Edward Girard Hale papers

Collection

Identifier: MS 0653

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Edward Girard Hale papers contains genealogical information concerning the Armstrong and Hale families. It is a good source for learning about the Hale family in particular. It provides information on the architecture of Salt Lake City, due to the presence of a number of documents documenting the life and work of Frederick Albert Hale, a prominent local architect at the turn of the century. The collection also provides information on Hale's son, Girard Van Barkaloo Hale, an artist who was Edward Girard Hale's uncle.

Records of the Francis Armstrong family are in box 1. These include photocopies of portrait photographs, pedigree charts, biographies, correspondence, estate records, and other documents concerning this family. Records of the Hale family, and especially the records concerning the history of Frederick Albert Hale, are housed in boxes 2-5. Present are genealogical records, additional portraits, news clippings and articles regarding Frederick Hale, a diary, and additional documents. Boxes 6 and 7 contain documents, including biographical articles and news clippings, and artwork regarding Girard Van Barkaloo Hale, a prominent artist in Utah and California.

Dates

1851-1997

Creator

Hale, Edward Girard, 1914- (Person)

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.

Conditions Governing Use

The library does not claim to control copyright for all materials in the collection. An individual depicted in a reproduction has privacy rights as outlined in Title 45 CFR, part 46 (Protection of Human Subjects). For further information, please review the J. Willard Marriott Library’s Use Agreement and Reproduction Request forms.

Biographical / Historical

As the last male descendant of the Hale Family, Edward Girard Hale collected information about his prominent ancestors. As a result, his papers include information about his relatives, but very little about himself. He was born in 1914 to Edward Lincoln Hale and Maybelle Bean Hale. His father died in 1915, and he was raised by his mother and grandmother. He graduated from the University of Southern California in 1938, and practiced as an oral Surgeon in Salt Lake City for 46 years. He had two important grandfathers: Francis Armstrong and Frederick Albert Hale; and a well-known uncle: Girard Van Barkaloo Hale.

Francis Armstrong was born in England in 1839, the son of William and Mary Kirk Armstrong. In 1851 his family emigrated to Canada. Francis left for the United States in 1858. He worked in a sawmill in Missouri until he learned about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In 1861 he moved to Utah, where he worked hauling wood from Millcreek Canyon, then at Brigham Young's flour mill at Parley's Canyon, then at a lumber mill. He purchased the lumber mill after several years, which began his success in business. By 1869 he had a partnership with Latimer, Taylor, Folsom, and Romney. They built stores and homes in Salt Lake City. By 1881 the firm was called Taylor, Romney, Armstrong Co. Armstrong was elected to the Common Council in 1878, then elected Mayor of Salt Lake City in 1886. In 1896 he was elected Commissioner. He played a large role in bringing a more modern lifestyle to Salt Lake City, such as his success in bringing the first electric cars to the city. In 1864, he married to Isabelle Siddoway, with whom he had twelve children. He married Sarah Carruth in 1870, and she had six children. Francis Armstrong died in 1899.

Frederick Albert Hale was born in New York in 1855. He was married to Mary Elizabeth O'Grady in 1882. The Hales had four children: Edyth Mae, Girard Van Barkaloo, Frederick Albert Jr., and Edward Lincoln. (Edward Lincoln died in 1915, when his son, Edward Girard was one year old.) Frederick Hale was educated at Cornell, and began his architecture career in Denver in 1880. In 1890 he moved to Salt Lake City to build the Commercial National Bank. He became a prominent local architect, who designed more than thirty structures. At one time there were more than ten mansions along South Temple that were designed by Frederick Hale. Among the ones still standing are the David Keith mansion, the O. J. Salisbury mansion, and the Nelden house. Included among the buildings he designed are the Alta Club, the Elks Club, the Eagles Club, and the First United Methodist Church. In addition to his reputation as an architect, Hale was also an accomplished golfer and singer. He died in 1934.

Girard Van Barkaloo Hale was born in Denver in 1886. He was married to Camilla Eaton in New York in 1915. In 1918 he was a soldier in France, and received honors. He later became the Consul General to Monaco. He married again, in 1920, to Kathleen Burke McLean. He and his wife became well-known samaritans by their act of "adopting" the French village of Maille in 1946. By this time they were quite wealthy and living on a ranch in California. Girard was known for his portrait paintings, as well as the work he did on the murals in the Utah State Capitol building. He had many other artistic commissions in Utah and California. He died at the age of 72, and his wife followed at the age of 74.

Extent

3.5 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

The Edward Girard Hale papers (1851-1997) contain family histories, correspondence, artwork, and news clippings from and about the Hale family.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Boxes 1-7 were donated between 1990-1994. Boxes 8-9 were donated in 2002-2003.

Separated Materials

See also the Edward Girard Hale photograph collection (P0606) and Francis Armstrong photograph collection (P0526) in the Multimedia Division of Special Collections.

Processing Information

Processed by Jennifer Braeden in 1997.

Addendum processed by Elizabeth Rogers in 2007.

Box 2 folder 18 processed by Gina C Giang in 2024.

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