View XML QR Code

Ramona Wilcox Cannon papers, 1863-1994

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Cannon, Ramona Wilcox, 1887-1978
Title
Ramona Wilcox Cannon papers
Dates
1863-1994 (inclusive)
Quantity
34 linear feet, (67 boxes)
Collection Number
ACCN 1862
Summary
The Ramona Wilcox Cannon papers (1863-1994) contain materials associated with the life of this Utah author and columnist (1887-1978). Included are family and professional correspondence, family history, "Mary Marker" articles, newspaper clippings, interview transcripts, copies and drafts of Mona's other writings, and other personal items such as scrapbooks, diaries, and notebooks. Cannon received bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Utah and studied at the Royal University in Berlin and UCLA. She was a columnist for the Relief Society Magazine, the author of a Deseret News advice column, "Confidentially Yours," under the name, Mary Marker, and author of 300 free-lance articles. She was active with numerous community organizations and received several awards for her achievements.
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
Return to Top

Historical Note

Ramona "Mona" Wilcox Cannon was born in 1887 in Salt Lake City, Utah. She was the daughter of Elizabeth Jane Stevenson Wilcox and Dr. Charles. F. Wilcox, a prominent Salt Lake physician. She was the second of six children. Ramona's maternal grandfather, Edward Stevenson, was one of the First Seven Presidents of Seventies in the LDS Church and author of Reminiscences of Joseph, The Prophet.

Mona received her bachelor's degree and a life-teaching certificate from the University of Utah in 1908. In 1913, she received her master's degree with a major in English and a minor in Philosophy from the University of Utah. Mona was the third woman in the state to receive a master's degree. From 1910-1911, she studied at the Royal University in Berlin, receiving a Certificate of Language Study. Mona also studied French in Paris and traveled to London, Athens, Constantinople, Rome, and Cairo. In 1933 she studied creative writing at UCLA. At the time of her death in 1978 at the age of 91, Mona was pursuing a Ph.D. in sociology, and had taken about twenty post-graduate courses at the University of Utah in sociology and psychology.

In 1914 Ramona Wilcox married Joseph J. Cannon, a widower with three children: Wayne Dilworth Cannon, Jane Cannon Steward, and Grant Groesbeck Cannon. Together, they had four children: Elizabeth Cannon Ralphs, Adrian Wilcox Cannon, Bryant Wilcox Cannon, and Mark Wilcox Cannon.

During the early years of their marriage, Joseph traveled a great deal working to secure a business he was developing in Colombia. In 1918 Mona and five of the children moved to Colombia to be with Joseph and stayed for almost two years. In 1934 Joseph and Mona were named as President and Relief Society President of the LDS British Mission. The family lived in London from 1934-1937 and traveled extensively through northern Europe.

Joseph J. Cannon died from cancer in 1945. After Joseph's death, Mona taught and wrote to support herself and her youngest son Mark. She taught English at the University of Utah and German, French, Spanish, Latin, English, and history at the high school level. For 28 years (1943-1970) she wrote the "Women's Sphere" for the Relief Society Magazine. This was a column that noted the achievements of women worldwide. Ramona is also the author of 300 free-lance articles. At 64 Mona was the first Utah woman to run the Colorado. Mona spent the summer of 1956 in Berlin and revisited Latin America in 1965 and again in 1975 where she was the only American woman journalist at the inauguration of Venezuelan President Leone. She is also believed to be the only American woman to interview President Leone's wife.

Ramona Wilcox Cannon is perhaps best known for her anonymous writing. In November 1947, at the age of 60, Mona began writing The Deseret News' advice column, "Confidentially Yours," under the pen name "Mary Marker." Her career as Mary Marker spanned 26 years and ended in 1974 with more than 5,000 Mary Marker articles printed in The Deseret News. Section two of this collection further details Ramona's career as Mary Marker.

Mona served 5 years with the Salt Lake City Mental Health Association, 4 years with the Community Welfare Council, Inc. She was also involved with the Family Life Institute Committee, the Salt Lake City Council for Women, and was a founding member of Utah Press Women.

In 1964 Ramona Cannon received the first annual award given by the Utah Council on Family Relations for "Outstanding Contribution to Family Life." In 1971 the Utah Chapter of the National Federation of Press Woman awarded her their "Woman of Achievement Award." The Emeritus Club of the University of Utah (Alumni of 40 years standing) selected Mona as one of 20 distinguished Emeritus members in 1973. Two years later, the University of Utah recognized Mona as one of four "Distinguished Alumnus" for 1975. In 1978, months before her death, Mona received the Utah "Mother of the Year Award."

Return to Top

Content Description

The Ramona Wilcox Cannon papers (1863-1994) contain materials associated with the life of this Utah author and columnist (1887-1978). Included are family and professional correspondence, family history, "Mary Marker" articles, newspaper clippings, interview transcripts, copies and drafts of Mona's other writings, and other personal items such as scrapbooks, diaries, and notebooks.

Return to Top

Use of the Collection

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.

Return to Top

Administrative Information

Arrangement

This collection is divided into five sections: I. Ramona Wilcox Cannon (boxes 1-33); II. Mary Marker (boxes 34-39); III. Joseph J. Cannon (boxes 40-54); IV. Cannon Children (boxes 55-61); V. and the Wilcox and Stevenson Families (boxes 62-67).

Acquisition Information

Gift of Mark W. Cannon in 2001.

Separated Materials

See also the Ramona Wilcox Cannon photograph collection (P0871) in the Multimedia Division of Special Collections.

Processing Note

Processed by Hope Miller and Alison Rogers in 2003.

Click here to read a statement on harmful language in library records.

Related Materials

Forms part of the Aileen H. Clyde 20th Century Women's Legacy Archives.

Return to Top

Detailed Description of the Collection

  • I: Ramona Wilcox Cannon

    This series of the collection contains a variety of materials. The first box contains oral history, drafts and notes for Ramona's autobiography and other biographical information for Ramona Wilcox Cannon. Boxes two through ten contain correspondence that spans Ramona's entire life. The following boxes are filled with personal documents such as check stubs, party invitations, newsletters, pamphlets, and newspaper clippings. Some of these boxes have research Ramona collected about various topics such as Israel and Southern Utah. Boxes 24-31 contain drafts, notes, and articles Ramona wrote for publications such as The Relief Society Magazine and The Instructor.

    • Description: Oral Histories

      These folders contain the transcriptions of 12 tapes. Most of the tapes are the oral history of Ramona Wilcox Cannon, but there are oral histories from other members of the Cannon family. Folder three contains the transcription of Ramona Wilcox Cannon's funeral (tape 9).

      Dates: 1975-1988
      Container: Box 1, Folder 1-3
    • Description: Index of the Transcribed Oral Histories
      Container: Box 1, Folder 4
    • Description: Autobiography of Ramona Wilcox Cannon

      This autobiography is a compilation of short, story-like segments that span throughout the life of Ramona Wilcox Cannon

      Container: Box 1, Folder 5-7
    • Description: Notes and Drafts for Autobiography
      Container: Box 1, Folder 8
    • Description: Biographical Information

      This folder contains a great deal of biographical information on Ramona Wilcox Cannon, assembled by Mark Cannon between, 1990-1993.

      Dates: 1990-1993
      Container: Box 1, Folder 9
    • Description: An Index of Joseph J. Cannon and Ramona Wilcox Cannon

      This is an index of items in this collection as well as an index of items they have each published

      Container: Box 1, Folder 10
    • Description: Correspondence

      The correspondence in this box is to and from Ramona, her friends, the University of Utah, her sorority, and her family. The correspondence takes place as she is growing up and attending school. There are also items from the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis, Ramona's financial information, and various invitations and programs. Folders 6-12 contain correspondence between Ramona and her friends and family while she lived and taught in Heber City, Utah. Folders 13-17 are family correspondence. There are many letters from her brother, Fred, who was on a mission in Germany. Some correspondence in German.

      Dates: 1899-1910
      Container: Box 2
    • Description: Correspondence

      Folders one through eleven contain correspondence written while Ramona was in Europe. Many of the letters detail her European experiences and the news of her family at home. The remainder of the correspondence were written after Ramona returned home. There is also a copyright certificate for her play, Poor Peter, party invitations, and wedding announcements. Folders 17-18 have the courtship and engagement correspondence between Joseph J. Cannon and Ramona Wilcox Cannon.

      Dates: 1910-1913
      Container: Box 3
    • Description: Correspondence

      Most of the correspondence in boxes three and four are to and from Ramona Wilcox Cannon, Joseph, and extended family. Most of the letters are written by Joseph while he is away, working on the Lands of Loba, a land development project in Mompos, Colombia. The letters from Joseph are usually written from Colombia, although many are from places such as Tacoma, Chicago, Boston, Washington, D.C., Cuba, and Panama. The correspondence is usually about family, business, and health. Occasionally there are sketches from Joseph.

      Dates: 1914-1916
      Container: Box 4
    • Description: Correspondence
      Dates: 1917-1918
      Container: Box 5
    • Description: Correspondence

      The correspondence from 1919-1920 was written while the Cannon family was living in South America. There are numerous letters from The Home Correspondence School (a by-mail short story writing class). Correspondence in folders 6-7 mention Edward Stevenson Wilcox's death. During 1920, there are letters referencing the influenza epidemic. The letters written after 1920 take place when Ramona has returned to Salt Lake City from Colombia and Joseph is still away on business.

      Dates: 1919-1921
      Container: Box 6
    • Description: Correspondence

      The letters from 1921-1934 are between Ramona, her family, her friends, and miscellaneous people and businesses. As usual, many of the letters are between Joseph and Ramona while Joseph is away on business. Occasionally, there are letters from magazine publications about an article Ramona submitted for publication. The letters from 1934-1936 were written while the Cannons family served a LDS mission in Great Britain. Of particular interest are the letters that mention the death of Ramona's father in 1931 and the letters concerning Ramona's oldest daughter Elizabeth's impending divorce. There are also numerous letters about Church business.

      Dates: 1921-1936
      Container: Box 7
    • Description: Correspondence

      These letters are about the Cannon family's return from their British mission, their continued work with the LDS Church, their business pursuits, and the lives of Joseph and Ramona's children and extended family. Of particular importance are the letters that detail the death of Joseph J. Cannon in 1945. After Joseph's death, there is an increasing amount of business correspondence between Ramona Wilcox Cannon and various publications such as the Relief Society Magazine and the Deseret News.

      Dates: 1937-1948
      Container: Box 8
    • Description: Correspondence

      This correspondence is between family and business. The family correspondence details the lives of her children. They discuss their missions, educations, marriages, jobs , and the births of their children. The business correspondence is between magazines and newspapers and are about articles Ramona has written or intends to write. There is also professional correspondence between numerous organizations such as the LDS Church, the Salt Lake Chapter for the Utah Association for Mental Health, the Community Welfare Council, and Deseret News concerning story ideas and information Ramona needed to write "Confidentially Yours" columns.

      Dates: 1948-1963
      Container: Box 9
    • Description: Correspondence

      The correspondence in this box discuss Ramona's family and professional life. There are letters about an article Ramona wrote on Simon Bolivar for The Rotarian, letters about an award Ramona won from the Utah Council on Family Relations called "The Most Significant Contribution to Family Life in Utah, 1964-65" and letters that mention car accidents Ramona had in 1967 and 1971. The correspondence from 1969 and 1970 mention Grant's and Elizabeth's respective deaths. In 1972, there is correspondence pertaining to the "Woman of Achievement" award Ramona received from the Utah Press Women and the National Federation of Press Woman. Correspondence from 1973 mentions Ramona's trip to Israel and articles she wrote about the trip. In 1975, there are letters pertaining the"Distinguished Alumnus Award" Ramona received from the University of Utah. The letters from 1978 detail Ramona's award, "Mother of the Year for the State of Utah." Throughout the box, there are also several letters from Senator Frank Moss, Chief Justice Burger of the U.S Supreme Court, and Gordon B. Hinkley congratulating Ramona on her achievements. The final five folders in this box are miscellaneous and undated letters to and from Ramona Wilcox Cannon. Many of them are fragments of letters written between Ramona and Joseph.

      Dates: 1964-1979
      Container: Box 10
    • School Notebooks

      • Description: History Notebook

        This folder contains Mona Wilcox's "General History" notebook from 1905.

        Dates: 1905
        Container: Box 11, Folder 1
      • Description: Philosophy Notebook

        This notebook contains class notes on Pythagoras, Augustine, Sophocles, Plato, and Aristotle.

        Dates: 1907
        Container: Box 11, Folder 2
      • Description: English Literature Notebook

        This notebook contains class notes on Chaucer, the Reformation, the Renaissance, and church architecture.

        Dates: 1907
        Container: Box 11, Folder 3
      • Description: Ethics and English Papers

        This folder contains papers titled "Self Control and Temperance," "Solidarity," "Macaulay's Paragraph."

        Dates: 1907 April-October
        Container: Box 11, Folder 4
      • Description: English Papers

        This folder contains English papers with topics such as cats, little sisters, imagination, Robert Louis Stevenson, hair styles, and Kipling's "Man Who Would be King".

        Dates: 1907-1908
        Container: Box 11, Folder 5-6
      • Description: Shakespeare Notebooks

        These notebooks contain notes on Shakespeare's life, his plays, the development of Renaissance theater and culture, and Shakespeare criticism.

        Dates: 1908
        Container: Box 11, Folder 7-8
      • Description: English Notebook
        Container: Box 11, Folder 9
      • Description: Travel Notebook

        This notebook, entitled "Delphi," is an account of a trip to Greece.

        Container: Box 11, Folder 10
      • Description: Art, Architecture, and Commerce Notebook

        This notebook consists of notes on the art, architecture, and natural resources of various countries and cities (e.g. Milan, Japan, France, USA, Holland, etc.).

        Container: Box 11, Folder 11
      • Description: Religious and Travel Notebook

        This notebook contains quotes from The Discovery of Brigham Young that deal with LDS doctrine, spiritual guidance, and "womanly duties." There are also notes about a journey to the UK, and notes about the Relief Society.

        Container: Box 11, Folder 12
      • Description: 17th Century English History Notepad
        Container: Box 12, Folder 1
      • Description: 19th/20th Century Theater Studies Notebook

        This notebook contains notes on the works of Henrik Ibsen, George Bernard Shaw, and the Pre-Raphaelites.

        Container: Box 12, Folder 2
      • Description: Utah History Notes
        Container: Box 12, Folder 3
      • Description: Ethics Notebook

        This notebook contains class notes on Epicurus, Mill, Hedonism, Christian Asceticism, and Kant.

        Container: Box 12, Folder 4
      • Description: Theater Studies Notebook

        This notebook contains class notes on Pinero, H.A. Jones, W. Somerset Maughan, Alfred Sutro.

        Container: Box 12, Folder 5
      • Description: Goethe Notebook
        Container: Box 12, Folder 6
    • Personal Documents

    • Miscellaneous

      This box contains miscellaneous items that span Ramona Wilcox Cannon's life. There are also four folders that contain notes for Ramona's autobiography and a couple folders about her life accomplishments.

      • Description: Miscellaneous

        This folder contains copies of The New York Ledger from 1863 and 1865, a copy of Ramona's will, handwritten notes on her will and estate, notes on H.L. Mencken, and a report on Buddhism.

        Dates: 1863-1978
        Container: Box 20, Folder 1
      • Description: Miscellaneous

        This folder contains a handwritten list of Mona's silverware and china collections, part of an essay on Mormon persecution, expense records, and an essay entitled "Cannon Family Christmas Carols."

        Container: Box 20, Folder 2
      • Description: English Theater and a Map of Utah

        This folder contains notes on English theater and a scenic and historical map of Utah.

        Container: Box 20, Folder 3
      • Description: Miscellaneous

        This folder contains an expense sheet, lists of Mona's possessions, a handwritten draft of Mona's will, and a copy of a her Patriarchal Blessing.

        Container: Box 20, Folder 4
      • Description: Play Programs

        This folder contains play programs from Lyceum Theatre, President Theatre, Henry Miller's Theatre, and the Alhambra Theare.

        Container: Box 20, Folder 5
      • Description: Miscellaneous

        This folder contains typed notes on Oliver Wendell Holmes, Community Welfare Council, Inc. meeting announcement, a class syllabi, notesabout Mona's will, and an essay, "Then and Now."

        Container: Box 20, Folder 6
      • Description: Topographical Map, Utah
        Container: Box 20, Folder 7
      • Description: Art Prints, Newspaper Clippings, Programs and Notes
        Container: Box 20, Folder 8
      • Description: Miscellaneous

        This folder contains notes on the Utah League, expense records, an essay entitled "Original Noah's Ark Found," and a packet, "Classical Dances and Costumes of India."

        Container: Box 20, Folder 9
      • Description: Autobiographical Notes

        This folder contains letter excerpts, notes and other items pertaining to Ramona Wilcox Cannon. Included in this folder are her Deseret News employee card, pages from her passport, copies of her C.V., and a copy of her obituary.

        Dates: 1919-1978
        Container: Box 20, Folder 10
      • Description: Autobiographical Notes

        This folder contains notes on various subjects and an autobiographical essay on winning the 1972 "Woman of Achievement Award" from the Utah Chapter of the National Federation of Press Women.

        Container: Box 20, Folder 11
      • Description: Autobiographical Notes

        This folder contains a copy of an article, "Reflections of a Widow," and an essay, "A Propos of Small Pox: New York vs. New Orleans."

        Container: Box 20, Folder 12
      • Description: Autobiographical Notes

        This folder contains handwritten autobiographical notes.

        Container: Box 20, Folder 13
      • Description: Awards and Achievements

        This folder contains records of several awards and recognitions Ramona Wilcox Cannon received. Among them are the 1963 Desert News award, "Favorite Feature Column", the 1972 Utah Press Woman award, "Woman of Achievement", and the Desert News "1978 Mother of the Year" award. This folders contains many newspaper articles about Ramona's achievements, as well as information about the accomplishments of her children.

        Dates: 1908-1978
        Container: Box 20, Folder 14
      • Description: University of Utah Alumnae

        These folders have many newspaper articles. Among them is an article and its drafts written in 1975 by Ramona about the University of Utah entitled, "To See a Campus Grow." In 1973, Ramona won the Emeritus Club Merit of Honor Award and in 1975, she won the Distinguished Alumnus Award.

        Dates: 1900-1976
        Container: Box 20, Folder 15-16
    • Subjects

      • Description: Church History

        These folders contain an assortment of pamphlets, articles, notes, and other sorts of documents regarding various historical aspects of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Topics include polygamy, Lucy Mack, Eliza R. Snow, Emmeline B. Wells, Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, Orson Pratt, the urim and thummin, Mormon currency, and Nauvoo. There are also some color illustrations of the Nauvoo temple and Joseph Smith.

        Dates: 1850-1978
        Container: Box 21, Folder 1-2
      • Description: Israel

        In 1973, Ramona Wilcox Cannon attended the World Meeting Of Women Journalists and Writers in Israel. The contents of these two folders contain articles, notes, maps, postcards, travel notebooks, and pamphlets that she collected in relation to her trip to Israel. There is information about Golda Mier, kibbutzes, and other cultural aspects of Israel.

        Dates: 1946-1974
        Container: Box 21, Folder 3-4
      • Description: Joseph Jensen

        Joseph Jensen was involved with water management in the Colorado River. This folder contains correspondence, an award and a biographical summary of Joseph Jensen. There is also a photocopied letter from Ronald Regan and a photocopied photograph of Jensen with Lyndon B. Johnson.

        Dates: 1966-1969
        Container: Box 21, Folder 5
      • Description: Southern Utah Miscellaneous

        These folders contain a wide variety of materials pertaining to Southern Utah. There are articles, notes, stories, postcards, pamphlets, and reports on the Navajos, the San-Juan River, Moab, Hole-in-the-Rock, uranium, the Colorado River, the Mormon Pioneers, and river running.

        Dates: 1857-1978
        Container: Box 21, Folder 6-7
      • Description: England

        This box contains programs, newspaper and magazine articles, maps, postcards, and pamphlets about England. Most of the material in this box are newspaper articles from British newspapers such as the Daily Mail, the Daily Sketch, and the Evening Standard. Most of the material is about the death of King George V, the coronation of George VI, the abdication of King Edward VIII, the coronation of Queen Elizabeth, and the wedding of Princess Ann to Captain Mark Phillips. Many of these events took place while Ramona and Joseph served their mission in London. Through out her life, Ramona often wrote articles about her experiences in London and continued to collect information about British royalty.

        Dates: 1922-1966
        Container: Box 22
      • Description: Author's Club

        Each of these folders contain newspaper articles, history, yearbooks, correspondence, and membership information for the Author's Club of Utah.

        Dates: 1911-1977
        Container: Box 23
    • Articles and Miscellaneous by Ramona Wilcox Cannon

      This box contains drafts, notes, and actual articles that Ramona Wilcox Cannon wrote. When the folder's title is the name of a publication, the folder contains articles Ramona wrote for that particular publication.

    • Voice of Experience and Woman's Sphere

      • Description: Voice of Experience

        Transcripts of a national daily radio show that discussed personal improvement issues.

        Dates: 1932
        Container: Box 25, Folder 1
      • Description: Woman's Sphere

        The "Woman's Sphere" was a monthly column Ramona Wilcox Cannon wrote for the Relief Society Magazine for 28 years. The column contained information about women around the world and throughout time. While many of the items in her column were related to religious issues, many were also secular in nature and noted the achievements of women.

        Dates: 1942-1970
        Container: Box 25, Folder 2
    • Writing

      Boxes 31-32 are short stories and essays that RWC wrote. Some of them are fictional, others are autobiographical, and others are non-fiction. It is not clear if any of these pieces were ever published and none of them are dated. For the most part, there are several drafts of each piece; included in the folder descriptions are the titles of the pieces included and a short summary. They were taken from an index the donor included with the collection.

      • Description: Writing
        • "Down River," about the life of a servant girl. This is only part of the paper.
        • "The Story of the Deseret Hospital," story of how Deseret Hospital got started.
        • "Dunlop Coincides," memories of Dunlop's war experiences.
        • "Florence Atkinson," about a mother who opened her home for over 30 years to more than 300 children with unfortunate circumstances.
        Container: Box 26, Folder 1
      • Description: Writing
        • "The George V Trilogy," about the coronation of King George and Queen Mary, the Jubilee, and the death of King George. Contains Mona's experiences with each.
        • "The Happy Pair" (or "Little Pals"), Adrian and Sandy were like twins, best friends, Sandy moved away.
        • "Handcart Wife," about some of the trials of Jense and Elsie Nielson who made the trek west with a handcart company.
        • "Harlan's Folks," story of Alene, the hardships of her life and her relationship with her nephew, Harlan.
        • "If I Had Known......," about a girl who didn't like boys, went on to college, thought she didn't want to get married, went home and was courted by a widower with three children.
        • "Indians Work Uranium Deposits," Harry Goulding worked with the Indians to find uranium when our country was at war.
        Container: Box 26, Folder 2
      • Description: Writing
        • "Dim Recess," story of married couple who had grown apart. The wife came across letters husband had written to a son, not yet thought of. The wife then saw where she could be a better wife and they could grow closer "Jung," the stages of life, with psychiatry and psychology, notes.
        • "Liberation of Latin American Women Pays Off Handsomely" (or "The 'Kings' Pay Homage"). About customs in Colombia and how a neighbor friend of Mona's kept those customs.
        • "Krebsey and the Unemployment Problem," a play about good health, germs, diphtheria, typhoid, strep, tuberculosis, and how they are spread.
        • "Love Came on Cat's Feet," story of a girl and her family. The parents got a divorce, mother and her sister went to Hollywood and the girl's relationship with mother was not very good.
        Container: Box 26, Folder 3
      • Description: Writing
        • "Loveliness to Spare, Page the Designers-America Calling," article or story about designers, one in particular, Mrs. Gertrude Isalone de Racan Sanders.
        • "Casa De Libertad" (or "Liberty House", or "The Way of the Wilderness"), story of Robert, living in another country, who thought of his house as a house of liberty and kept out whatever he wanted kept out (women).
        • "Live and Learn Forever," Brigham Young told early Latter-day Saints about attaining a higher education, the early church promoted higher education.
        • "What's New In Crime and Punishment?" paper for sociology.
        • "President Grant," story Mona wrote about President Grant coming to England.
        • "George Martin Ottunger," paper written about George Martin Ottunger.
        • "Affirmations in an Answerless World," part of a paper written about a play.
        • "Bread Riots," story and notes about high bread prices and people rioting.
        • "Emerson," notes and paper on Emerson.
        • "Christ in the Temple," about Christ in the temple.
        • "Angela's Paradise," small child, Angela, who lived in a village in Colombia. It was the rainy season and her mother was ill and they hoped for a doctor to come in a canoe and see after her. Angela went with a family that paid for her service so that the money would help her mother.
        • "Ensign Stake," the history of Ensign Stake.
        • "Children of the Persecutions," the sufferings of Saints driven from Jackson County.
        Container: Box 26, Folder 4
      • Description: Writing
        • "What of Us? Revery in a Dentist's Chair," the hardships of a large family, not sufficient money for medical and dental care. Concerns for the whole family doing without.
        • "The Story of a Great Man," (post card attached) about Melrose Abbey in Scotland and the man behind it.
        • "Authors at the London 'Sunday Times' Book Exhibition," about different.
        • authors at the book exhibition.
        • "Reminiscences of Mrs. John Sharp," for the Relief Society Magazine, about Sister Hannah Sharp in her old age and about her life.
        • "A Child of Destiny," a play with fairies and elves. About a mother who sees the destiny of her son.
        • "'Conservation' is a Lovely Word," Mona expanding on a Bishopric member saying, "those who use more than their fair share of water are stealing.".
        • "Cannon Pageant," a play about the Cannon ancestors.
        • "Conservation, All Hail!" Mona writes about conservation among nations, learning from each other.
        Container: Box 26, Folder 5
      • Description: Writing
        • "Women Courageous, Abigail Leonard Episode," a play about the Missouri persecutions of the Saints.
        • "Women-Reveille For Peace," a paper on women of the world uniting for peace (fighting against nuclear weapons).
        • "A Modern Godmother" or "What-No Godmothers!" or "Loveliness to Spare," a paper about Gertrude Isalone de Racan Sanders, a designer who lives in California.
        • "The Stepmother," about a woman who had turned down four marriage proposals, married at the age of 27 who found herself the stepmother to three children.
        • "Stratford-Upon-Avon and the Shakespeare Memorial Theater," about Shakespeare's surroundings as he grew up, such as Stratford-upon-Avon, and how these were part of his plays.
        • "Synopsis of the Novel Ever After," Mavis marries a man who had lived in Colombia, they go there for their honeymoon and it turns out to be a strange one. This tells of their experiences and working out their problems.
        Container: Box 26, Folder 6
      • Description: Writing
        • "This is Utah, The Desert Tells Its Story," play or radio program, about the beauty of Utah and also its history. Play takes place with Brigham Young, Orson Pratt, Erastus Snow.
        • "To See A Campus Grow," some history of the University of Utah and Mona's experiences with the different classes she took over the years.
        • "Vocational Scripts, The Fertile Field of Fine Arts and Entertainment" or "The Professions," a slide show script of different work fields.
        • "We'll Let You Know," a play about a new Relief Society presidency of a new stake, examples of how they spent 11 years working together and helping each other.
        • "With a Neville Expedition," Mona's experiences on a Norman Nevills expedition down the San Juan and Colorado rivers.
        • "The Wise Inca of Cuzco," story about Spaniards who came looking for Peru and riches and found the Incas advanced roadways, irrigation systems.
        Container: Box 26, Folder 7
      • Description: Writing
        • "Of Pop-Tops and Egg Shells," Bishop urges congregation to conserve and preserve more, especially water. This is Mona's thoughts on this. A news clipping is attached.
        • "Poor Peter," a play that takes place in Germany. Peter, an American, is in love with a girl.
        • "The Relation of Poor Economic Status to Juvenile Delinquency," paper Mona wrote for a class.
        • "Pasteur, Life," about Louis Pasteur.
        • "Rings and Things Part II," woman returns to her home town and many of her friends are married with little families. She goes to work at a high school and the principal, a widower with two children, proposes to her. This is about their life together.
        • "Women Courageous," radio episodes. About Mrs. Annie Wells Cannon (Emmeline Wells daughter) and Mrs. Emmeline B. Wells. Emmeline's 91 years old, ill, in bed, and wants to see President Woodrow Wilson.
        • "The Stuff that Dreams Are Made Of" or "Desert Trail," About a desert guide who owed debts and wished he could ask his girl to marry him. He finds uranium deposits, which would help pay his debts since uranium is in higher demand because the new atomic bombs.
        • "Samuel Whitney Richards," a short genealogy of Samuel Richards' family, events that happened in Samuel Richards' life (ie: helping to build the Nauvoo Temple).
        • "Sun on the Hills," a story that takes place in Bluff, Utah.
        Container: Box 26, Folder 8
      • Description: Writing
        • "Autobiography of Jack Stewart," about Jack, an Indian from an Indian community.
        • "Sweden of Today," excerpts from a History of Sweden.
        • "Mormon Widows," about Mormon widows, remembering.
        • "Dr. Burgess," about Dr. Burgess, a leading scholar on family life problems in America, and about successful marriages.
        • "Dog Days," story about a grandmother and her pet dog who gets into a fight with a bull dog.
        • "Communications as Media for Promoting Family Life Education," paper Mona wrote for a class, researching newspapers and educational type magazines to further education for family life.
        • "The Adventures of Shule," a story from Book of Mormon times, about Kib.
        • "Will the Real Mexico Stand Up?" story about a girl who married at 16, went to live with her husband in Mexico, and their experiences there.
        • "Family Centered Creative and Provident Living," in today's world of diminishing resources, life demands new thinking and new life styles.
        Container: Box 27, Folder 1
      • Description: Writing
        • "Beatie, Loove" or "Cupid and Big Corporation" or "Page Mr. Cupid," story of 50-year-old woman and her son. The woman worked at a boarding house and then started a new job.
        • "The Children's Charter," President Hoover's White House conference on child health and protection. The rights of the child are recognized as the first rights of citizenship.
        • "Rehabilitation for Law Breakers," paper by Mona on capital punishment.
        • "Autobiography of Same Newland".
        • "The Jane Addams Centennial," about Jane Addams, who founded Hull House in Chicago, a home for the poor, her years in social work.
        • "About the Angel Moroni Statue," all about how the angel Moroni statue was built, what it's made of, the placing of the statue on the Salt Lake Temple.
        • "Mormon Pioneering," all about the Mormon settlements established in Utah.
        • "A Strange Courtship," about what Nephi's thoughts might have been during his experiences in the Book of Mormon..
        • "The Worth of the Bible," about the Bible, and the translation into English.
        Container: Box 27, Folder 2
      • Description: Writing
        • "Woman's Sphere," note on American women-suffrage, 1960.
        • "Woman's Sphere," example of what women can do for peace, 1968.
        • "One Cannot Live Long Enough to Outgrow a University," published in U of U book, Remembering, published 1981.
        • "The 'Kings' Pay Homage," paper resulting from Mona's stay in Venezuela in 1964.
        • "Mormon Women in Society," about Mormon women's role in society.
        • "A Word About Women, Let's Talk About Us," about women of the west. Have they influenced America?.
        • "Appreciation of the Literary Lessons in Relief Society," purpose of literary lessons.
        • "Mrs. Lydia Spencer Clawson-Wife and Mother," about Mrs. Clawson. For the Relief Society Magazine.
        • "Poems from the Relief Society Magazine," a few poems about women.
        • "University Courses Prepare Students for Marriage," paper by Mona.
        • "Alcoholism," report by Mona on alcohol studies.
        • "Mental Health," paper and notes on mental health patients.
        • "Child Worshipers," paper, child-centered society.
        • "Praxiteles-What He Accomplished for Greek Sculpture," paper by Mona about Greek art.
        • "A Scare," paper about a girl who reads book late into the night.
        • "Mothers of Our Presidents," about the prophets' mothers.
        • "Sister Lord at Blackpool," about Sister Lord.
        • "The Child Grows," about children and Dr. Spock's advice on children.
        • "The George V Trilogy," about the coronation of King George V, was printed in the Improvement Era.
        • "Alfred Lambourne," paper about the painter, his life.
        Container: Box 27, Folder 3
      • Description: Writing
        • "Philippine Encampment at the St. Louis Exposition," paper by Mona, newspaper clipping attached.
        • "The Foundling," a story about two sisters, Mary and Nora, Mary took a year break from teaching because she was having trouble with nerves.
        • "Bohemian Sketches, The Mother with the Accomplished Daughter," story of mother and daughter, mother who worked tirelessly for her daughter Bessie, so she could continue piano lessons and have nice dresses.
        • "Babes in the Woods," about a husband upset with a failing business. His wife tries to comfort him.
        • "Leonardo da Vinci," a play about Mona Lisa sitting for her portrait and da Vinci wondering about her smile.
        • "M. Of Venice," Mona's notes for this story or play.
        • "The Muddy Mission," play, takes place about 1866, party coming from Salt Lake to St. Thomas, sisters starved of Salt Lake news.
        Container: Box 27, Folder 4
      • Description: Writing
        • "Flux of Time," Story. The war changed everything; a look at the family and the house where this family used to live.
        • "Hawk and Canary," story of a guy in love with a girl.
        • "Inner Dimensions," we live in a measured world, but the spirit cannot be measured nor the imagination.
        • "Inevitable?" notes for a mining play.
        • "Jessie," a love story.
        • "Paradise Lost," for Relief Society. About Mark Van Doren and the art of poetry.
        • "Noel's Fourteen Thousand Babies," story about Noel Barclay and his father's poultry farm.
        • "Mrs. F. I. Jones," story, black worker came into the kitchen hungry. He ended up hitting the woman.
        • "For the Adventurous," girl's family moved to Mexican Hat. The girl was too young to marry Norman Neville.
        Container: Box 27, Folder 5
      • Description: Writing
        • "The Surprise," Joseph Cannon gets a mission call to England.
        • "Angela's Paradise," story about Angela, a little girl who lives in Colombia.
        • "Pornography," paper about pornography.
        • "Through the Portals of Death," Mona's experience with diphtheria.
        • "Lula Green Richards," about the 1st editor of Woman's Exponent.
        • "Old Mompos-the L. Leaf on the Tree," experiences the Cannon family had in Mompos.
        • "Pewter Tears", someone in the family has scarlet fever and after a long year of many illnesses, this is about the family dealing with it.
        • "Romance in a Caffy," about a girl who worked at a boarding house and gets a new job at a café.
        • "Reinhardt-There was Light," notes.
        • "Haun's Mill, Christmas Stockings," about Haun's Mill and Abigail Leonard.
        Container: Box 27, Folder 6
      • Description: Writing
        • "Jessie", story of a girl.
        • "The Little Picture", story of married couple coming into some money.
        • "La Gran Fiesta in Mompos", centennial celebration of Colombia.
        • "Ouch! Ouch! Stories", story about small boy Harold.
        • "Another Code", short story, mother very upset over finding out her daughter had violated their moral code.
        • "Every Body's Sla**y", play or story. It is a dialog between two people.
        • "My Purse Snatcher," story.
        • "Latin", paper by Mona.
        • "A Cruise on the Great Salt Lake", paper by Mona.
        • "Peace and Pacifism", about women and peace.
        • "Blackpool", Mona's reflections of Blackpool.
        • "The Birds and the Bees", notes, temple square mission.
        Container: Box 27, Folder 7
      • Description: "Lovers of the Land" and "The Paxmans"
        Container: Box 28, Folder 1
      • Description: "Lancelot Thesis" and "California Story Novelette"
        Container: Box 28, Folder 2
      • Description: "Dream River" and "Extinct Wife"
        Container: Box 28, Folder 3
      • Description: "Guardians" and "Tropical Wife"
        Container: Box 28, Folder 4
      • Description: "The Spinners"
        Container: Box 28, Folder 5
      • Description: "Aunt Julia Plays Cupid" and "Anything You Can Do"
        Container: Box 28, Folder 6
      • Description: "Relief Society Presidents"
        Container: Box 28, Folder 7
      • Description: "Socrates and the Inward Soul" (Play)
        Container: Box 28, Folder 8
      • Description: "Mompas, Colomiba" and "Caracas, Venezuela"
        Container: Box 29, Folder 1
      • Description: Hole-in-the-Rock
        Container: Box 29, Folder 2
      • Description: Miscellaneous Plays
        Container: Box 29, Folder 3
      • Description: Poems
        Container: Box 29, Folder 4
      • Description: Instructor Articles
        Container: Box 29, Folder 5
      • Description: "History of San Juan County"
        Container: Box 29, Folder 6
      • Description: Miscellaneous
        Container: Box 29, Folder 7
      • Description: Untitled Writing
        • Subject: world unrest-wars, starvation
        • Subject: insects, animals, birds
        • Subject: polygamy in Utah
        • Subject: Mary Cassatt
        • Subject: about Mona and school
        • Subject: story, part, a few family men off to war (in Colombia?)
        • Subject: on the battlefield of Vicksburg, Miss.
        • Subject: about Brother Sperry crossing the plains with the saints
        • Subject: the Saints in Missouri
        • Subject: talk on Mattie Hughes Cannon
        Container: Box 30, Folder 1
      • Description: Untitled Writing
        • Subject: Writers' Conference notes, 1947
        • Subject: chapter of a novel, takes place in Colombia
        • Subject: play with Brigham Young and Relief Society sisters
        • Subject: domestic life in America, families, cities
        • Subject: notes on the Harvard Library
        • Subject: religious experience with Joe
        • Subject: Mona's reflections of her childhood
        • Subject: Relief Society Christmas story
        • Subject: notes on how to lead discussions
        • Subject: Mona's notes on B. F. Skinner's book, "Walden Two"
        • Subject: story about Nathan Hale
        Container: Box 30, Folder 2
      • Description: Untitled Writing
        • Subject: notes on Well's outlines of history
        • Subject: European travel notes
        • Subject: novel, unmarried girl soon to have a baby
        • Subject: two girls created styled in New York City before and during the war
        • Subject: man who has a mine he runs, good friends with daughter
        • Subject: financial notes on stocks
        • Subject: Mattie Hughes Cannon
        • Subject: notes for a story
        • Subject: paper-difference between families of yesterday and today
        • Subject: part of a novel, newlyweds in South America
        • Subject: notes in a Jungle Land notebook
        • Subject: heredity factor, chemical reactions, notes
        • Subject: paper by Mona
        • Subject: paper on history
        • Subject: paper or notes about Relief Society
        Container: Box 30, Folder 3
      • Description: Notes

        This folder consists Relief Society Magazine covers and title pages of issues that feature Mona and extensive notes on buildings (e.g. The Salt Lake Temple and the Deseret Gym).

        Container: Box 30, Folder 3
      • Description: Notes

        This folder consists of story suggestions, written on notecards.

        Container: Box 30, Folder 2
      • Description: Notes

        This folder includes notes on England and adult education.

        Container: Box 30, Folder 3
      • Description: Notes

        Includes notes on the Third Reich.

        Container: Box 30, Folder 4
      • Description: Notes

        This folder contains autobiographical notes and a short story excerpt.

        Container: Box 30, Folder 5
      • Description: Notes

        This folder includes notes on play writing, psychology, and Romeo and Juliet. Also included is a manuscript by Nancy Wilcox, entitled "Joan."

        Container: Box 30, Folder 6
      • Description: Notes

        This folder contains notes on Romantic poetry, a story on flight preparation training, and a story on "Children of the Persecution."

        Container: Box 30, Folder 7
      • Description: Notebook

        This notebook contains notes on people and their life experiences.

        Container: Box 30, Folder 8
      • Description: Notebook

        This is an undated notebook with notes on 19th century German literature.

        Container: Box 30, Folder 9
      • Description: Notebook

        This is an undated notebook with notes on educating children, writing an advice column, and sociology class notes.

        Container: Box 30, Folder 10
    • Books and Pamphlets

    • Oversized

  • II: Mary Marker

    This series contains photocopied articles of "Confidentially Yours," letters to Mary Marker, letters and responses from Mary Marker, Ramona's drafts, notes, and research materials.

    • Description: "Confidentially Yours"

      This box contains articles photocopied from the Deseret News of Ramona Wilcox Cannon's column, "Confidentially Yours".

      Dates: 1945-1973
      Container: Box 33B
    • Description: "Dear Reader..." Articles

      "Dear Reader..." was a feature of the "Confidentially Yours" column. These were short articles about topics that frequently came up in the column. Oftentimes these articles talked about community needs and resources while other times these articles offered general advice on issues such as chastity, home budgeting, religion, and holiday preparation. Occasionally there articles in this folder not connected to "Confidentially Yours" but still written under the pen name Mary Marker.

      Dates: 1950-1973
      Container: Box 34, Folder 1
    • Description: Miscellaneous Mary Marker Articles
      Container: Box 34, Folder 2
    • Description: Letters to Mary Marker

      These folders as well as boxes 35 and 36 contain the letters readers wrote to Mary Marker. Usually these letters ask Mary Marker for help. Oftentimes, there are letters from readers responding with their own advice to a question printed in a previous column. Many of the letters have Ramona's own brief notes indicating her opinion or whether or not a particular letter was used for the column.

      Dates: 1948-1954
      Container: Box 34, Folder 3-7
    • Description: Letters to Mary Marker
      Dates: 1950-1959
      Container: Box 35
    • Description: Letters to Mary Marker
      Dates: 1960-1974
      Container: Box 36
    • Description: Letters to and Responses from Mary Marker

      In these folders, reader's questions, Ramona's responses, and readers' responses are typed out and placed alongside one another. It is not clear whether or not these questions and their answers were ever actually printed in the Deseret News.

      Dates: 1948-1959
      Container: Box 37
    • Description: Letters to and Responses From Mary Marker
      Dates: 1960-1974
      Container: Box 38, Folder 1-3
    • Description: Correspondence from Mary Mary

      These letters were never printed in the Deseret News because they are private responses from Mary Marker. Oftentimes, the letters have Mary Marker's personal advice as well as lists of resources a reader might find helpful. Occasionally, the letters simply acknowledge that Mary Marker received a letter and will respond as soon as possible.

      Dates: 1948-1971
      Container: Box 38, Folder 4-5
    • Description: Drafts of "Dear Readers"
      Dates: 1948-1973
      Container: Box 38, Folder 6
    • Description: Farewell Letter Drafts
      Dates: 1975
      Container: Box 38, Folder 7
    • Description: Mirror for Marriage

      The contents of this folder are chapter drafts of a book Ramona Cannon Wilcox was writing under the pen name, Mary Marker.

      Container: Box 38, Folder 8
    • Description: "Mary Marker on the Air"

      This is a script of a Mary Marker radio show.

      Container: Box 38, Folder 9
    • Description: "Faith Promoting Incident from the Life of Famed Athlete Calvin Edward Clark"

      This is an article written under the pen name, Mary Marker.

      Container: Box 38, Folder 10
    • Description: Miscellaneous Writings

      These are more notes, drafts, and articles written by Ramona Wilcox Cannon under the pen name of Mary Marker. These articles are not related to the Mary Marker advice column.

      Container: Box 38, Folder 11
    • Description: Mary Marker Notes
      Container: Box 38, Folder 12
    • Mary Marker Source Materials

      • Description: "Dear Reader" Articles

        "Dear Reader" articles are written by Mary Marker about moral themes. They are not related to a particular question.

        Dates: 1950-1973
        Container: Box 39, Folder 1
      • Description: Source Material

        These folders contain clippings from magazines and newspapers. They contain material that helped Ramona write her column. Many clippings are about family relationships, teen sex, and love. Folder four contains a book, The Successful Latter-day Saint Family in the Modern World, 1955.

        Container: Box 39, Folder 2-4
  • III: Joseph J. Cannon

    The first ten boxes in this series contain correspondence and personal documents. To maintain the original structure of this collection, they have been arranged chronologically. The final three boxes of the series are the plays, articles, and various notes Joseph J. Cannon wrote throughout his life.

  • IV: Cannon Children

    • Wayne Dillworth Cannon

      Wayne Dillworth Cannon (1906-1978) was the oldest son of Joseph J. Cannon. Almost all the folders in these boxes contain letters between Wayne and his parents. The letters from 1909-1918 take place when Joseph J. Cannon is either in Mompos, Colombia or is traveling throughout the East Coast on business. Oftentimes, Joseph J. Cannon advises his son to be a good boy by being clean, honest, and helpful. He tells his son not to swear and to study hard in school. In 1919, Wayne and his family accompany their father to Colombia. In 1926, Wayne leaves to serve an LDS mission in Berlin, Germany. Early in his mission, Wayne becomes sick with appendicitis and there are many letters between Wayne, his father, and his uncle, Hugh J. Cannon (also his mission president), discussing Wayne's illness and the possibilities of him coming home. Wayne stays in Berlin until he is released 1928. In 1929, Wayne moves to New York City, attends New York University, studies air transport engineering, and marries Marjorie Thayer Smith. He graduates from NYU in 1931. In 1932, their daughter Nadine is born and in 1937, Wayne Dillworth Cannon II is born.

      The Wayne Cannon family lived in New Jersey and worked in New York City for various aeronautical and civil engineering companies. They kept up diligent correspondence with Wayne's father, Joseph J. Cannon, in Salt Lake City. In the late 1930s, Nadine begins corresponding with her grandfather, Joseph J. Cannon. In 1945, Joseph J. Cannon dies and the correspondence picks up with Ramona Wilcox Cannon, Wayne's stepmother. Nadine attends Vassar University and works for numerous business in New York City, namely Estee Lauder Cosmetics, and never marries. Dillworth attends Yale for his undergraduate degree and then Colombia Medical School, where he became a surgeon. In 1961, he marries Grace Raff Bert. In late 1950s, Wayne Cannon begins traveling to South America as a Latin America Product Specialist for his business, the Cannon Marketing Corporation. In 1957, he even returns to Mompos, Colombia and visits the friends he made in 1918. In 1963, Wayne and Marjorie move to Huntsville Alabama where he works with NASA as the Executive Assistant to the Director of Research. He dies in 1974. The correspondence in these boxes give a detailed and consistent account of the lives of not only the Wayne Cannon Family, but also Joseph, Mona and the other Joseph J. Cannon children.

    • Description: Wayne Dillworth Cannon Correspondence
      Dates: 1914-1976
      Container: Box 56, Folder 1-2
    • Jane Cannon Steward

      Jane Cannon Steward (1908-1988) was the second oldest child of Joseph J. Cannon. This box is mostly correspondence between Jane, her father, and her stepmother, Ramona Wilcox Cannon. As seen in the early correspondence of Wayne Cannon, the correspondence from approximately 1915-1917 are from Joseph J. Cannon while he is in Colombia and traveling around the world on business. These letters tell Jane to be a good little girl, help her mother, practice her violin and "be a gentle lady and not like a rough neck." During the Depression, Jane quits college to work as her father's secretary for the Cannon Supply Company. There are a few letters detailing this experience; one in particular mentions Joseph J. Cannon having his salary cut by about 20% with no hope or sign that the future will be better. When the canning business failed, Jane attends school in San Francisco and in 1933, she meets and marries anthropologist Julian Steward. In 1935, Julian receives a job working for the Smithsonian Institution in Washington DC where he directed the Institute for Social Anthropology. The new family moved to Langley, Virginia. During this time, Julian wrote the highly influential seven volume Handbook of the South American Indians.

      While living in Langley, Virginia, Jane had two children. Garriott Cannon was born in 1936 and Michael Cannon was born in 1939. She also developed and opened a cooperative nursery school, the second in the nation. In 1938, Jane, Julian and Garriott went to Ecuador on a field excursion. In 1946, the family moved to New York City because Julian became a professor at Colombia University. In 1952, Julian accepted a graduate Research Professorship at the University of Illinois, was awarded the prestigious Viking Medal from the American Anthropological Association, and was elected to the National Academy of the Sciences. In 1956, Jane and Julian spent a year in Kyoto, Japan where Julian directed the American Studies Seminar. After their stay in Japan, they traveled around the world. In the late 1960s, Julian's physical health began to deteriorate and Jane transcribed, edited and published Julian's final books, Evolution and Ecology: Essays on Social Transformation. Jane did influential work with Head Start, the Child Abuse Center, and the Suicide and Crisis Center. She died of two minor strokes in Honolulu, Hawaii in 1988.

    • Grant Groesbeck Cannon

      Grant Groesbeck Cannon was the third child of Joseph J. Cannon and Florence Groesbeck Cannon. He was born in 1911 in Salt Lake City, Utah. The early correspondence in this folder is between Grant and his father during his father's extensive business trips. These letters offer Grant advice about school and his relationships with his family. In one letter, Joseph J. Cannon even tells Grant that if he can play five songs on the piano by the time he comes home, Grant will get ten dollars. Grant attended the University of Utah and studied anthropology. In 1934, Grant worked as an archaeologist in Zions National Park. After working in Zions, Grant moves to Berkley, California in search of work. Numerous letters from this period mention the Depression and its effects on finding a job. From 1937-1942, Grant worked as a field examiner for the National Labor Relations Board in St, Louis, Missouri. During this time, Grant was sent a letter from J. Edgar Hoover that questions his anthropological work, suggesting that he has "radical tendencies leading towards Communism". Grant writes home that government spies were spying on the National Labor Relations Board. In this same letter, Grant writes that he is sending his father boxes of mail and other documents to protect him further interrogations. From 1941-1942, there are several letters discussing the high probability that Grant will be drafted. Grant joins the army and from 1942-1946, he was apart of the US Air Force Intelligence Division. After the war, Grant writes and edits for Farm Quarterly for 22 years. Folders four and five contain many of the articles Grant wrote for Farm Quarterly.

      In 1942, Grant married Pulitzer Prize winning author, Josephine Johnson. Folders four and five have several documents about Josephine's 1935 Pulitzer Prize winning book, Now in November, her 1963 book, The Dark Traveler, and other aspects of her writing career. During their marriage, Josephine and Grant were active Quakers. They had two children, Jane Ann Cannon and Terry Cannon. Grant died of cancer in 1969. Josephine continued corresponding with the Cannon family after Grant's death. Many of the folders contain materials pertaining to Josephine's life and career after 1969.

    • Elizabeth Cannon Ralphs

      Born in 1914, Elizabeth Cannon Ralphs was Ramona Wilcox Cannon's first daughter and was often called Libby. In 1934, Elizabeth married Frank Haymond but divorced him in 1935. Elizabeth remarried in 1938 to Thomas Ralphs; they had four children (Judy, Timothy, Roger, and Lindsay) and lived in Salt Lake most of their lives. Elizabeth was apart of the Junior League and often wrote radio children's plays for KSL radio in Salt Lake City. Elizabeth also helped her mother write the Mary Marker column. In 1960, the Ralphs family spent a year traveling in Europe and there are many letters to Ramona Wilcox Cannon describing their adventures. Elizabeth died in 1970.

    • Adrian Wilcox and Bryant Cannon

      This box contains documents pertaining to both Adrian and Bryant Cannon, the middle sons of Ramona and Joseph Cannon. Adrian was born in 1917. From 1935-1937, Adrian lived in England, serving a LDS mission. In 1948, Adrian married Pauline Black and they had seven children, Joseph, Christopher, David, Elizabeth, Kimball, Grant, and Gloria. The Adrian Wilcox Cannon family moved to Southern California in 1962 and opened up a LDS bookstore near the LDS temple in Los Angeles. During the 1960s, the Cannon family began doing extremely long-distanced bike rides and hikes that received local and national media attention. For instance, in 1963, Adrian and six of his children hiked 52 miles in 17 hours. Then in 1964, Adrian and three of his sons rode their bikes from Los Angeles to New York City to see the World's Fair.

      Around 1945, Adrian began writing the biography of George Q. Cannon. Throughout the process, however, Adrian faced monetary difficulties and ran into problems with the first presidency of the LDS church. As a result, the project was never fully completed. There are many letters between Adrian, members of the extended Cannon family, and members of the LDS first presidency concerning the logistics of the biography. Adrian died in 1991.

      The final folder has excerpts from Joseph J. Cannon's diary about Bryant Wilcox Cannon (1922-1996), the second youngest of the Cannon children. There is also some correspondence. These documents discuss Bryant's relationship to his family, mention that he volunteered for the Navy in 1943, graduated from North Western as a midshipman in 1945, married a woman named Lois, worked for IBM, and lived in Laguna Beach, California.

    • Mark Wilcox Cannon

      Mark W. Cannon was the youngest child of Joseph J. Cannon and Ramona Wilcox Cannon. Mark spent two years at a junior college in California from 1944-1946. He then transferred to the University of Utah and became student body president in 1948. Marked served an LDS mission in Argentina from 1949-1951; this box has numerous letters from his mission. From 1952-1955, Mark attended Harvard University and obtained a Master's of Public Administration and a PhD in Political Economy and Government. Mark's PhD thesis was titled, "The Mormon Issue in Congress, 1872-1882: Drawing on the Experience of Territorial Delegate, George Q. Cannon." After completing school, Mark was an administrative assistant to Congressman Henry Aldous Dixon from 1956-1960. From 1961-1963, Mark was the legislative assistant to Senator Wallace F. Bennet. He married Ruth Dixon in 1962 and they had three children, Lucile, Mark, and Kristen. During this time, Mark was also the chairman of Brigham Young University's Political Science Department. In 1964, Mark and his entire family moved Caracas, Venezuela where he was the director of the Venezuelan Urban Development Project. After returning from Venezuela, Mark became the director of the Institute of Public Administration in New York City. In 1972, Mark became the first administrative assistant ever to be appointed to serve with the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. He was the first non-lawyer to be admitted to the American Bar Association.

  • V: Wilcox and Stevenson Families

    This series contains correspondence and family history and family documents. Most of the material in this series is correspondence and personal documents from Ramona Wilcox Cannon's side of the family.

    • Family History

      Each folder in this box contains a personal materials pertaining to the person the folder is titled after. The folders usually consist of newspaper and magazine articles, correspondence, business records, resumes, and other such documents. Although these folders box could be placed elsewhere in this collection, they were originally placed together for family history purposes and are thus remaining together in this collection.

    • Stevenson and Wilcox Correspondence

      • Description: Edward Stevenson

        This folder contains letters and newspaper clippings from 1883-1889 regarding Edward Stevenson, Ramona's maternal grandfather. Stevenson was one of the First Seven Presidents of Seventies in the LDS Church. There are several articles on beekeepers and a copy of Infancy of the Church, an account of the LDS Church, written by Edward Stevenson.

        Dates: 1883-1889
        Container: Box 63, Folder 1
      • Description: Edward Stevenson's Diary

        This is a diary and observations on the Green River and the Grand Canyon.

        Dates: 1883
        Container: Box 63, Folder 2
      • Description: Edward Stevenson

        This folder consists of letters and newspaper clippings about the German Mission and the death of LDS Church President, A.O. Smoot. This folder contains a letter from Lizzie Stevenson Wilcox (Mona's mother) and a copy of Reminiscences of Joseph, The Prophet, by Edward Stevenson.

        Dates: 1891-1895
        Container: Box 63, Folder 3
      • Description: Edward Stevenson

        This folder contains things such as a missionary certificate, Edward Stevenson's entry in the Latter Day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia, a report of Edward Stevenson's funeral services, and obituaries for both Edward Stevenson and Moroni Charles Stevenson, his son.

        Dates: 1896-1901
        Container: Box 63, Folder 4
      • Description: Edward Stevenson

        This folder contains correspondence and newspaper clippings about the LDS Church and Edward Stevenson, the Stevenson family, and copies of the newsletter, Edward Stevenson Family Record.

        Dates: 1905-1972
        Container: Box 63, Folder 5
      • Description: Edward Stevenson, Miscellaneous

        This folder contains undated notes and newspaper clippings as well as notes written by Ramona about her grandfather.

        Container: Box 63, Folder 6
      • Description: Edward Stevenson, Scrapbook

        This folder contains copies of the contents of Edward Stevenson's undated scrapbook. Many of the clippings pertain to the LDS Church.

        Container: Box 63, Folder 7
      • Description: Elizabeth Du Fresne Stevenson

        These folders contains correspondence from Elizabeth Du Fresne Stevenson, Ramona's maternal grandmother and the wife of Edward Stevenson. Among the materials are Elizabeth Du Fresne Stevenson's death notice, a circular for the 14th School District, a poem for Elizabeth on her 60th birthday, a blessing, and a tribute for Elizabeth. Folder nine contains an 1888 edition of Robert Burns' The Cotter's Saturday Night, inscribed to Elizabeth on her 50th birthday.

        Dates: 1873-1906
        Container: Box 63, Folder 8-9
      • Description: Elizabeth Du Fresne Stevenson Diary
        Dates: 1898
        Container: Box 63, Folder 10
      • Description: Elizabeth Du Fresne Stevenson, Miscellaneous

        This folder contains miscellaneous and undated biographical information on Elizabeth Du Fresne Stevenson. Her entry in the Latter Day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia and obituary information are included.

        Container: Box 63, Folder 11
      • Description: New Jersey Postcard Albums

        These albums belonged to Elizabeth Du Fresne Stevenson.

        Container: Box 63, Folder 12-13
      • Description: Charles F. Wilcox

        The correspondence and other items in these folders belonged to Charles F. Wilcox, Mona's father. Folder 14 has newspaper clippings, pages from a diary, and a registration card from the Department of Medicine at the University of the City of New York. Folder 15 has a concert invitation for Emma Lucy Gates, a letter from his wife, Elizabeth Stevenson Wilcox, and a Surgeon's Club membership card. Folder 10 has correspondence about Wilcox family genealogy and letters from Ramona while abroad in Berlin, Paris, and London.

        Dates: 1882-1910
        Container: Box 63, Folder 14-16
    • Wilcox Family Correspondence

      • Description: Charles F. Wilcox

        These folders have correspondence to Charles F. Wilcox. Folder one also has Wilcox family history, and a copy of the LDS Millennial Star. Folder two contains birthday letters, letters between Elizabeth Stevenson Wilcox while she was in California, newspaper clippings, and a program from the 4th Annual Wilcox Family Reunion. Folder three has an obituary for his sister Cynthia Arnold, who arrived with the Pioneers in 1847. Folder four has several letters from Ramona while she lived in Colombia. There is also an obituary for Walter E. Wilcox's, Ramona's paternal grandfather. Folder six has family correspondence and personal items, including copies of Charles F. Wilcox's obituary, royalty reports from Yates Ranch Oil, and a copy of a poem Wilcox recited to his patients.

        Dates: 1911-1966
        Container: Box 64, Folder 1-6
      • Description: Charles F. Wilcox, Miscellaneous

        This folder contains undated correspondence, Wilcox family history, and Charles F. Wilcox's mother's obituary.

        Container: Box 64, Folder 7
      • Description: Elizabeth Stevenson Wilcox, Correspondence

        This folder contains correspondence to and from Ramona's mother, Elizabeth Stevenson Wilcox.

        Dates: 1854-1904
        Container: Box 64, Folder 8
      • Description: Elizabeth Stevenson Wilcox's Expense Log
        Dates: 1897
        Container: Box 64, Folder 9
      • Description: Elizabeth Stevenson Wilcox, Correspondence
        Dates: 1905-1906
        Container: Box 64, Folder 10
      • Description: Elizabeth Stevenson Wilcox, Documents

        This folder has items that belonged to Elizabeth Stevenson Wilcox. There is an autobiographical essay, a program for the Sixth Triennial Meeting of the National Council of Women, and postcards from Ramona and Fred.

        Dates: 1909-1910
        Container: Box 64, Folder 11
      • Description: Elizabeth Stevenson Wilcox

        These folders are primarily family correspondence. Folder 12 has letters from Steve while he was on tour in Europe with J.J. McClellan. There is also an alumni issue of the Utah Chronicle that lists Mrs. C.F. Wilcox as Alumni Association VP. Folder 14 has correspondence from the Joseph J. Cannon family while they were living in Colombia.

        Dates: 1913-1914
        Container: Box 64, Folder 12-15
      • Description: Elizabeth Stevenson Wilcox, booklet

        This folder has a booklet, "Memorial to Elizabeth Claridge McCune." The booklet contains photos and a McCune family history.

        Dates: 1924
        Container: Box 64, Folder 16
      • Description: Elizabeth Stevenson Wilcox, Correspondence

        Folder one contains letters from Ramona to her mother. Folders two through six have correspondence from the Cannon family while they were in Great Britain on their mission. In addition to correspondence, folder seven also has newspaper clippings.

        Dates: 1930-1945
        Container: Box 65, Folder 1-8
      • Description: Elizabeth Stevenson Wilcox, Funeral Service Notebook
        Dates: 1947
        Container: Box 65, Folder 9
      • Description: Elizabeth Stevenson Wilcox

        This folder contains various correspondences pertaining to Elizabeth Stevenson Wilcox. There are copies of her obituary, sympathy notes, and an article from Improvement Era.

        Dates: 1947-1977
        Container: Box 65, Folder 10
      • Description: Elizabeth Stevenson Wilcox, Miscellaneous

        Wilcox. Included are letters from Mona and Elizabeth Cannon and an essay about the early days of the University of Utah. There are also biographical notes, an essay on women writers, pages from the LDS Biographical Encyclopedia, a poem called "Mother Dear" by Ramona, and a Daughters of Utah Pioneers membership card.

        Container: Box 65, Folder 11-13
      • Description: Elizabeth Stevenson Wilcox, Author's Club Notebook.
        Container: Box 65, Folder 14
      • Description: Elizabeth Stevenson Wilcox, Botany Notebook
        Container: Box 65, Folder 15
      • Description: Edward Stevenson Wilcox

        This folder contains material pertaining to Mona's brother, Edward "Steve" Stevenson Wilcox. There are copies of Steve's and Walter E. Wilcox's (paternal grandfather) obituaries, a program from Steve's farewell testimony, his mission call, his mission release, and his passport.

        Dates: 1903-1920
        Container: Box 65, Folder 16
      • Description: Edward Stevenson Wilcox, "Valuable Papers" Notebook
        Container: Box 65, Folder 17
      • Description: Ramon Stevenson Wilcox

        This folder consists of material pertaining to Mona's brother Ramon "Ray" or "Rae" Stevenson Wilcox, including his missionary farewell program, a letter to Mona, his wedding announcement (married Genevieve Hart), a verbatim report of funeral services, and copies of Ramon's obituary.

        Dates: 1913-1923
        Container: Box 65, Folder 18
      • Description: Claire Augusta Wilcox Noall, Correspondence

        These folder contains correspondence to Ramona's sister, Claire Augusta Wilcox Noall. Folder one has a letter from Ramona about her daughter Elizabeth's divorce and sympathy letters regarding the death of Elizabeth Stevenson Wilcox. Folder two contains more correspondence and an article she wrote for The Deseret News about cattle.

        Dates: 1904-1978
        Container: Box 66, Folder 1-3
      • Description: Claire Augusta Wilcox Noall, Miscellaneous

        This folder contains items such as an article Claire wrote on a Serbian-Austrian Christmas, a novel excerpt , newspaper clippings, and cards.

        Container: Box 66, Folder 4
      • Description: C. Fred Wilcox, Jr.

        These folders contain correspondence to Mona's brother, C. Fred Wilcox, Jr. Included are party invitations, a program for his "Farewell Testimony," Ramona's notes on Fred, and letters from Fred while sailing to Europe for his mission. There is also a lot of family correspondence detailing the lives of the Wilcox, Noall, and Cannon families.

        Dates: 1903-1976
        Container: Box 66, Folder 5-10
      • Description: C. Fred Wilcox, Jr., Miscellaneous

        These folder contains newspaper clippings, calling cards, and letters.

        Container: Box 66, Folder 11-12
      • Description: C. Fred Wilcox, Jr., Funeral Book
        Container: Box 66, Folder 13
      • Description: Mary Stevenson Wilcox

        Mary Stevenson Wilcox is Ramona's sister. These folders have correspondence between her family, friends, and school. Folder 17 contains letters from Ramona she was in the Alps with her son Bryant and while she was at her son Mark's Harvard graduation.

        Dates: 1919-1956
        Container: Box 66, Folder 14-19
    • Wilcox and Richards Family Correspondence

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Advice columnists--Utah--Salt Lake City--Archives
  • Latter Day Saint families--19th century--Archives
  • Latter Day Saint families--20th century--Archives
  • Latter Day Saint missionaries--20th century--Archives
  • Latter Day Saint women authors--Archives
  • Latter Day Saint women--Archives
  • Newspapers--Sections, columns, etc.--Women
  • Short stories, American--Women authors
  • Women journalists--Utah--Salt Lake City--Archives
  • Women--Education (Graduate)--Utah--Salt Lake City--Archives

Personal Names

  • Cannon, Joseph J., 1877-1945--Archives
  • Cannon, Ramona Wilcox, 1887-1978--Archives
  • Cannon, Ramona Wilcox, 1887-1978--Family--Archives

Corporate Names

  • Deseret News (Firm)--Employees--Archives
  • Relief Society (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)--Archives
  • University of Utah--Faculty--Archives
  • University of Utah. Department of English--Alumni and alumnae--Archives

Form or Genre Terms

  • Articles
  • Autobiographies (literary works)
  • Biographies
  • Business correspondence
  • Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.)
  • Diaries
  • Family histories
  • Financial records
  • Instructional and educational works
  • Manuscripts
  • Maps
  • Newsletters
  • Notes (documents)
  • Oral histories
  • Personal correspondence
  • Photocopies
  • Programs (Publications)
  • Scripts (documents)
  • Short stories
  • Travel writing
Loading...
Loading...