Archives West Finding Aid
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Harry Nelson papers, 1886-2015
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Nelson, Harry, 1901-1988
- Title
- Harry Nelson papers
- Dates
- 1886-2015 (inclusive)18862015
- Quantity
- 6 linear feet, (11 boxes)
- Collection Number
- MS 0645
- Summary
- The Harry Nelson papers (1886-2015) are mainly a collection of materials documenting the life of Maud May Babcock (1867-1954), a theater teacher and director at the University of Utah from 1892 to 1938. Journals, travelogs, daily planners, teaching materials, manuscripts, programs, announcements, letters, and news clippings are included. Harry Nelson (1901-1988) was a theater student and friend of Maud May Babcock.
- 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
Harry Nelson was born on October 17, 1901 in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Pehr and Ulrika Nelson, who were of Swedish descent. He graduated from Granite High School in 1919 and then attended the University of Utah until his graduation in 1924. Nelson was active in the drama department and appeared in several plays produced by Maud May Babcock. After graduating from the University, Nelson continued his studies in a graduate program at the University of London, England, where he became acquainted with Sir Laurance Olivier who was a fellow student. He later performed on Broadway and with traveling dramatic groups. He later returned to the Intermountain West and taught at Ricks College in Rexsburg, Idaho, and at the University of Utah. He married Alice Evelyn Moyle in 1929 in Brooklyn, New York, and worked for ZCMI as the general merchandising manager for twenty years until his retirement in 1966. He served in various LDS Church positions. He died in 1988.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The Harry Nelson papers (1886-2015) are mainly a collection of materials documenting the life of Maud May Babcock (1867-1954), a theater teacher and director at the University of Utah from 1892 to 1938. Journals, travelogs, daily planners, teaching materials, manuscripts, programs, announcements, letters, and news clippings are included. These materials describe Babcock's day-to-day life, her travels, her involvement with the theater community, and her participation in the LDS Church. Some personal materials of Harry Nelson, including programs and scripts relating to his theatrical activities, are included.
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
Acquisition Information
Gift of Harry Nelson in 1983.
Addendum donated by Linda Burbidge-Gardner and Karin Brown in 2016.
Processing Note
Processed by Julie Middlemas in 1992.
Addendum processed by Betsey Welland in 2017.
Click here to read a statement on harmful language in library records.
Separated Materials
See also the Harry Nelson photograph collection (P0585) in the Multimedia Division of Special Collections.
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Autobiographical MaterialsReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box | Folder | ||
| 1 | 1 | Autograph Book from High School |
1886 |
| 1 | 2 | Personal Diary
Partially written in German.
|
1906-1907 |
| 1 | 3 | Travelog of China and India |
1928 |
| 1 | 4 | Travelog of Egypt |
1928 |
| 1 | 5 | Five Year Personal Diary |
1929-1933 |
| 2 | 1 | Travelog of United States Northwest, Canada and the Far East |
1932 |
| 2 | 2 | Personal Diary |
1934-1938 |
| 2 | 3 | Travelog of China and Hawaii |
1934 |
| 2 | 4 | Travelog of China |
1936 |
| 2 | 5 | Autograph Book from Children |
1937 |
| 2 | 6 | Five Year Personal Diary |
1939-1943 |
| 3 | 1 | Travelog to China and Japan |
1937 |
| 3 | 2-3 | Appointment Books |
1939-1945 |
| 3 | 4-5 | Personal Diary |
1946 |
| 3 | 6 | Cash Book |
1949 |
| 3 | 7 | Two Prayer Books |
|
| 3 | 8 | Asian Folder |
Biographical MaterialsReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box | Folder | ||
| 4 | 1 | Envelope from Delaware Insurance Company
Receipts of purchase.
|
1918-1934 |
| 4 | 2 | Financial Information
Receipts and tax information.
|
1931-1947 |
| 4 | 3 | Mormon Church Participation
Tithing receipts and information, letters, patriarchal blessings, membership materials, articles, and speeches.
|
1892-1937 |
| 4 | 4 | Materials on Friends and Family
Newspaper article on Dr. William W. Babcock, newspaper article on death of Edna H. Thomas, funeral services of Charles J. Ross, Maud May Milne.
|
1941 |
| 4 | 5 | Genealogical Endeavors
Remembrances, certificate, and application.
|
1899-1938 |
| 4 | 6 | Pedigree Charts |
|
| 4 | 7 | Travel Items
Postcard, passports, brochure, instructions, itineraries, speech notes, lists, etc.
|
1928-1937 |
| 4 | 8 | Miscellaneous Items Found in Journals
News articles and business cards.
|
|
| 4 | 9 | Miscellaneous Items |
|
| 4 | 10 | Student Tributes to Maud May Babcock |
|
| 4 | 11 | Items from the University of Utah
Programs, bulletins, newsletters, stationery, membership card, etc.
|
1918-1950 |
| 4 | 12 | University of Utah Alumnus Program |
1921 |
| 4 | 13 | University of Utah President's Medal |
|
| 4 | 14 | Script of Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary
|
|
| 4 | 15 | Play Production of The Crooked Friday
Character list, call information on play, manuscript on bell calls, maps of scenery and props, manuscript on furniture and property plots.
|
|
| 4 | 16 | Biographical Materials, Harry Nelson
Funeral program, newspaper article of promotion within Z.C.M.I., obituary and newspaper article of death, personal synopsis of work, schooling and plays.
|
1946-1988 |
| 4 | 17 | The Maud May Babcock Reading Arts Society
Constitution, agenda, letter, articles, and newsletters.
|
1981-1988 |
Scholarly WorksReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | |
|---|---|---|
| Box | Folder | |
| 5 | 1 | Manuscript of Interpretation For College Part I, Section A |
| 5 | 2 | Manuscript of Interpretation For College Part I, Section B |
| 5 | 3 | Manuscript of Interpretation For College Part II, Section A |
| 5 | 4 | Manuscript of Interpretation For College Part II, Section B |
| 5 | 5 | Manuscript of Selections for Interpretation, Section A |
| 5 | 6 | Manuscript of Selections for Interpretation, Section B |
Theater Education Materials and ManuscriptsReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box | Folder | ||
| 6 | 1 | Essays on Play Production by Maud May Babcock
"Technique of Play Production"; "Play Production."
|
|
| 6 | 2 | Educational Aids of Speech and Drama
Pamphlets, reports, and essays.
|
1915-1937 |
| 6 | 3 | Correspondance on Educational Strategies |
|
| 6 | 4 | Music |
|
| 6 | 5 | Speeches |
|
| 6 | 6 | Manuscript of Richelieu
|
|
| 6 | 7 | Manuscript of Boots
|
|
| 6 | 8 | Manuscript of Benedick and Beatrice
|
|
| 6 | 9 | Manuscript of Romeo and Juliet
|
|
| 6 | 10 | Manuscript of The Feast of the Holy Innocents
|
|
| 6 | 11 | Manuscript of The Dear Departed
|
|
| 6 | 12 | Manuscript of The Valiant
|
|
| 6 | 13 | Manuscript of Jacob Hamblin
|
|
| 6 | 14 | Short Dramatic Readings |
|
| 6 | 15 | Long Dramatic Readings |
|
| 6 | 16 | Short Humorous Readings |
|
| 6 | 17 | Long Humorous Readings |
|
| 6 | 18 | Encore Humorous Readings |
|
| 6 | 19 | Long Burlesque Readings |
|
| 6 | 20 | Christmas Readings |
|
| 6 | 21 | Collections for Dramatic Interpretation |
|
| 6 | 22 | Miscellaneous Readings |
|
| 6 | 23 | Seven Incomplete Readings |
Theater Performance ProgramsReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box | Folder | ||
| 7 | 1 |
Sarah Bernhardt; Her Artistic Life, by A. Gallus |
|
| 7 | 2 |
The Mormons and the Theatre, by John S. Lindsay |
1905 |
| 7 | 3 | Personal Recitals of Maud May Babcock |
|
| 7 | 4 | Season Announcements and Program |
1919-1921 |
| 7 | 5 | Musical Season Announcements and Programs |
1928-1945 |
| 7 | 6 | Russian Ballet |
1910 |
| 7 | 7-8 | Play Programs |
|
| 7 | 9 |
L'Aiglon
|
1928 |
| 7 | 10-11 | Play Programs |
1929-1934 |
| 7 | 12 |
Pride and Prejudice
|
1935 |
| 7 | 13 |
Macbeth
|
1936 |
| 7 | 14 |
The Black Flamingo
|
1937 |
| 7 | 15 | Program at Kingsbury Hall |
1938 |
| 7 | 16 |
Carmen Jones
|
1943 |
| 7 | 17 | Play Programs |
1946 |
| 7 | 18 | Scroll and Pen |
CorrespondenceReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box | Folder | ||
| 8 | 1 | Correspondence by Maud May Babcock |
1919-1941 |
| 8 | 2 | Correspondence about Maud May Babcock |
1919-1935 |
| 8 | 3 | Business Correspondence |
1921-1950 |
| 8 | 4 | Correspondence From Publishers |
1930-1935 |
| 8 | 5 | Miscellaneous Cards |
1917-1937 |
| 8 | 6 | Incomplete Correspondence |
1911 |
| 8 | 7-8 | Miscellaneous Correspondence |
1914-1937 |
| 8 | 9-32 | Correspondence |
1896-1944 |
| 9 | Correspondence |
1902-1944 |
ScrapbooksReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box | Folder | ||
| 10 | 1 | Scrapbook I, Clippings |
1893-1900 |
| 10 | 2 | Scrapbook II, Clippings and Programs |
1896-1911 |
| 10 | 3 | Scrapbook II, Clippings and Programs |
1911-1912 |
| 10 | 4 | Scrapbook II, Clippings and Programs |
1913-1914 |
| 10 | 5 | Scrapbook II, Clippings and Programs |
1915-1916 |
| 10 | 6 | Scrapbook II, Clippings and Programs |
1917-1918 |
| 10 | 7 | Scrapbook II, Clippings and Programs |
1919 |
| 10 | 8 | Scrapbook II, Clippings and Programs |
1920-1921 |
| 10 | 9 | Scrapbook II, Clippings and Programs |
1922-1923 |
| 10 | 10 | Scrapbook II, Clippings and Programs |
1924-1925 |
| 10 | 11 | Scrapbook II, Clippings and Programs |
|
| 10 | 12 | Scrapbook II, Clippings and Programs |
|
| 10 | 13 | Scrapbook I and II, Extracted Clippings |
AddendumReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box | Folder | ||
| 11 | 1 | Autobiography titled, "My Story"
This autobiography was compiled and edited by Linda M. N. Burbidge-Gardner.
|
2015 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- College theater--Utah--Salt Lake City
- Drama teachers--Archives
- Latter Day Saint women--Utah--Salt Lake City--Archives
- Swedish Americans--Utah--Salt Lake City--Archives
- Theater--Study and teaching--Utah--Salt Lake City
- Women college teachers--Utah--Salt Lake City--Archives
- Women theatrical producers and directors--Utah--Salt Lake City--Archives
Personal Names
- Babcock, Maud May, 1867-1954--Archives
- Babcock, Maud May, 1867-1954--Travel
- Nelson, Harry, 1901-1988--Archives
Corporate Names
- University of Utah. Department of Theatre--Alumni and alumnae--Archives
- University of Utah. Department of Theatre--Faculty--Archives
Form or Genre Terms
- Appointment books
- Autobiographies
- Biographies
- Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.)
- Diaries
- Financial records
- Genealogical tables
- Instructional and educational works
- Literary readings
- Manuscripts
- Personal correspondence
- Scrapbooks
- Scripts (documents)
- Speeches
- Theater programs
- Travel writing
Finding aid created by Julie Middlemas.
1992 (last modified: 2017 and 2019)
