Series 2941

Governor Spry Joseph Hillstrom correspondence, 1914-1916.

1.35 cubic feet and 3 microfilm reels

These records are housed in the Utah State Archives' permanent storage room.

Historical Note

See history of the records' creator.

Summary of Records

As chief executive officer of the state, the governor has the authority to commute the sentences of those convicted of crimes. The conviction and execution of Joseph Hillstrom (Joe Hill) became one of the most controversial criminal cases in Utah history; it generated national and international interest. Correspondence is in the form of letters, postcards, and telegrams. Letters were sent to Governor Spry's office protesting the execution and/or conviction of Hill for the gunshot murders of J.S. Morrison and his son Arling.

Scope and Content

As chief executive officer of the state, Governor Spry had the authority to commute the sentences of those convicted of crimes. The conviction and execution of Joseph Hillstrom (Joe Hill) became one of the most controversial criminal cases in Utah history; it generated national and international interest. Letters were sent to Governor Spry's office protesting the execution and/or conviction of Hill for the gunshot murders of grocer J.S. Morrison and his son Arling. Spry was also commended for supporting the conviction and execution of Hill; he was praised for making a courageous stand for justice and for law and order. Correspondence is in the form of letters, postcards, and telegrams.
Although the correspondence defending Hill varied somewhat, the following views were typical: he was innocent; he had an unfair trial; he had jurors who were selected unfairly; he received inadequate counsel; he lacked a motive for the crime; and he was convicted on circumstantial evidence. Many of theletters were from labor unions or members, including Eugene Debs, who felt Hill was being railroaded because of his connections with the labor movement. Replies, to some of the correspondence, from the Governor's Office stated that the communication was filed with the State Board of Pardons who were responsible for granting pardons and commutations; it also stated that a copy of the decision reached by the Supreme Court in the appeal was enclosed.
There is correspondence between President Woodrow Wilson and Governor Spry. A Swedish Minister made an appeal on behalf of Joe Hill, who was a Swedish citizen, to Governor Spry and to President Woodrow Wilson. The President then requested that Governor Spry postpone the execution; Spry granted the request. When Wilson requested a second postponement, the Governor refused and Hill was executed by a firing squad on November 19, 1915.
Several letters offered Governor Spry protection and investigation services. Some were from individuals,others were from agencies. Other miscellaneous letters were simply requests for information, requests for payment of reward or funeral services, religious messagess, etc. Virtually all the correspondence is between 1914 and early 1916; there is one letter as late as 1917 from a woman who thought Joe Hill was in prison and wanted to obtain him as farm labor.

Research Note

Four letters in the anonymous section are included there because the second page of the letters could not be located. Occasionally there is a response to a letter for which the original correspondence is not present.

Arrangement

Alphabetical by surname, thereunder chronological by date.

Additional Forms

This series is available on microfilm.
This series is available online as part of the Utah State Archives Digital Archives.

Access Restrictions

This series is classified as Public.

Use Restrictions

These records are available for reproduction and use.

Preferred Citation

Cite the Utah State Archives and Records Service, the creating agency name, the series title, and the series number.

Custody History

The bulk of the series was transferred to the Archives from the Office of the Governor in 1955.

Acquisition Information

These records were acquired from the creating agency through established retention schedules.

Processing Information

The bulk of the series was transferred to the Archives from the Office of the Governor in 1955. Items commending Governor Spry for the stand he took were received, by the Archives, from the Historical Society in 1989. The series has been repeatedly reorganized. Enclosures and responses have been restored to the correspondence to which they pertain. Undated correspondence, unless a response or enclosure, appears at the end of each alphabet letter. Microfilming of the correspondence occurred during 1992. Archival processing was completed during 1991.

Related Material

Gary Gilmore scrapbooks from the Supreme Court,
, provides information on how the capital punishment issue has been viewed historically.

Container List

ReelBoxFolderDescription
111Swedish Minister's and President Woodrow Wilson's Requests for Postponements of Execution and Spry's Reactions
112Commendations of Governor Spry and his Replies, A-B
113C-D
114E-F
115G-H
116I-K
117L-M
118N-P
119Q-S
1110T-W
1111Offers of Investigation, Information, or Protection
1112Protests against the Execution and/or Conviction of Joe Hill; A: July, Sept. 1914; Aug.-Sept. 1915
1113A: Oct.-Nov. 16, 1915; n.d.
1114Anonymous
1115B: July-Aug. 1914; Jan.-Aug. 1915
1116B: Sept. 1-15, 1915
1117B: Sept. 16-30, 1915
1118B: Oct.-Nov. 17, 1915
1119C: Aug.-Sept. 1914; July-Sept. 15, 1915
1120C: Sept. 16-30, 1915
1121C: Oct.-Nov. 15, 1915
1122D: July-Aug 1914; July-Sept. 15, 1915
1123D: Sept. 16-Nov. 17, 1915; n.d.
1124E
2125F: Aug. 1914; Apr.-Sept. 15, 1915
2126F: Sept. 16-Nov. 17, 1915; n.d.
2127G: Aug. 1914; Aug.-Sept. 15, 1915
2128G: Sept. 16-Nov. 17, 1915; n.d.
2129H: July-Sept. 1914; Mar.-Sept. 15, 1915
2130H: Sept 16-30, 1915
2131H: Oct.-Dec. 1915; n.d.
2132I
2133J: Aug. 1914; Aug.-Sept. 1915
2134J: Oct-Nov. 16, 1915; n.d.
2135K: Aug., Oct. 1914; Aug.-Sept. 20, 1915
2136K: Sept. 21-Nov. 18, 1915; n.d.
2137L: July-Aug. 1914; May-Sept. 1915
2138L: Oct.-Nov. 1915
2139M: July-Aug., Nov. 1914; Mar.-Sept. 15, 1915
2140M: Sept. 16-30, 1915
2141M: Oct.-Nov. 1915; n.d.
2142N
2143O
2144Organizations, no contact individual
2145P: July-Aug. 1914; July-Sept. 15, 1915
2146P: Sept. 16-30, 1915
2147P: Oct.-Nov. 15, 1915; n.d.
2148Q
2149R: Aug.-Sept. 1914; July -Sept. 20, 1915
3150R: Sept. 21-Nov. 17, 1915; n.d.
3151S: Aug.-Sept. 1914; July-Sept. 15, 1915
3152S: Sept. 16-24, 1915
3153S: Sept. 25-30, 1915
321S: Oct.-Nov. 18, 1915; n.d.
322T: Aug. 1914; Aug.-Sept. 15, 1915
323T: Sept. 16-Nov. 16, 1915; n.d.
324U
325V
326W: Aug.-Sept. 1914; Aug. 1-Sept. 15, 1915
327W: Sept. 16-30, 1915
328W: Oct.-Nov. 17, 1915; n.d.
329Y
3210Z
3211Miscellaneous