Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition Commission

Entity: 581
Entity Type: State Government

Abstract

Pursuant to a concurrent resolution adopted by both Houses of the Fourth Legislature of the State of Utah, and approved March 14th, 1901, his Excellency Heber M. Wells appointed a commission of three members to represent the State of Utah in all matters in connection with the proposed Lewis and Clark Centennial and American Pacific Exposition and Oriental Fair to be held in the City of Portland, Oregon, during 1905, and especially to recommend to the Fifth General Assembly what, if any, appropriation should be made in order that Utah should be creditably represented at said Exposition. Creation of the Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition was authorized to make a display of Utah's Resources at the Lewis and Clark Centennial and American Pacific Exposition and Oriental Fair at Portland, Oregon, June 1 through October 14, 1905. The exhibit was intended to advertise the resources of the state. The original legislation was repealed and replaced by a new act in 1905. After meeting for the final time on January 24, 1906, the committee was dissolved.

Biography/History Notes

The commission was given power to devise and execute plans for the display of exhibits to represent the resources and advantages of the state, including authorization to provide a suitable building. Exhbits used at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition in St. Louis in 1904 were to be made available for use at the Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition in Portland.

The law creating the commission provided that the governor shall serve as ex-officio chairman. Other officers included a treasurer, appointed from among the members of the commission, and a secretary.

The commission was composed of the chairman (Governor Heber M. Wells) and four members appointed by the governor, by and with the advice and consent of the senate. Vacancies were to be filled by the governor. Members included General H. B. Clawson, George P. Holman, A. B. Lewis, and Fred T. Kiesel. Holman was named treasurer. Holman and Clawson constituted a committee on transportation.?The first meeting of the commission was held March 27, 1903, conjointly with a similar commission charged with creating an exhibit of the state's resources at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition to be held at St. Louis in 1904. It was decided to share office expenses and salary of the secretary.?Immediately after the repeal of the original legislation, commissioners placed their resignations in the hands of Governor John C. Cutler, who had been elected in the meantime. These resignations were accepted and the appointment under the new law of new commissioners followed. New commissioners included: F. W. Fishburn, Rudolph Kuchler, Web Greene, and Wesley K. Walton. The new commissioners qualified by taking the oath of office on March 25, 1905. Elected officers included: Cutler, ex-officio chairman; Walton, vice chairman; and Rudolph Kuchler, treasurer. At subsequent meetings, commissioners elected M. F. Cunningham, secretary; Spencer Clawson, manager; L. A. Ostien, director of educational exhibits; R. H. Bradford, director of mineral exhibits; Thomas Judd, director of horticultural and agricultural exhibits; Miss Elizabeth Orth, assistant director of educational exhibits; Lester H. Walton, Miss Bertie Madsen, Miss Ada Mack, and A. H. Chambers, attendants at the Utah state building at the exposition at Portland.

Hierarchy

Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition Commission