J. Cecil Alter

J. Cecil Alter (March 31, 1879 – May 20, 1964) was an American meteorologist, historian, and editor of the Utah Historical Quarterly. He moved to Salt Lake City in 1902 to work for the Salt Lake Weather Bureau, where he became the founder of a mountain snow survey system for anticipating streamflow.

Early life Alter was born on March 31, 1879, in Rensselaer, Indiana to parents John E. and Hattie (McColly) Alter. His father was a farmer, civil engineer, surveyor, and school teacher, which Alter also held positions in although he never stayed in school very long. After attending Valparaiso University, Northern Indiana Teachers Institute, and Purdue University, Alter settled upon meteorology as a career, joining the U.S. Weather Bureau in 1902.

Career While with the U.S. Weather Bureau, Alter was stationed in Salt Lake City, where he met his future wife Jennie O. Greene. In 1911, Alter and James E. Church were given the responsibility of making systematic snow surveys in Tahoe and the watershed around Great Salt Lake. Independent from one another, they each developed the concept of the "snow course," which is described as "a series of sampling sites strung across a short distance, in order to reduce distortions caused by wind and drift." By 1917, Alter was given control of the Weather Bureau station in Salt Lake City. In August 1941, Alter left Salt Lake City to take charge of the weather and flood warning service in Cincinnati, Ohio. Alter eventually retired in 1949, being replaced by John H. Eberly, and died in 1964 in Los Angeles. His final book, Early Utah Journalism, was based entirely on historical material from the Utah State Historical Society Publications. Alter was also appointed chairman of the Chamber's Smokeless City Committee in 1925, having previously written reports about the cities smoke pollution.

During his stay in Utah, Alter was an honorary and life member of the Utah Historical Society and served as editor of the Utah Historical Quarterly. He continued his position as editor even after leaving the city for Ohio.