Lee, J. Bracken (Joseph Bracken), 1899-1996

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Mayor of Price, Utah; Governor of Utah; and Mayor of Salt Lake City, Utah.

From the description of J. Bracken Lee and Margaret D. Lee oral history interview : Tape and transcript, 1979 November 28 [sound recording] / conducted by J. Keith Melville. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122367694

Mayor, government official.

From the description of Reminiscences of J. Bracken Lee : oral history, 1967. (Columbia University In the City of New York). WorldCat record id: 86158372

Utah politician and governor of the state.

From the description of J. Bracken Lee papers, 1949-1954. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122462052

From the guide to the J. Bracken Lee papers, 1949-1954, (L. Tom Perry Special Collections)

A native of Price, Utah, J. Bracken Lee was born 7 January 1899, a son of Arthur James and Ida May (Leiter) Lee. He received his elementary school training in Fruita, Colorado, and later graduated from Carbon High School in Price, Utah, in 1917. On graduation day he enlisted in the United States Army and served throughout World War I. He was honorably discharged in March 1919, with the rank of 2nd Lieutenant, but retained his commission in the reserve officers corps. After serving in the military, he returned to civilian life in Price where he became involved in the insurance and real estate business.

In 1920, J. Bracken Lee married Nellie Pace and two years later on January 29, 1922 they became parents of a daughter, Helen Virginia. Illness brought death to Nellie on January 1, 1926 leaving him a widower with a four-year old daughter. He married Margaret Draper on February 23, 1928 at Price, Utah. They are the parents of the following children: James Bracken, Margaret Jon, and Richard Lewis.

Beginning in the early 1930's Lee became very interested in public affairs. He was elected mayor of Price, Utah, in the fall of 1935 and served six successive terms before declining nomination for a seventh.

Defeat as a candidate for the U. S. House of Representatives and his first try for governorship of Utah did not discourage Lee. In 1948 he was elected to the office of governor by an overwhelming majority. In 1952 he was re-elected by an even greater margin.

After failing in his bid for the U. S. Senate on the Independent ticket in 1958, he ran for mayor of Salt Lake City in 1959. He received more votes than all five of his opponents combined in the primary contest, and in the general election he defeated his opponent with the largest number of votes received by a mayoralty candidate. He campaigned for re-election in November 1963 and again when the votes were counted it was another Lee landslide. In a third consecutive campaign in 1967 he received another vote of confidence and was re-elected for his third term as mayor.

J. Bracken Lee retired in 1972 after serving in public office for 32 years.

From the guide to the J. Bracken Lee papers, 1948-1974, (J. Willard Marriott Library, University of Utah)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf CR 607 1, Richards, LeGrand 1886-1983. LeGrand Richards files 1914-1981 (bulk 1952-1980) Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Church History Library
creatorOf Lee, J. Bracken (Joseph Bracken), 1899-. Christmas cards, 1950-1956. Utah Division of State History, Utah Historical Society
referencedIn Frank E. Moss papers, 1931-1992 J. Willard Marriott Library. University of Utah Manuscripts Division
referencedIn J. Bracken Lee photograph collection, 1890-1975 J. Willard Marriott Library. University of Utah Photograph Archives
referencedIn Rayburn, Sam, 1882-1961, Papers, 1822, 1831, 1845, 1903-2007 Dolph Briscoe Center for American History
referencedIn Dennis L. Lythgoe papers, 1977-2008 J. Willard Marriott Library. University of Utah Manuscripts Division
creatorOf United States. Dept. of Interior. Transcript of proceedings in the matter of Dinosaur National Monument, Echo Park and Split Mountain Dams, 3 Apr 1950. Utah Division of State History, Utah Historical Society
creatorOf Lee, J. Bracken (Joseph Bracken), 1899-. Quotations of Governor J. Bracken Lee. University of New Mexico, Los Alamos, UNM-Los Alamos Library
creatorOf Lee, J. Bracken (Joseph Bracken), 1899-. J. Bracken Lee and Margaret D. Lee oral history interview : Tape and transcript, 1979 November 28 [sound recording] / conducted by J. Keith Melville. Harold B. Lee Library
creatorOf J. Bracken Lee papers, 1948-1974 J. Willard Marriott Library. University of Utah Manuscripts Division
referencedIn Manion, Clarence, 1896-1979. Clarence Manion papers, 1922-1979. Chicago History Museum
referencedIn Utah. Governor, 1949-1957 (Lee). Letter, 1950 Mar. 9, Salt Lake City, to James Gehres, Nephi, Utah. Denver Public Library, Central Library
referencedIn Nixon, Richard M. (Richard Milhous), 1913-1994. Letters : to Leo A. Hoegh. Washington, DC. 1958-1960. University of Iowa Libraries
referencedIn Dwight D. Eisenhower Library Oral History Collection. 1962 - 1998. Oral History Transcripts. 1962 - 1998. Oral History Interview with J. Bracken Lee Dwight D. Eisenhower Library
creatorOf Wingate, John,. Interviews [sound recording], 1957. Wisconsin Historical Society, Newspaper Project
creatorOf Moss, Frank Edward, 1911-. Papers, 1935-1976. Landmarks of Science Microform Service
creatorOf J. Bracken Lee papers, 1949-1954 L. Tom Perry Special Collections
referencedIn O'Neil, Hugh, 1901-. Hugh O'Neil scrapbooks, 1936-1964. UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf Lee, J. Bracken (Joseph Bracken), 1899-. J. Bracken Lee papers, 1949-1954. Harold B. Lee Library
creatorOf Bennett, Wallace F. (Wallace Foster), 1898-1993. Papers, 1950-1983. Landmarks of Science Microform Service
creatorOf Lee, J. Bracken (Joseph Bracken), 1899-. Reminiscences of J. Bracken Lee : oral history, 1967. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
referencedIn West, J. Wallace General. Collection [Photographs]. Utah Division of State History, Utah Historical Society
referencedIn Moss, Frank E., 1911-2003. Papers, 1935-1976. University of Utah, J. Willard Marriott Library
referencedIn Madsen, Roger Bryan. Papers, 1950-1972. Harold B. Lee Library
referencedIn Lythgoe, Dennis. Papers. Landmarks of Science Microform Service
referencedIn Hampton Godbe papers, 1864-1990 J. Willard Marriott Library. University of Utah Manuscripts Division
referencedIn Roger Bryan Madsen papers, 1950-1972 L. Tom Perry Special Collections
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Bennett, Wallace F. (Wallace Foster), 1898-1993. person
associatedWith Democratic Pary (Utah). corporateBody
associatedWith Edwin, Ed, person
associatedWith Eisenhower, Dwight D. (Dwight David), 1890-1969. person
associatedWith Godbe, Hampton C. person
associatedWith Lee family. family
associatedWith Lee, Margaret D. (Margaret Draper), 1909- person
associatedWith Lee, Margaret Draper person
associatedWith Lythgoe, Dennis. person
associatedWith Madsen, Roger Bryan person
associatedWith Madsen, Roger Bryan. person
associatedWith Manion, Clarence, 1896-1979. person
associatedWith Melville, J. Keith (James Keith), 1921- person
associatedWith Moss, Frank E., 1911-2003. person
associatedWith Nixon, Richard M. (Richard Milhous), 1913-1994. person
associatedWith O'Neil, Hugh, 1901- person
associatedWith Rayburn, Sam, 1882-1961 person
associatedWith Republican Party (U.S. : 1854- ) corporateBody
associatedWith Republican Party (Utah). corporateBody
associatedWith Richards, LeGrand 1886-1983 person
associatedWith Skousen, W. Cleon (Willard Cleon), 1913-2006. person
associatedWith Stringfellow, Douglas R., 1922- person
associatedWith United States. Dept. of Interior. corporateBody
correspondedWith Utah. Governor, 1949-1957 (Lee) corporateBody
associatedWith Watkins, Arthur V., 1886- person
associatedWith West, J. Wallace General. person
associatedWith Wingate, John, person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Utah
Utah
Utah
United States
Utah
Utah
Subject
Political campaigns
Christmas cards
Correspondence
Education, Higher
Education, Higher
Government, Law and Politics
Governors
Governors
Governors
Governors
Income tax
Material Types
Mayors
Politicians
Politicians
Politicians
Presidents
Scrapbooks
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1899-01-07

Death 1996-10-20

Male

English

Information

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