hopkins was an early proponent for downhill skiing in the state and many of the photos are from the Park City, Brighton, and Bingham ski areas. Hopkins as well promoted the national parks and monuments of Southern Utah.

Extent

5.5 Linear Feet (9 boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

This collection consists of 1551 original negatives and prints taken between 1918 and 1939 from southern and northern Utah by Dr. William H. Hopkins. Also includes various correspondence, documents, and articles.

Arrangement

Original descriptions were very general, but the original numbering system has been maintained.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The main images (numbered 0001-1781) were acquired by Mr. J. Harold Excell from friends of Hopkins. They were purchased from Excell and Orrin Schwab in 2007. At the time of purchase, 200 images were also acquired by the University of Utah Special Collections (P1549). The remaining materials were donated to USU Special Collections and Archives in 2020 by Phil Garn.

Existence and Location of Originals

Original nitrate negatives are located in cold storage boxes 30-44.

Related Materials

William H. Hopkins photograph collection, P0319

Dolph Andrus photograph collection, P0542

E.B. Olesen photograph collection, P0318

Processing Information

This collection was originally processed in April 2011, revised in November 2012, and updated to include materials in box 8.

Title
Guide to the Dr. William H. Hopkins addendum
Author
Finding aid created by Heather Housley and Daniel Davis
Date
2025
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Revision Statements

  • 2025: Creation of resource record from already existing EAD.

Repository Details

Part of the Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections & Archives Repository

Contact:
Merrill-Cazier Library
Utah State University
3000 Old Main Hill
Logan Utah 84322-3000 United States
435 797-8248
435 797-2880 (Fax)