Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Francis Urry papers, 1920-1984
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Urry, Francis L. (Francis Lester), 1908-1985
- Title
- Francis Urry papers
- Dates
- 1920-1984 (inclusive)19201984
- Quantity
- 6 linear feet, (10 boxes and 1 oversize folder)
- Collection Number
- MS 0659
- Summary
- The Francis Urry papers (1920-1984) consist of personal, religious, and performing arts materials. Included are genealogy records, resumes, programs, correspondence, scripts, articles, brochures, notes, and other papers.
- 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
Historical NoteReturn to Top
Francis Lester Urry was a well-known actor, announcer, and teacher whose career in the performing arts was directly related to his activity in the LDS Church. Born January 23, 1908 in Salt Lake City, Urry was the son of Herbert Henry Urry and Jane Elizabeth Maxwell, both of whose families had recently come from England. Urry studied speech and drama from an early age, and began his acting career with the Salt Lake Civic Opera Company at the "Water Theatre" in Nibley Park. In 1933, he went on a mission to Georgia, for the LDS Church. Upon his return he became active again in acting, announcing, directing, and teaching. He married Leona Virginia Carroll in 1936, and they had three children: Francis Merrill, Virginia Carroll, and Jane Erma. In 1939 he began teaching speech and drama. For four years he was director of these courses at the McCune School of Music and Art. Urry moved to Chicago in 1944 where he participated in several radio shows such as "Guiding Light," "Family Theatre," and the "Hallmark Radio Playhouse" with Lionel Barrymore. He moved on from there to Hollywood, but decided to return to Utah. Urry spent eighteen years working for KSL Radio and Television. His "Land of Make-Believe" was one of the first radio shows geared to children. He was well-known for his role in the radio show "The Bates Boys." He acted in University Theatre productions and films made by B.Y.U. Motion Pictures. One of his best known roles was as Lorenzo Snow in the B.Y. U. movie "Windows of Heaven." Francis Urry's work in the performing arts and with his church made him a well-respected performer and community leader.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The Francis Urry papers (1920-1984) consist of personal, religious, and performing arts materials. Included are genealogy records, resumes, programs, correspondence, scripts, articles, brochures, notes, and other papers. Miscellaneous oversize items are at the end of the collection.
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.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Acquisition Information
Gift of Virginia Urry.
Processing Note
Processed by Jennifer Swedish in 1993.
Separated Materials
Photographs were transferred to the Multimedia Division of Special Collections (P0543).
Audio visual materials transferred to the Multimedia Division of Special Collections (A0392).
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Personal and Biographical MaterialsReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Box | Folder | ||
1 | 1 | Autobiographical notes and writings |
|
1 | 2 | Career: Notes of movies participated in, and other background material |
|
1 | 3 | L.D.S. Church: List of assignments and experiences |
|
1 | 4 | Genealogical materials dealing with the Maxwell family |
|
1 | 5 | The Maxwell family reunion |
|
1 | 6 | Genealogical materials dealing with the Urry family |
|
1 | 7 | History of Herbert Henry Urry |
|
1 | 8 | Personnel Data, L.D.S. Department of Education |
|
1 | 9 | Business Cards--Francis Urry |
|
1 | 10-12 | Awards for acting, speaking, and community service |
|
1 | 13 | Minister's certificate |
1934 |
1 | 14 | Farewell Testimonial program |
1933 |
Personal CorrespondenceReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Box | Folder | ||
2 | 1-2 | Family Correspondence |
|
2 | 3-9 | A-Z |
1943-1984 |
2 | 10 | Brown, John |
|
2 | 11 | Duncan, Berry |
|
2 | 12 | Glade, Earl S. |
|
2 | 13 | Lees, C. Lowell |
1962-1964 |
2 | 14 | Lilya, Marie |
1920-1922 |
2 | 15 | Maw, Herbert B. |
1948 |
2 | 16 | Nelson, Taylor |
|
2 | 17 | Plummer, Gail |
1941-1943 |
2 | 18 | Taylor, Bert |
|
2 | 19 | Miscellaneous |
Business CorrespondenceReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Box | Folder | ||
3 | 1-2 | A-V |
1942-1982 |
3 | 3 | Brigham Young University |
1969-1980 |
3 | 4-7 | Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints |
1930-1984 |
3 | 8 | General Church Authorities |
|
3 | 9 | KTVT and KSL |
1959-1983 |
3 | 10 | Schools and Board of Education |
1941-1975 |
3 | 11 | Invitations for Speaking Engagements |
|
3 | 12 | Stake and Ward Correspondence |
|
3 | 13 | University Theatre |
|
3 | 14 | Zions Cooperative Mercantile Institution |
1927; 1949 |
3 | 15 | Miscellaneous |
ProductionsReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | |
---|---|---|
Box | Folder | |
4 | 1-3 | "Mormon Miracle"
Pageant script, programs, notes and letters.
|
4 | 4 | Information regarding "Threads of Glory" |
4 | 5-9 | "Windows of Heaven"
Notes, correspondence, script, programs.
|
Writings by Francis UrryReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Box | Folder | ||
5 | 1-2 | Poems |
|
5 | 3 | Various essays and notes |
|
5 | 4 | "Brief Treatise on Death" |
1935 |
5 | 5 | "Weaving the Golden Threads" |
1969 |
Anecdotes for SpeechesReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | |
---|---|---|
Box | Folder | |
6 | 1-2 | Poems by others |
6 | 3 | Collected quotes and inspirational sayings |
6 | 4-8 | Notes and stories by others |
Seminary and M.I.A. FilesReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Box | Folder | ||
7 | 1 | Seminary contracts |
|
7 | 2 | Seminary roll cards |
|
7 | 3 | Letters from seminary students |
|
7 | 4 | Class notes |
|
7 | 5 | Letters from M.I.A. leaders |
|
7 | 6 | M.I.A. Stake conference assignments |
|
7 | 7 | Program: M.I.A. theme |
1963-1964 |
7 | 8 | Graph of family relationships in Book of Mormon |
L.D.S. Articles, Testimonies, and BrochuresReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Box | Folder | ||
8 | 1 | Cannon, Elaine, "Freedom of Truth" |
|
8 | 2 | Catsakis, Lica, "Story of Conversion" |
|
8 | 3 | Fox, Luacine, "The Nauvoo Dream" |
|
8 | 4 | Gabriel, Bessie, "Birth and Death of Mountains" and "The Earth and its Heights" |
|
8 | 5 | Harris, "Miracle of the Cows" |
|
8 | 6 | Heidenreich, John F., "It May Change Your Life" |
1962 |
8 | 7 | Hyde, Orson, Brochure on Orson Hyde Foundation, Dedication at Mount of Olives |
1977 |
8 | 8 | Jeppson, Joseph, "The Prophetic Proof of the Divinity of Jesus Christ" |
|
8 | 9 | Johnson, Peter E., Testimony |
|
8 | 10 | Ludlow, Daniel H., "Free Agency" |
|
8 | 11 | McKay, David O., "The Living Test" |
1954 |
8 | 12 | Nelson, Russell, "Something Borrowed" |
|
8 | 13 | Richards, LeGrand, "Southern States Mission" |
1935 |
8 | 14 | Richards, LeGrand, speech to missionaries |
|
8 | 15 | "Jacob Roundy's Dream" |
|
8 | 16 | Widtsoe, John A., "What Does Evolution Teach Today?" |
L.D.S. and Other Subject FilesReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Box | Folder | ||
9 | 1 | Writings about the dedication of Palestine by Orson Hyde |
1906 |
9 | 2 | Information about the Miller Camp |
|
9 | 3 | Slide narrative, "A Special Visit to Nauvoo" |
1978 |
9 | 4 | Chase, Hazel |
|
9 | 5 | Indexes to Improvement Era and Ensign
|
|
9 | 6 | Transcript of tape: "Voice of the Prophet" series |
|
9 | 7 | Cassette tape index |
|
9 | 8 | Temple data and memos |
|
9 | 9 | Brigham Young University materials |
|
9 | 10 | High Priests |
|
9 | 11 | Map of Book of Mormon geography |
|
9 | 12 | Information regarding the Book of Mormon |
|
9 | 13 | Programs, "A Sense of Self" |
1970 |
9 | 14 | Babcock Reading Arts Society |
|
9 | 15 | Land Sections |
|
9 | 16 | Penrose, Ernest |
|
9 | 17 | Hawaii |
|
9 | 18 | Address File |
|
9 | 19 | American Radio and Television Artists listing |
|
9 | 20 | Sketch, "The Country Doctor" |
|
9 | 21 | United States Presidents |
News ClippingsReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Box | Folder | ||
10 | 1 | Urry, Francis |
|
10 | 2 | Productions |
1945-1987 |
10 | 3 | Mormon Miracle Pageant |
1972 |
10 | 4 | History |
1931-1969 |
10 | 5 | Anecdotes |
|
10 | 6 | Obituaries |
1972-1984 |
Oversize MaterialsReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description |
---|---|
map-case-folder | |
1 | General Materials
This folder contains newsclipping originals, keepsakes from "Windows of Heaven" and the "Mormon Miracle," and a family reunion guestbook.
|
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Latter Day Saints--Biography
- Latter Day Saints--Drama
- Mormon miracle pageant (Manti, Utah)
- Pageants--Utah
- Radio broadcasters--Utah
Personal Names
- Urry, Francis L. (Francis Lester), 1908-1985--Archives
Family Names
- Maxwell family
- Urry family
Form or Genre Terms
- Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.)
- Correspondence
- Radio programs--Utah
- Scripts (documents)