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D.H. Christensen papers, 1853-1956
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Christensen, D. H. (David Henry), 1869-1956
- Title
- D.H. Christensen papers
- Dates
- 1853-1956 (inclusive)18531956
- Quantity
- 6.5 linear feet
- Collection Number
- MS 0627
- Summary
- The D. H. Christensen papers (1853-1956) consist of correspondence, family materials, mission journals, essays, news clippings, articles, and scrapbooks. David Henry Christensen (1869-1956) was an educator in Utah, a superintendent of Salt Lake City Schools, he served on the Board of Regents, was the president of Christensen Construction Company, and went on a mission and became a mission president for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS Church).
- Repository
-
University of Utah Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections, J. Willard Marriott Library
University of Utah
295 South 1500 East
Salt Lake City, UT
84112-0860
Telephone: 8015818863
special@library.utah.edu - Access Restrictions
-
Twenty-four hour advanced notice encouraged. Materials must be used on-site. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.
- Languages
- English
Historical NoteReturn to Top
David Henry Christensen (1869-1956) was born in Manti, Utah. He attended the Presbyterian Mission School at Manti for five years. In 1881, his family moved to Ephraim, Colorado, and Christensen traveled most of the distance on horseback, driving a herd of cattle. In 1887, Christensen returned to Utah to enter the University of Deseret. He graduated from the Normal Course in 1890, and was elected principal of Payson Schools, where he served until 1897. In 1893 he was also appointed Superintendent of Utah County Schools. In 1894 he married Catherine Dean, a Salt Lake City teacher and former Salt Lake County principal. In 1897, Christensen resigned from all of his education positions including his position on the first State Board of Education, in order to serve a mission of president of the Berlin conference of the German mission, a position he held for two years. During his third year in Germany, he was transferred to the presidency of the Frankfurt conference. After his release, Christensen spent one year studying at the University of Goettingen, Germany. In 1901, Christensen returned to the United States with the intent of entering a Ph.D. program at the University of Chicago. Prior to starting at Chicago, he received an offer from the Board of Education of Salt Lake City for the job of superintendent of Salt Lake City Schools. Christensen accepted the appointment, and served in that capacity for fifteen years. In 1916, following his resignation from the Salt Lake City schools, Christensen pursued business interests as president of Christensen Construction Company. During his lifetime he held several positions in the community, including member of the Board of Regents of the University of Utah. He received an honorary Ph.D. from the University of Utah, and was active in local and national politics and local education until his death in 1956.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The D. H. Christensen papers (1853-1956) consist of papers and other materials that document the activities of D. H. Christensen. Box 1 contains personal and family materials, including biographical sketches of family members, family correspondence, mission journals, and personal the correspondence and writings of Christensen. Box 2 contains materials relating to Christensen's service as superintendent of Salt Lake City Schools 1901 through 1916. papers in this box consist almost entirely of correspondence, most of which relates to a survey of Salt Lake City schools that was completed in 1915. Box 3 contains business and political papers, including materials from Christensen Construction Company and from Christensen's 1936 candidacy for Governor of Utah. Of particular interest is a folder of correspondence between Christensen and Upton Sinclair. Box 4 holds items regarding a wide variety of subjects including personal and family matters, political interests, and educational involvements. Materials include a mission journal, a news clipping scrapbook, and correspondence regarding Christensen's involvements with the University of Utah and with local and national politics.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Restrictions on Use
The library does not claim to control copyright for all materials in the collection. An individual depicted in a reproduction has privacy rights as outlined in Title 45 CFR, part 46 (Protection of Human Subjects). For further information, please review the J. Willard Marriott Library's Use Agreement and Reproduction Request forms.
Preferred Citation
Collection Name, Collection Number, Box Number, Folder Number. Special Collections, J. Willard Marriott Library, The University of Utah.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Personal and Family MaterialsReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Box | Folder | ||
1 | 1 | Biographical Sketches, with a letter from John A. Widtsoe |
|
1 | 2 | Catherine Dean Christensen |
|
1 | 3 | D. H. Christensen Jr. |
|
1 | 4 | Deak K. Christensen |
|
1 | 5 | Rhea Christensen |
|
1 | 6 | Paul and Lucille Harding |
|
1 | 7 | Family Correspondence |
|
1 | 8 | Scandinavian Mission
This is an article from the Millenial Star about a mission to Scandinavia taken by Willard Snow, John E. Forssgren, and Peter O. Hansen. Included also is a typescript of a journal written by one in the party, but the author is unknown.
|
1853 |
1 | 9 | Personal Correspondence |
|
1 | 10 | D. H. Christensen Mission Journal |
1898 |
1 | 11 | Letters to the Editor, Speeches, and Journal Entries |
|
1 | 12 | Correspondence from Joseph F. Merrill and George Albert Smith |
Salt Lake City SchoolsReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Box | Folder | ||
2 | 1 | Directories |
|
2 | 2 | Correspondence |
|
2 | 3 | Personal Correspondence |
|
2 | 4 | L. Qualtrough Correspondence |
|
2 | 5-6 | Superintendency Correspondence |
|
2 | 7 | Superintendency Pamphlets, and Speeches |
|
2 | 8-13 | Survey Correspondence |
1915-1918 |
2 | 14 | Survey Mailing Lists |
Christensen Construction and Political ActivitiesReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Box | Folder | ||
3 | 1 | Christensen Construction Company |
|
3 | 2 | Upton Sinclair Correspondence |
1923 |
3 | 3 | Education Correspondence, Post-Superintendency |
|
3 | 4 | Education Speeches, Post-Superintendency |
|
3 | 5 | Local Politics
Including Christensen's candidacy for Governor in 1936.
|
|
3 | 6 | National Politics, Correspondence
Including correspondence from Governors, Senators, and Representatives.
|
1916-1936 |
3 | 7 | National Politics, Democratic Convention |
1928 |
3 | 8 | World War I and World War II |
Personal and Family MaterialsReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Box | Folder | ||
4 | 1 | Christensen Construction Company
Includes correspondence from George H. Dern.
|
|
4 | 2 | Family papers
Includes obituaries of Christensen and his wife, Catherine Dean, and correspondence between D. H. Christensen and his father, Herman Julius Christensen.
|
1888-1956 |
4 | 3 | LDS Mission Journal, Berlin |
1899 |
4 | 4 | News Clipping Scrapbook |
1890 |
4 | 5 | News Articles on D. H. Christensen |
|
4 | 6 | Political papers |
|
4 | 7 | Post Superintendency
Continuing educational involvements of Christensen after his service as superintendent. Includes a 1917 letter from Thomas A. Edison, signed by his secretary.
|
1917 |
4 | 8 | Superintendency
Correspondence from Christensen's time as superintendent of Salt Lake City schools, and an address given to the Parent Teacher Association in 1915
|
1915 |
4 | 9 | University of Deseret, Class Notebook |
1888 |
4 | 10 | University of Utah
Contains papers regarding Christensen's service on the Board of Regents and his honorary Ph.D. Original correspondence from George Dern, Sterling W. Sill, A. Ray Olpin, and Joseph Merrill is included.
|
|
4 | 11 | News Clippings |
|
4 | 12 | LDS Church Material |
Oversize World War II PropagandaReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Box | object | ||
5 | 1 | Magazine Ad, "Bonds, Your Bonds, Will Save Us From Tyranny's Bonds" |
|
5 | 2 | Magazine Ad, "Hello! This is Liberty Speaking..." |
1918 |
5 | 3 | Front Cover and Military Map, "American Crusaders" |
|
5 | 4 |
American Crusaders: A Portfolio and Manual of the World's Greatest War
|
|
5 | 5 | Third Liberty Loan Subscription Certificate |
Oversize itemsReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | |
---|---|---|
Folder | object | |
1 | 1 | Rectangular Broadside, "W.S.S., Buy More, Dec 2-7" |
1 | 2 | Triangular Broadside, "Buy a Baby Bond to Bring the Boys Back, December 2-7" |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Electioneering--Utah
- Latter Day Saints--Diaries
Personal Names
- Christensen, D. H. (David Henry), 1869-1956--Archives
Corporate Names
- Salt Lake City School District
- Utah State Board of Regents
Family Names
- Christensen family
Form or Genre Terms
- Biographies
- Correspondence
- Diaries
- Scrapbooks