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Henry L. A. Culmer letters, writings, and ephemera, approximately 1874-1911

 Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 8787 Series 2

Scope and Contents

Letterpress copybook includes an index and Culmer's business and general correspondence. Correspondence regards Culmer's work as a mining agent, with accompanying maps; his efforts to publish a tourism book; and his efforts to write a biography of John T. Cutting of Chicago in 1875. This copybook also includes poetry and newspaper submissions. Dated approximately 1874-1878. Culmer's scrapbook contains newspaper clippings of pieces written about by or about Culmer. Also includes many pieces of ephemera including rare Utah Art Association programs and exhibit lists. Dated approximately 1876-1911.

Dates

  • approximately 1874-1911

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Condition restricted. Permission to use materials must be obtained from the Supervisor of Reference Services.

Conditions Governing Use

It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances. Permission to publish material from the Henry L. A. Culmer papers must be obtained from the Supervisor of Reference Services and/or the L. Tom Perry Special Collections Coordinating Committee.

Biographical History

From the Collection:

Henry L. A. Culmer (1854-1914) was a renowned painter of the Utah wilderness and natural wonders in general.

Henry "Harry" Lavender Adolphus Culmer was born on March 25, 1854, in Darington, Kent, England. While young he apprencticed at a print shop. Converted to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Culmer immigrated to Utah in 1868. He married Susan Annette Wells. He graduated from the University of Deseret (now University of Utah) and studied with painters Alfred Lambourne, Reuben Kirkham, and Thomas Moan in the 1870's. Culmer was a painter of landscapes, panoramas, and rock formations. He was the first professional painter to depict the Alaskan interior and the Natural Bridges in and much of Southern Utah. His paintings played a significant role in promotion and early economic progress of the West. Culmer was an entrepreneur, developer of natural resources, miner, civic leader, playwright and lyricist, editor, and amateur geologist and naturalist. Culmer was also the first president of the Salt Lake Rotary and first president of the Utah Art Institute. His son Henry Wells Culmer is a less notable landscape painter. Culmer died in Salt Lake City in 1914.

Extent

2 items

Language of Materials

English

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