The University of Arizona
 

George W. P. Hunt

Portrait of George W. P. Hunt

Photo by George Bain,
from Library of CongressOpens in a new window

First Governor of Arizona and Father of Arizona State Museum

George Wylie Paul Hunt (November 1, 1859–December 24, 1934), politician and businessman, was born in Huntsville, Missouri, a town named for his family. He left home at age 18 and arrived in Globe, Arizona, some three years later. After a series of odd jobs he became clerk of a general store and rose to the top of a large commercial enterprise. He was also the first mayor of Globe.

He served in both houses of the Arizona Territorial Legislature, was president of the convention that wrote Arizona's state constitutionOpens in a new window and became its first governor when Arizona achieved statehood on February 14, 1912. He was elected to a total of seven terms as governor, earning the sobriquet, "George VII."

Hunt's time in the Governor's Office:

February 14, 1912–January 1, 1917
December 25, 1917–January 6, 1919
January 1, 1923–January 7, 1929
January 5, 1931–January 2, 1933

Hunt referred to himself as “Old Walrus.” Largely self-educated and well read, he was a savvy political operator. A Progressive Era populist, he supported organized labor, women's suffrage, secret ballots, income tax, free silver coinage, and compulsory education. He was also an opponent of capital punishment and an advocate for Arizona's rights to Colorado River water.

Creation of Arizona State Museum

Excerpt from a letter written by Gov. Hunt on October 19, 1925, to Dr. Byron Cummings, director of Arizona State Museum:

I have always taken an interest in the Museum because one of the first bills I introduced in the legislature was a bill to creat(e) the Museum of which you now have charge. I hope I may live to see the day that we have a Museum housed in a magnificant building in which to store the things of interest which we find in Arizona which is a prolific field.

Geo W P Hunt
Governor.

Hunt wrote and introduced House Bill 42 during the 17th Legislative Assembly in 1893. This bill created what is now the Arizona State Museum at the University of Arizona in Tucson.

HB 42 proposed that a territorial museum be established with a board of directors including the governor, secretary, attorney general, and superintendent of public instruction. The museum was to be located at the territorial library, the head librarian responsible for the collections with payment for this service to be $100 per year.

A letter from Territorial Governor Nathan O. Murphy suggested that the museum be located at the territorial university (now the University of ArizonaOpens in a new window) in Tucson, rather than at the library, and be under the management of the university’s board of regents. The changes were adopted and the bill passed the house with unanimous support; it was enacted on March 8 and signed by the territorial governor on April 7, 1893.

Governor George W. P. Hunt 1926
Gov. Hunt in his office, October 1926,
with Mrs. Katherine MacRae
source: Arizona State LibraryOpens in a new window

A Brief History of Arizona State Museum

More about George W. P. Hunt

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