Series 2941
Governor Spry Joseph Hillstrom correspondence
Dates: 1914-1916.
1.35 cubic feet and 3 microfilm reels
These records are housed in the Utah State Archives' permanent storage room.
Historical Note
An agency history is available.
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.
Gaps in Series
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.
Images Available
This series is available online as part of the Utah State Archives Digital Archives.
Access Restrictions
This series is designated as Public.
Reproduction and Use
These records are available for reproduction and use.
Related Records
Gary Gilmore scrapbooks from the Supreme Court, Series 26075, provides information on how the capital punishment issue has been viewed historically.
Indexing Terms
Hill, Joe--1879-1915--Trials, litigation, etc.
Morrison, J.S.
Morrison, Arling.
Utah. Governor (1909-1916 : Spry)--Decision making.
Industrial Workers of the World.
Murder--Utah.
Executions and executioners--Utah.
Criminals--Utah.
Labor movement--Utah.
United States. President (1913-1921 : Wilson).
| REEL | BOX | FOLDER | DESCRIPTION |
| 1 | 1 | 1 | Swedish Minister's and President Woodrow Wilson's Requests for Postponements of Execution and Spry's Reactions |
| 1 | 1 | 2 | Commendations of Governor Spry and his Replies, A-B |
| 1 | 1 | 3 | C-D |
| 1 | 1 | 4 | E-F |
| 1 | 1 | 5 | G-H |
| 1 | 1 | 6 | I-K |
| 1 | 1 | 7 | L-M |
| 1 | 1 | 8 | N-P |
| 1 | 1 | 9 | Q-S |
| 1 | 1 | 10 | T-W |
| 1 | 1 | 11 | Offers of Investigation, Information, or Protection |
| 1 | 1 | 12 | Protests against the Execution and/or Conviction of Joe Hill; A: July, Sept. 1914; Aug.-Sept. 1915 |
| 1 | 1 | 13 | A: Oct.-Nov. 16, 1915; n.d. |
| 1 | 1 | 14 | Anonymous |
| 1 | 1 | 15 | B: July-Aug. 1914; Jan.-Aug. 1915 |
| 1 | 1 | 16 | B: Sept. 1-15, 1915 |
| 1 | 1 | 17 | B: Sept. 16-30, 1915 |
| 1 | 1 | 18 | B: Oct.-Nov. 17, 1915 |
| 1 | 1 | 19 | C: Aug.-Sept. 1914; July-Sept. 15, 1915 |
| 1 | 1 | 20 | C: Sept. 16-30, 1915 |
| 1 | 1 | 21 | C: Oct.-Nov. 15, 1915 |
| 1 | 1 | 22 | D: July-Aug 1914; July-Sept. 15, 1915 |
| 1 | 1 | 23 | D: Sept. 16-Nov. 17, 1915; n.d. |
| 1 | 1 | 24 | E |
| 2 | 1 | 25 | F: Aug. 1914; Apr.-Sept. 15, 1915 |
| 2 | 1 | 26 | F: Sept. 16-Nov. 17, 1915; n.d. |
| 2 | 1 | 27 | G: Aug. 1914; Aug.-Sept. 15, 1915 |
| 2 | 1 | 28 | G: Sept. 16-Nov. 17, 1915; n.d. |
| 2 | 1 | 29 | H: July-Sept. 1914; Mar.-Sept. 15, 1915 |
| 2 | 1 | 30 | H: Sept 16-30, 1915 |
| 2 | 1 | 31 | H: Oct.-Dec. 1915; n.d. |
| 2 | 1 | 32 | I |
| 2 | 1 | 33 | J: Aug. 1914; Aug.-Sept. 1915 |
| 2 | 1 | 34 | J: Oct-Nov. 16, 1915; n.d. |
| 2 | 1 | 35 | K: Aug., Oct. 1914; Aug.-Sept. 20, 1915 |
| 2 | 1 | 36 | K: Sept. 21-Nov. 18, 1915; n.d. |
| 2 | 1 | 37 | L: July-Aug. 1914; May-Sept. 1915 |
| 2 | 1 | 38 | L: Oct.-Nov. 1915 |
| 2 | 1 | 39 | M: July-Aug., Nov. 1914; Mar.-Sept. 15, 1915 |
| 2 | 1 | 40 | M: Sept. 16-30, 1915 |
| 2 | 1 | 41 | M: Oct.-Nov. 1915; n.d. |
| 2 | 1 | 42 | N |
| 2 | 1 | 43 | O |
| 2 | 1 | 44 | Organizations, no contact individual |
| 2 | 1 | 45 | P: July-Aug. 1914; July-Sept. 15, 1915 |
| 2 | 1 | 46 | P: Sept. 16-30, 1915 |
| 2 | 1 | 47 | P: Oct.-Nov. 15, 1915; n.d. |
| 2 | 1 | 48 | Q |
| 2 | 1 | 49 | R: Aug.-Sept. 1914; July -Sept. 20, 1915 |
| 3 | 1 | 50 | R: Sept. 21-Nov. 17, 1915; n.d. |
| 3 | 1 | 51 | S: Aug.-Sept. 1914; July-Sept. 15, 1915 |
| 3 | 1 | 52 | S: Sept. 16-24, 1915 |
| 3 | 1 | 53 | S: Sept. 25-30, 1915 |
| 3 | 2 | 1 | S: Oct.-Nov. 18, 1915; n.d. |
| 3 | 2 | 2 | T: Aug. 1914; Aug.-Sept. 15, 1915 |
| 3 | 2 | 3 | T: Sept. 16-Nov. 16, 1915; n.d. |
| 3 | 2 | 4 | U |
| 3 | 2 | 5 | V |
| 3 | 2 | 6 | W: Aug.-Sept. 1914; Aug. 1-Sept. 15, 1915 |
| 3 | 2 | 7 | W: Sept. 16-30, 1915 |
| 3 | 2 | 8 | W: Oct.-Nov. 17, 1915; n.d. |
| 3 | 2 | 9 | Y |
| 3 | 2 | 10 | Z |
| 3 | 2 | 11 | Miscellaneous |