Papers, 1842-1974 (bulk 1910-1960), of Levi
Stewart Udall (1891-1960), lawyer and judge. Includes personal files,
correspondence, reminiscences, activity files, ledgers, and speeches relating
mainly to his family, their settlement in Saint Johns, Arizona, his
professional activities and services to the state and the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
Collection Number:
MS 293
Repository:
University of Arizona Libraries, Special Collections
University of Arizona
PO Box 210055
Tucson, AZ 85721-0055
Phone: 520-621-6423
Fax: 520-621-9733
URL: http://speccoll.library.arizona.edu/
Biographical Note
Levi S. Udall was born 20 January 1891 at Saint Johns, Arizona, to David
K. and Ella Udall, Morman pioneers to Arizona in 1880. His childhood was spent
working on his father's farm and carrying United States mail by team and
buckboard for his father's mail contract business. He attended public school in
St. Johns, completed his secondary education at Gila Academy (1910-1911), and
briefly attended the University of Arizona, Tucson.
He married Louise Lee of Thatcher, Arizona, on 10 June 1914. They had
six children: Inez, Elma, Stewart, Morris, Eloise, and Burr. In addition to the
farm, the family operated Apache Abstract Company (c. 1930-1945), the only
title company in Apche County. He was member of the Arizona Boy Scouts Councils
(1915-1960). He worked as a clerk for the Apache County Board of Supervisors
(1915-1918), and as a clerk for the Superior Court (1919-1920). An Democratic
National Convention in San Francisco (1920). Admitted to the state bar (1922),
he served as county attorney for Apache County (1922-1923, 1927-1928). He was
elected as Judge of the Superior Court (1931-1946), and later, as Judge to the
Arizona Supreme Court (1947-1960).
He was appointed Ward president for the Young Men's Mutual Improvement
Association (1915-1920), a Morman organization. Ordained into the Mormon
priesthood by his father, David K. Udall in 1920, Levi Udall was a committed
member of his church. He served as president of the St. Johns Stake
(1922-1945), and later was appointed as Patriarch for the Phoenix North
Stake.
Dedicated to the preservation of his father's deeds, he edited a
biogrpahy prepared by his sister, Pearl Udall Nelson, titled
Arizona Pioneer Mormon (1915). A member of many civic
associations, he was awarded both the Medallion of Merit (1959) and an honorary
Doctor of LAws (1960) by the University of Arizona.
He died of a heart attack in Wickenburg, Arizona, on 30 May 1960.
Scope and Content Note
Papers, 1842-1974 (bulk 1910-1960), of Levi Stewart Udall (1891-1960),
lawyer and judge. Includes personal files, correspondence, reminiscences,
activity files, ledgers, and speeches relating mainly to his family, their
settlement in Saint Johns, Arizona, his professional activities and services to
the state and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
The bulk of these papers are found in three series, Correspondence,
Activity Files, and Speeches. These papers best document the Udall family,
their settlement in Arizona, the influence of the church in their lives, the
editing and publication of his father's memoirs in
Arizona Pioneer Mormon, and the many civic and religious
speeches given by Levi Udall.
This collection does not document Udall's official tenure as a leader in
Mormon organizations, or his career as a lawyer and judge in St. Johns and
Phoenix. There is little information which recounts his youth on the farm, his
stewardship as farmer, or his life as father to six children, including two of
Arizona's most respected Democratic politicians. There is little correspondence
between members of the Udall family.
It is the responsibility of the user to obtain permission to publish
from the owner of the copyright (the institution, the creator of the record,
the author or his/her transferees, heirs, legates, or literary executors). The
user agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Arizona Board of Regents for the
University of Arizona, its officers, employees, and agents from and against all
claims made by any person asserting that he or she is an owner of
copyright.
Contains resumes, diplomas, lists of court cases highlighting his
career, and biographical information relating to Levi and Louise Udall.
Includes two booklets recalling the lives of Levi and Louise Udall, and five
audio tapes of a tribute to Levi Udall, "This is your life," and the funeral
services for Levi, and later, Louise L. Udall.
box
box
1
1
Personal Files: Biographical.
, 1915-1960
1
2
Personal Files: Biographical.
, 1915-1960
1
3
Personal Files: Biographical.
, 1915-1960
1
4
Personal Files: Certificates and Diplomas.
, 1904-1959
1
5
Personal Files: Memorial booklets and audiotapes.
, 1959-1974
Family correspondence is largely letters received by Levi Udall
during the 1950s and to which he stapled his outgoing replies. Selected
subjects covered are church activities, experiences in the armed forces during
World War Two, family reunions and vacations, and birthday and holiday
greetings. Of interest are letters from David K. and Ella Udall to Levi which
discuss David's work for the church in Mesa, Arizona, travels to Utah, and
other routine family matters in the 1920s and 1930s. A selected index of
correspondence follows.
The general correspondence addresses a wide variety of topics
relating to Levi Udall's professional, religious, and civic interests. There is
correspondence from lawyers, law professors, and judges discussing various
court cases, invitations to speaking engagements and fund-raisers,
congratulatory notes, letters of appreciation, and matters relating to the
Mormon Church in Arizona.
Contains texts relating to the history of a Mormon womens' relief
society by Ella Udall; a brief history by Levi Udall on the construction of the
Apache County Court House; memories by Pearl Nelson of the family's stay in
Hunt and St. Johns in the early 1900s, early Mormon history in Arizona and her
research notes on Don Lorenzo Hubbell and Arizona history; a typescript copy of
recollections by Osmer D. Flake concerning the Pleasant Valley War of the
mid-1880s; and a typescript copy of Orland K. Hamblin's service in the U.S.
Army from 1941-45 including his narration of the Japanese invasion of the
Philippine Islands, the "death march" to Bataan, his life as a prisoner of war
from 1942-45, and his liberation and return to the United States.
box
folder
2
1
General.
, 1960-1962
2
2
On the Mormon women's relief society.
, 1842-1903, ca.
1903
2
3
History and cost of Apache County Court House.
, ca.
1918
2
4
Early memories of the Hunt-St. Johns period of our lives,
and other research notes.
, 1931-1933
2
5
Some reminiscences of the Pleasant Valley War and the
causes that led up to it.
, ca.
1937
2
6
My experiences in the service and as a prisoner of war of
the Japs.
, 1956
Contains mostly correspondence relating to the settlement of the
estates of David K. and Ella Udall, and later, Levi Udall; a case file relating
to one of Levi Udall's most noted trials Arizona vs. Southern Pacific Railroad;
a folder pertaining to his activities as a leader of Boy Scouts in Arizona;
mateials relating to his election campaigns for the judgship of Arizona Supreme
Court; files relating to the publication, distribution, and reviews of
Arizona Pioneer Mormon; and his Doctor of Laws honorary
award from the University of Arizona.
box
folder
2
7
Condolences on deaths of David and Ella Udall.
, 1937-1938
2
8
David K. Udall Estate: Correspondence.
, 1938-1944
2
9
David K. Udall Estate: Correspondence.
, 1938-1944
2
10a
Arizona vs. Southern Pacific.
, 1940-1941
2
10b
Arizona vs. Southern Pacific.
, 1940-1941
2
11
Arizona Boy Scouts
, 1943-1960
2
12
Arizona Supreme Court Election files.
, 1946-1958
2
13
Arizona Supreme Court Election files.
, 1946-1958
2
14
Arizona Supreme Court Election files.
, 1946-1958
2
15
Arizona Supreme Court notes and summaries.
, ca.
1950s
Contains two volumes relating to accounts for Levi Udall's farming,
title service, and real-estate ventures; his election campaign of 1946; the
settlement of David K. Udall's estate; and miscellaneous family loans. Indexes
to the ledgers are found inside front covers.
Contains public addresses and research materials, mostly periodical
clippings, given by Levi Udall. There are two other speeches, one by H.D. Ross
relating to the history of the office of the Arizona Supreme Court, and the
other by Dr. Clarence G. Salsbury relating to political, social, and economic
problems of the Navajo Indians. The bulk of this series, which constitutes
nearly half of the entire collection, consists of speeches by Udall on
occasions of patriotic and religious holidays. There are also a number of
funeral talks revealing the accomplishments of pioneers and citizens of Apache
County; graduation speeches to local high schools and colleges; professional
addresses to associations of lawyers and judges; and talks given to Mormon
church groups concerning its history and teachings.
Contains clippings, poems, and brochures collected by and/or about
Levi Udall and the family. Includes an Arizona Superior Court Final Decree
involving water rights on the Little Colorado River in the St. Johns Irrigation
Company vs. Round Valley Water Storage and Ditch Company, et al, 1918; and a
history of telegraphy in Utah which was compiled by Kate Carter in 1961.
