John S. Boyden Papers (Accn 823)
The John S. Boyden Papers (1929-1980) consists of personal and
professional items related to Salt Lake City attorney John S. Boyden
(1906-1980), whose practice largely dealt with American Indian matters.
Present are biographical and personal documents, including information on
Boyden's wife, Orpha, and other family members; transcripts from
interviews with Boyden and his wife; documents regarding his business
activities; calendars and daybooks; and correspondence. The collection
offers information pertaining to Boyden's involvement in American Indian
legal affairs, including those concerning the Ute, Hopi, Paiute, Shoshone,
Bannock, Apache, and Zuni tribes, as well as the Indian Claims Commission.
Boyden's political campaigns are documented in the collection, as is his
involvement in Cedar City, Utah, water issues. Boyden was an active
Democrat who ran unsuccessfully for governor of Utah in 1948 and 1956. In
the 1930s, he had served as a national officer of the Young Democrats
organization. He operated a farm in the Coalville, Utah, area, and was
also an executive officer of the Ideal National Life Insurance Co. He
served the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as a member of the
Sunday School General Board and as a ward bishop. An
inventory is available.