Archives West Finding Aid

BIOGRAPHY OF JOSEPH DON CARLOS YOUNG (1855-1938)

Joseph Don Carlos Young, born May 6, 1855, to Brigham Young and Emily Dow Partridge Smith Young, became one of the first native-born, academically trained architects in Utah. His education started in Brigham Young's family school located just east of the present Eagle Gate. Later, he spent about two years at the University of Deseret. In his journal, he notes that he did not enjoy school very much and preferred to be with the horse teams that hauled ice from the Jordan River.

Brigham Young did not insist that he attend school. Instead, he put him to work with a team of "old blind mules," doing odd jobs, hauling wood, and helping people move. After a year, Carl (the name by which he was known) was given the best team in the barn. His first paying job was for ZCMI, driving the delivery wagon. He worked for ZCMI in many capacities for several years.

In 1873, he and a few of his brothers were given permission to go to school in the East. At this time, Brigham Young said that they could go on the condition that they study all they could in Utah first, and then study engineering in New York. They had to promise to teach others upon their return.

Carl, Alfales, and Feramorz Young, along with William G. Sharp, left for New York in September 1875. Willard Young, another brother, was already at West Point. Carl's destination was Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York. He studied engineering, though his main interest was architecture. While there, he became a member of the Pi Eta Scientific Society, and one of the editors of The Transit, the school yearbook. He graduated in 1879.

In 1881, Carl married Alice Naomi Dowden, with whom he had ten children. At the urging of his mother and her belief in polygamy, he received the consent of Alice and married Marian Penelope Hardy in 1887. They had five children. According to the memory of George Cannon Young in his oral history, the two women got along very well.

In addition to his professional career, Joseph Don Carlos Young was active in civic affairs. In 1886, he was elected to the Utah Legislature, where he served two terms. Also in 1886, he became a member of the University of Deseret Board of Regents.

Young was sustained by the LDS church as church architect in 1889, a position he held until 1893. During that time, he designed the roof and the interior of the Salt Lake Temple, as well as the

Temple Annex. After the temple was dedicated, he continued to work with the church's building department. He designed the Church Administration Building at 47 E. South Temple and many other church buildings.

The buildings designed by Joseph Don Carlos Young include the Mormon tabernacle at Paris, Idaho, the Templeton Building in Salt Lake City, the Brigham Young Academy building in Provo, the race track and coliseum at the Utah State Fairgrounds, and Eagle Gate (1891-1963), on State Street.

Young was called by the LDS church to the Southern States Mission in 1895 and served two years. While there, he was a successful missionary and became a district president. His mission reports are included in this collection.

In 1900, he fulfilled his promise to his father and taught mathematics at Brigham Young Academy. He was there for a year, and after returning to Salt Lake City, he set up the architectural firm of Young and Son. Don Carlos Young, his eldest child, was his partner, but other sons, including George Cannon Young, also worked with their father.

Joseph Don Carlos Young continued to practice architecture for much of his life. He died October 19, 1938, the last surviving son of Brigham Young.

BIOGRAPHY OF GEORGE CANNON YOUNG (1898-1981)

George Cannon Young was born to Joseph Don Carlos and Alice Naomi Dowden Young February 21, 1898, in Provo, Utah, while his father was an instructor at the Brigham Young Academy. He was the ninth of ten children.

"Cann" Young, as he was called, grew up in the avenues area of Salt Lake City. At the time, the neighborhood was sparsely populated, and he and his brothers and sisters did not appreciate "living amongst the sagebrush." He attended LDS High School, and then East High School, where he was yell master. At the age of sixteen, he went to Idaho to work on canal dredging, and later worked in his father's office, Young and Son.

In 1919 he was called by Heber J. Grant, the LDS church president, to the Eastern States Mission. While there, he spent most of his time in New York and neighboring states, serving as branch president in Connecticut. After he returned from his mission, he married Eleanor Saville Wright June 26, 1924, in the Salt Lake Temple. They became the parents of four sons: Kay, Willard, Richard, and George, Jr.

Young continued his activities in the LDS church. From 1950-1962 he was bishop of the West Ensign Ward, and in 1962 was ordained a patriarch, serving in that capacity until his death in 1981.

George Cannon Young started his architectural career early. He first worked for the family firm, Young and Son, then Young and Hansen, Cannon and Mullen, and other firms in Salt Lake City. He was never trained academically, although he did attend the LDS University for a time. When he passed the Utah State Architectural Examination in 1936, he started his own firm.

As an architect, he designed several well-known buildings in Salt Lake City. Most of them were commissions from the LDS church. He spoke to church leaders often about architecture, particularly Temple Square. Some of his more important buildings include Primary Children's Hospital, the Relief Society Building, the Hotel Utah Garage, the North Visitor's Center (Temple Square), the Church Office Building at 50 E. North Temple, and the basement remodeling of the Salt Lake Tabernacle. He also helped restore the Beehive House, Lion House, the Jacob Hamblin Home, and Eagle Gate.

Deseret Architects and Engineers, a collaboration of several small but prominent firms, was organized in 1951. George Cannon Young was one of the principals and served as president for a time. Some of the Salt Lake projects designed by DAE include the Federal Office Building, Glendale Golf Course and Clubhouse, and the Union Pacific Building.

Young was actively involved with the American Institute of Architects on both a local and national level. He was first admitted in 1942, and in 1958 became a fellow in the College of Fellows of the AIA. Also in 1958, he was the director of the Utah Chapter AIA.

George Cannon Young participated frequently in civic affairs. In 1946 he was chairman of the Bushnell Research Hospital Architectural Committee, and in 1960 he was a committee member of the Salt Lake II Century Downtown Planning.

Later in life, he traveled to many parts of the world, touring Russia in 1973, Mexico in 1974, and the Mediterranean in 1975. George Cannon Young made a significant impact on Salt Lake City and its architecture. He died April 9, 1981.

BIOGRAPHY OF RICHARD WRIGHT YOUNG (1931-)

Richard Wright Young was born July 23, 1931, to George Cannon and Eleanor Saville Wright Young, the second of four sons. He grew up in Salt Lake City, and served a mission in Mexico for the LDS church. While there, he gained an appreciation for the people and culture of Mexico. His papers and building designs reflect this interest.

Between 1954-1956 he served with the United States Army Reserve in Europe, which provided him with the opportunity to observe European architecture. Upon his return to Salt Lake, he completed his studies at the University of Utah. He graduated in 1959 with a bachelor of fine arts degree in architecture.

Young married Martha Hammond, ca. 1961, and they became the parents of two sons, Gregory and Steven. He and his wife later divorced.

Young began work in architecture at age sixteen, working for his father until George Cannon Young's death in 1981. Afterwards, he continued his father's practice, but changed the name of the firm to his own.

Young worked with his father and Deseret Architects and Engineers on many important projects, including the LDS Church Office Building at 50 E. North Temple, Primary Children's Hospital, Glendale Golf Course and Clubhouse, and Wasatch State Park Clubhouse. He also designed several residences. Among his drawings in this collection are the Salt Lake City Humane Society and Zions First National Bank. Mr. Young currently works for the Salt Lake City government as the architectural engineer.

CHRONOLOGY

1855, May 6

Joseph Don Carlos Young born

1875

Joseph Don Carlos Young became a Salt Lake City policeman

1875-1879

Joseph Don Carlos Young attended Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York

1881, September 22

Joseph Don Carlos Young married Alice Naomi Dowden

1882, August 5

Don Carlos Young, Jr., born

1886

Joseph Don Carlos Young elected to the first of two terms in the Utah Legislature

1886

Joseph Don Carlos Young became a member of the University of Deseret Board of Regents

1887, November 1

Joseph Don Carlos Young married Marian Penelope Hardy

1889-1893

Joseph Don Carlos Young worked as LDS church architect and finished the Salt Lake Temple

1893, Apri 6

Dedication of the Salt Lake Temple

1895-1897

Joseph Don Carlos Young went to the Southern States Mission for the LDS church

1898, February 21

George Cannon Young born

1900

Joseph Don Carlos Young taught mathematics at the Brigham Young Academy

1903, November 26

Edward Partridge Young born

1906

Joseph Don Carlos Young opened the architectural firm of Young and Son

1912

Joseph Don Carlos Young entered the Utah State Capitol Design Competition, won second place and $750

1914

Joseph Don Carlos Young designed the LDS Church Administration Building, 47 E. South Temple, SLC, Utah

1918-1919

George Cannon Young served in the U.S. military

1918-1919

George Cannon Young in charge of construction engineer's office, Utah-Idaho Sugar Co.

1919, February 19

Marian Hardy Young died

1919-1922

George Cannon Young served in the Eastern States Mission for the LDS church

1924, June 26

George Cannon Young married Eleanor Saville Wright

1931, July 23

Richard Wright Young born

1934-1936

George Cannon Young worked as a member of the Utah State Planning Board

1936

George Cannon Young passed the Utah State Architectural Examination

1938, October 19

Joseph Don Carlos Young died

1942

George Cannon Young admitted to the American Institute of Architects

1942

George Cannon Young received the LDS YMMIA Master M-Man Award

1944

George Cannon Young received the Meritorious Civilian Service Award by the U.S. Navy, Bureau of Yards and Docks

1944-1945

George Cannon Young worked as a member of the Salt Lake City Planning Commission

1946

George Cannon Young became president of the Utah Chapter AIA

1946

George Cannon Young became chairman of the Bushnell Research Architectural Committee

1947-1950

George Cannon Young worked as the Western Mountain District Director of the AIA

1950, November 23

Alice Naomi Dowden Young died

1950-1953

Richard Wright Young served a mission to Mexico for the LDS church

1950-1962

George Cannon Young served as bishop of the West Ensign Ward, SLC, Utah

1951

George Cannon Young became president of Deseret Architects and Engineers

1954-1956

Richard Wright Young served with the U.S. Army Reserve in Europe

1957

George Cannon Young appointed as chaplain to the House of Representatives, 32nd Session, Utah State Legislature

1958

George Cannon Young became a fellow of the College of Fellows of the AIA

1958

George Cannon Young became the director of the Utah Chapter AIA

1959

Richard Wright Young graduated from the University of Utah with a bachelor of arts degree in architecture

1960

George Cannon Young worked as a committee member of the II Century Downtown Planning for Salt Lake City

1962

George Cannon Young ordained a patriarch for the LDS church Ensign Stake

1972

Dedication of the LDS Church Office Building, designed by George Cannon Young

1973

George Cannon Young traveled to Russia

1974

George Cannon Young traveled to the Mexican Riviera

1975

George Cannon Young traveled to the Mediterranean

circa 1980, December 4

Eleanor Saville Wright Young died

1981, April 9

George Cannon Young died