Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Jeanette McKay Morrell papers, 1896-1983
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Morrell, Jeanette McKay
- Title
- Jeanette McKay Morrell papers
- Dates
- 1896-1983 (inclusive)18961983
- Quantity
- 3 linear feet
- Collection Number
- MS 0684
- Summary
- The Jeanette McKay Morrell papers (1896-1983) contain journals correspondence, scrapbooks, certificates, brochures, pamphlets, fliers, bulletins, articles, poems, and news clippings that pertain to the life of Morrell, as well as to the lives of her husband, children, parents, and siblings. The majority of the collection pertains to her personal and family life, and is therefore divided into two sections. Jeanette McKay Morrell was born in 1879. Morrell was a well educated woman who labored as a teacher, writer, mother, and missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). She attended many universities including the University of Utah. She became a teacher and later the principal in Huntsville, Utah. In 1907 she married Joseph R. Morrell. She was well read, and she wrote a book about her brother, Highlights in the Life of President David O. McKay. David O. McKay was then the president of the LDS Church. Morrell died in 1971 at the age of ninety-two.
- 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
-
Access to original correspondence (1896-1930) is restricted.
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
Jeanette "Nettie" Isabel McKay Morrell (1879-1971) was a teacher, writer, traveler, artist, poet, church member, missionary, daughter, sister, mother, and wife. Her passion and devotion to the LDS Church streched across the continental United States during her service as a sister missionary in the Eastern States, and later supported her brother, David Oman McKay, when he was called to be president of the church on 9 April 1951.
Morrell was born 12 November 1879 to David and Jeanette Eveline Evans McKay. She was one of eight children, four boys and four girls. Morrell's paternal grandparents were from Sutherlandshire, Scotland, while her maternal grandparents had immigrated from Wales. Both sets immigrated to the United States largely due to the influence of the LDS Church. Morrell grew up in a devoutly spiritual LDS family, and she later served a mission to the Eastern States. As an active member of the church, Morrell served in many important positions of leadership, such as board member of the Young Women's Mutual Improvement Association, Relief Society teacher, and a counselor in the Relief Society.
Morrell was an avid reader and writer. She attended classes at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, Utah, from 1894 to 1897. In 1897, she graduated with a three year degree in Normal School. She then began teaching in the Huntsville Schools, Huntsville, Utah, and later became the principal in 1899. In 1904, Morrell moved to Chicago, Illinois, where she could further her education at the University of Chicago.
Morrell had dated frequently, and corresponded with quite a few young men. During her stay in Chicago she met Joseph Rowland Morrell, who was studying to become a physician. Jeanette married Joseph Morrell in the Logan Temple on 19 June 1907. Joseph R. Morrelll was raised in Logan, Utah by an English father, Joseph Morrell and Margret Rowland. Joseph R. had earned his degree in medicine from Rush Medical College and the University of Chicago. He was a renowned surgeon and general practitioner, and as a result was often away from home on conferences, medical seminars, and on practice. This became difficult for Jeanette, who retired from teaching in 1908 so that she could start a family. The Morrells had four children: Joseph Roland Jr., Jeanette, David McKay, and Katherine.
During 1910 to 1911, the Morrells took a trip to Europe, where they stayed in Vienna, Austria. Morrell took advantage of the trip by enriching herself by writing and keeping a journal of the sites she saw and the people that she met.
In 1951, Morrell's brother David Oman, was called to serve as the president of the LDS Church. Morrell corresponded with him often. Morrell then wrote a book entitled Highlights in the Life of President David O. McKay, which was published in 1966. On 30 March 1971, Morrell passed away. She was ninety-two years old.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The Jeanette McKay Morrell papers (1896-1983) contain journals, correspondence, scrapbooks, certificates, brochures, pamphlets, fliers, bulletins, articles, poems, and news clippings that pertain to the life of Morrell, as well as to the lives of her husband, children, parents, and siblings. The majority of the collection, ranging in date from 1896 to 1983, pertains to her personal and family life, and is therefore divide into two sections.
Section one contains the personal materials of Jeanette Morrell and ranges in date from 1896 to 1971. This section contains correspondence to Morrell from her parents and siblings. There are also correspondence from friends, church members, and men she dated, such as Bruce L. Brown. Beginning in 1906 there are many letters between Morrell and her husband, Joseph Rowland. There are also scrapbooks, such as one on Morrell's older brother, Thomas E. McKay. There are also collected materials, such as certificates from schools Morrell attended, notebooks, programs, brochures, copies of the yearbook from Weber Stake Academy, The Acorn, handwritten articles and poems, news clippings, as well as miscellaneous materials.
Section two contains materials relating to the McKay and Morrell familes and ranges in date from 1912 to 1983. This section contains journals from Joseph R. Morrell and correspondence from the Morrell's four children: David M., Jeanette ("Janette"), Katherine ("Kitty"), and Rowland. There is also correspondence form David O. McKay, as well as other correspondence between members of the McKay and Morrell families.
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 MaterialsReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Box | Folder | ||
1 | 1 | Journal |
1931-1932 |
1 | 2 | Travel Journal |
1935 |
1 | 3-20 | Correspondence |
1896-1905 |
2 | Correspondence |
1905-1933 | |
3 | Correspondence |
1905-1933 | |
4 | Scrapbooks
Included in this box is a scrapbook on Thomas E. McKay.
|
1899-1960 | |
General Materials |
|||
Box | Folder | ||
5 | 1 | Certificates |
1907-1971 |
5 | 2 | Notebooks |
|
5 | 3 | Ogden Fifth Ward, Ogden, Utah, District Listing |
|
5 | 4-5 | Programs and Brochures |
1899-1971 |
5 | 6 | University of Chicago, School of Medicine, Bulletin of the Alumni Association
|
1954 |
5 | 7 | University of Utah, Alumni Association Materials,
This folder contains tickets to various events and a newsletter.
|
1899-1902 |
5 | 8-9 | Weber Stake Academy, The Acorn
|
1906-1911 |
5 | 10 | Weber Stake Academy Lecture Course |
1908-1909 |
5 | 11 | Weber Stake Academy Program and Articles |
1904-1939 |
5 | 12 | Weber Stake Academy Roll Book |
1907 |
5 | 13 | Weber Stake Academy Yearbook |
1915-1916 |
5 | 14 | Writings
This folder contains handwritten articles, poetry, and other textual excerpts.
|
1902-1907 |
5 | 15-16 | News Clippings |
1906-1971 |
5 | 17 | Miscellaneous |
McKay and Morrell Family MaterialsReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Box | Folder | ||
6 | 1-2 | Joseph R. Morrell Journal |
1966-1972 |
6 | 3-4 | Joseph R. Morrell Correspondence |
1912-1983 |
6 | 5 | Rowland Morrell Correspondence |
1922-1952 |
6 | 6 | Jeanette Morrell Correspondence |
1922-1983 |
6 | 7 | David M. Morrell |
1922-1936 |
6 | 8 | Katherine Morrell Garner |
1937-1946 |
6 | 9 | Jan Garner
This folder contains correspondence from Jan Garner to her mother, Kathrine Morrell Garner.
|
1971-1976 |
6 | 10 | David O. McKay Correspondence |
1924-1951 |
6 | 11 | Correspondence
This folder contains various letters between family members and friends.
|
1912-1932 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Latter Day Saints--Diaries
Personal Names
- McKay, David O. (David Oman), 1873-1970
- Morrell, Jeanette McKay--Archives
Family Names
- McKay family
- Morrell family
Geographical Names
- Utah--Genealogy
Form or Genre Terms
- Certificates
- Correspondence
- Diaries
- Notes (documents)
- Pamphlets
- Scrapbooks
- Speeches (documents)