Zion Canyon Diary, 1925 June 19-1959 September 21

File — Box: 3, Volume: 12

Identifier: II

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This diary is a paperback notebook. The entries are very brief (one or two lines) and appear at irregular intervals. The handwriting is legible in pencil or ink. During the period covered in the diary Dr. Woodbury was Park Naturalist at Zion National Park. Each summer Woodbury lived in the park, at first in a tent and later in a cabin. He spent his days "Botanizing"--collecting specimens of the local flora and fauna and preparing them for display. He also collected relics from the pioneer period. All of these interpretive materials were kept in his living quarters which served both as home and public museum. Later, the Park Service constructed a more suitable museum facility. Woodbury often escorted groups of "dudes" through the park, pointing out the scenic areas. In the evenings Woodbury lectured on the spectacular canyon to the gathered tourists. On several occasions Woodbury invited guest lecturers to speak, often leading scientists and government officials who were visiting the area. In the fall, Dr. Woodbury carefully packed away his specimens and returned to St. George or Cedar City where he taught school.

19 June, 1925. Woodbury arrived in Zion Canyon, made camp and began to collect specimens.
20 June. "Went with Supervisor Evans, Pres't Ivins, and a Congressional delegation (Congressman Bailey of Michigan, Burton of Ohio, Crampton of Iowa, and _____________ of Arizona) up the west rim trail as far as the slick rock... In the afternoon, we all made a trip to the temple of Sinawava and up to the narrows. Hull, U. S. Park Service architect and Randall Jones & Dr. Mathis Demoreaux also in the party."
27 July. Arthur Chapman, author of Out Where the West Begins and Rufus Steele, a writer for the Saturday Evening Post, lectured in the evening.
28 July. Woodbury discussed "nature work" with Henry Irving Dodge. Later Dodge, Randall Jones and Mr. Leason gave lectures.
19 August. Dr. Harshberger of the University of Pennsylvania visited the Park.
20 August. Dr. Ries of Cornell University visited.
27 August. Several visiting digitaries spoke, including Stephen T. Mather, Director of the Park Service and Congressman Temple.
9 September. "Idona Jackson, Lucile Worthen, and Dixie Woodbury have been singing trios for these meetings all summer and at this final meeting they sang 6 times being encored heartily. They are also leaving tomorrow and their music has helped to make the lecture work so successful."
30 June 1926. Woodbury returned to Zion Canyon.
10 July. "I was detailed today to police duty at the lodge handling traffic on account of arrival of HRH The Crown Prince of Sweden. Also made arrangements for program this evening. Reception arranged for Crown Prince but he did not come."
11 July. "A memorable day--my 40th birthday--I went with H.R.H. The Crown Prince of Sweden and party up the west rim trail with instructions from Mr. Evans to keep with the Prince so I 'hobnobbed' with Royalty for a day talking about the geology, trees and flowers." Later, the Prince came to Woodbury's cabin to see a gila monster specimen. Woodbury agreed to send the Prince seeds of native plants.
12 July. Woodbury and the Crown Prince visited the fossil fish beds.
13 July. "Gave my first illustrated lecture on History of Zion (70 people)."
3 August. "Evening gave lecture on History and Mr. Stanley of Detroit talked on narcotics."
19 August. Professor A. P. Ay of Buffalo University visited.
3 September. Mr. Wheeler of the New York Botanical Gardens visited.
10 September. Woodbury left Zion Canyon for the season.
27 May, 1927. Woodbury returned to the Park for another season as naturalist.
1 June. The official opening day of the season.
28 June. Park personnel searched for W. H. W. Evans of Pasadena, California who was missing after attempting to climb the Great White Throne. "Five of us went up to near the Grotto, put up a ladder and scaled the worst place and dropped a rope down below and Barney Gifford followed. The rest would not come." Unable to find the lost climber, the rangers returned.
29 June. The search for the missing man resumed. The rangers traced his tracks to Deertrap Mt. "where we thought no human would possibly have gone." One of the rangers "reported finding him [Evans] where he had slid off the slope of the Throne. We hurried across the canyon...and helped carry him out of the canyon to the horses where we put him on a horse with a man behind to hold him on and started for the trail. Others arrived and we reached the bottom about 10 p.m."
5 August. "I went to Springdale & got some pioneer relics from F. G. Gifford."
7 August. "In St. George gathering up pioneer relics, etc. at Will Atkins, Eph Terry."
8 August. "Went through granary of Eleanor Jarvis and got a load of relics and drove over to La Verkin where I went into tunnel and got some fossil plants."
11 August. "Made out card record of scientists of interest to the park."
13 August. "Russell and I ...went to Grafton and gathered up some pioneer relics."
22 August. "Spent the day in Cedar. Took oral part of Civil Service exam for Park Naturalist. In evening took train for Salt Lake."
23 August. "Arrived in Salt Lake this morning, had to lay over till evening. Went up to University and spent the day with Prof. Chamberlin. we drove down to Provo to visit V. M. Tanner. Returned & took train for Yellowstone."
24 August. Woodbury arrived in Yellowstone National Park for a series of meetings on the naturalist program. "Rode in to Mammoth. Took trip over formations with Gibbon, visited with Miss Lindsley in the museum and listened to Frehling's lecture and one other both general."
25 August. "Rode over to Old Faithful. Took trip over formations and then Miss Albertson's nature trip. Listened to Martindale's lecture on Bears an then part of lecture at Camp ground on geology."
26 August. "Took Dolliver's trip over the Blank Sand basin... Saw the grizzly bears feed (7)."
27 August. "Rode bus over to Canyon then over to Camp Roosevelt. Met head ranger naturalist...In evening went out with Hitchings to beaver ponds and then to his lecture on birds."
28 August. "Rode in with Marsh to Mammoth."
30 August. "Visited with Mr. Albright, Haynes, Sawyer, Lindsley and others."
11 September. "Went down to Atkinville with Bill Atkin to get pioneer relics. In afternoon went to Eleanor Jarvis' Granary for more relics."
12 September. "Finished getting relics at Jarvis' and helped Ruesch load a truck with them."
20 September. Woodbury left the park for the season.
8 June, 1928. Woodbury returned to Zion Canyon and moved into the new information office.
14 July. "In office, fixing up a bundle of plants (64) to send to Smithsonian Institution for identification."
3 August. "Edwards (Engineer) and I went over a proposed route for a trail to Lower Emerald Pool."
7 August. Woodbury "planned program to entertain the large tour of the American Bar Association, 300 strong."
15 August. "Heavy rain--water falls. 7 in. in 18 min."
18 August. "Went to Rockville & Springdale gathering pioneer relics. Got a lot of interesting things."
13 September. "Big special meeting--250. Mather, Gary (Carl R.), & Ivins gave short extemporaneous talks after a stunt by Scoyen and an old timer."
14 September. "Went with the tour of 200 of the lending financial leaders of the west to Grand Canyon via Kanab at noon. A. W. Ivins was principal speaker of the evening."
15 September. "Went with the bus tour to Cape Royal, stopping on the way at the head of the Kaibab trail across Grand Canyon for the dedication ceremonies. Went down to Cliff Springs to Angel Window & Cape Royal. In the evening, attended the dedication ceremonies of the new million dollar U. P. Lodge."
16 September. "Went with the tour to Bryce Canyon & attended the dedication ceremonies for Bryce National Park."
20 September. "Went with Director Mather, Supt. Scoyen, & Ranger Jolley & Dave Deminett to the Cliff ruins in Parunuweap Canyon."
1 June, 1919. Woodbury returned to Zion Canyon.
29 June. "Chief Naturalist Hall & party arrived last night & we started his boy scouts to work restore cliff dwellers ruins..."
30 August-16 September. George Grant, National Park Service photographer spent several weeks photographing Zion Canyon.
6 September. "Dellenbaugh gave the lecture tonight. Very interesting."

Dates

1925 June 19-1959 September 21

Conditions Governing Access

Twenty-four hour advanced notice encouraged. Materials must be used on-site. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.