Governor Matheson Constituent correspondence, 1972-1983.

This series includes letters to the Governor's office from Utah citizens and others who are presenting their opinions on various topics (some of which are controversial), requesting action by the Governor or the State on various issues or situations, or simply requesting information or souvenir items from the Governor's office. In addition to the incoming letters, this series includes responses from the Governor's office and detailed written telephone messages from the Governor's HOTLINE telephone system. Various issues represented in this correspondence include the controversy over the Oral and Total Communications programs at the Utah School for the Deaf in Ogden, energy shortages and energy assistance payments, welfare, the Equal Rights Amendment and International Women's Year, possible closure of the Geneva Steel industrial plant, highway safety, Medicaid and Medicare, and, especially notable from 1979-1981, income and property taxes. Topics listed in the series description as astate agency most often contains correspondence that was referred to that division, department, or agency for either a direct reply or a draft of a reply for the Governor's signature.

The Governor responds to much of the correspondence and often his response has been scripted by the state agency appropriate to the complaint or request. In addition, a significant portion of the outgoing correspondence in this series was written and signed on behalf of the Governor by his office staff. Staff represented in this series includes the administrative assistant for constituent services, Dolly G. Young; administrative aide, Anna Marie Marchesi; executive assistant, Michael N. Graham; administrative assistant for constituent services, Beth S. Jarman; administrative assistant for constituent services, Sherry Bassett; administrative assistant for community relations, Julia Fowler Biebau; and administrative assistant for media relations, Michael Youngren.