Ione Bennion papers, 1908-1997

Overview of the Collection

Title
Ione Bennion papers
Dates
1908-1997 (inclusive)
Quantity
13 boxes, (4.5 linear feet)
Collection Number
UUS_COLL MSS 320
Summary
This collection contains Bennion's papers documenting her considerable contributions as a professional, an activist, and a volunteer.
Repository
Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections and Archives Division
Special Collections & Archives
Merrill-Cazier Library
Utah State University
Logan, UT
84322-3000
Telephone: 4357978248
Fax: 4357972880
scweb@usu.edu
Access Restrictions

No restrictions on use, except: not available through interlibrary loan.

Languages
English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Ione Spencer Bennion was born October 6, 1908 in Salt Lake City, Utah. After graduating from the University of Utah in 1930, she worked as a teacher, and she later married Wayne Bennion in 1937. Tragically, after only five years of marriage, he died in an accident. Soon after her husband's death, Bennion enrolled in graduate school at Stanford University, later transferring to the University of Utah and the University of Washington. In 1945, she became the dean of women at Utah State University, where she me, and in 1947, married T.W. Daniels, a member of the forestry faculty. Bennion would later divorce Daniels in the 1970s, but they remained close friends. She was replaced as dean in 1952 because of an anti-nepotism law that stated that women could not be teachers or administrators if their husbands were employed by the university. Though she fought to keep her position, the university's board stood by their decision, and Bennion began work as a teacher for the Logan City School District. For the next 28 years, she worked with disadvantaged and disabled students; her work included the creation of the Young Mothers program, which encouraged teenage mothers to complete their high school degrees.

Bennion also became very politically active at the state and local level. She fought for women's rights, helped to establish Planned Parenthood in Logan, supported the Women's Legislative Council, participated in the League of Women Voters of Cache County, and advocated on behalf of the ultimately unsuccessful Equal Rights Amendment. In the 1950s and 1960s, Bennion worked with the Utah Committee on Civil Rights to secure the passage of the Utah Voting Rights Act of 1965. She was a strong advocate for the elderly, supporting the RSVP/Retired Senior Volunteer Program, the Voluntary Action Program, and serving on the Sunshine Terrace board of directors. Also, a strong supporter of Utah State University, she was instrumental in the creation of the Women's Center, served as a volunteer on the Nora Eccles Harrison Museum board, and was inducted into the Old Main Society. She was awarded the university's Distinguished Service Award in 1981. When Bennion passed away on November 22, 1997, at the age of 89, her obituary described her life as a "continuous struggle against injustice."

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

This collection contains the papers of Ione Bennion which document her considerable contributions as an educator, an activist, and a volunteer. Her professional papers and correspondence detail her work as Utah State University's dean of women and a teacher with the Logan City School District. Also included are items related to civic and political events in Utah and Cache County in which Bennion was involved. The collection also contains personal and family materials.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances.

Permission to publish material from the Ione Bennion papers must be obtained from the Special Collections and Archives manuscript curator and/or the Special Collections and Archives department head.

Preferred Citation

Initial Citation: Ione Bennion papers USU_COLL MSS 320, Box [ ]. Special Collections and Archives. Utah State University Merrill-Cazier Library. Logan, Utah.

Following Citations: USU_COLL MSS 320, USUSCA.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

Arranged by subject matter and then chronologically.

Processing Note

Processed in September of 2007.

Acquisition Information

The papers comprising this collection were donated to USU Special Collections and Archives by Richard Sadler in 1998 and Ross Peterson in 2003.

Related Materials

Related collections include the League of Women Voters of Cache County papersColl Mss 155,

the Alison Comish Thorne papersColl Mss 216,

the Proposal for Change in Cache County Government Structure papersColl Mss 318,

the Theodore Daniels photograph collectionP0373

and the Theodore Daniels papers (USU Archives 14.7/2:17).

Separated Materials

Ione Bennion photograph collection, P0371

Bibliography

Obituary, Logan Herald Journal Logan, Utah. November 24, 1997.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Professional Papers, 1947-1953Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
1 1
AAUW – History
undated
1 2
AAUW – Biennial Convention Speeches
1953
1 3
AAUW – Money Management Portfolio
undated
1 4
Native American Education Programs
undated
1 5
USU Women Honor Residents
1947-1950
1 6
Correspondence with Austrian Students
undated
1 7
Correspondence with Chinese Students
undated
1 8
Correspondence with Sudanese Students
undated
1 9
Correspondence with Iranian Students
undated
1 10
India
undated

Professional Correspondence, 1946-1973Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
2 1
Dean of Women Correspondence
1946-1952
2 2
Correspondence Concerning Bennion's Dismissal from USAC
1953
2 3
Logan Director of Civil Defense Correspondence
1954-1955
2 4
Correspondence Concerning Bennion's Retirement
1973

Honors/Awards, 1930-1997Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
3 1
Public Speaking Club Certificate, LDS College
1930
3 2
Ione Spencer University of Utah B.A. Diploma
1930
3 3
Theta Alpha Phi Membership Certificate
1930
3 4
Alpha Chi Omega Certificate
1934
3 5
Civil Defense Course Completion Certificate
1953
3 6
Secondary Teaching Certificate
1954
3 7
Teaching Certificate
1955
3 8
University of Utah Alumni Association Life Membership Certificate
1962
3 9
Utah State University President's Club Membership Certificate
1969
3 10
Community Volunteer Award
1977
3 11
USU Distinguished Service Award
1981
3 12
Women Helping Women Award
1982
3 13
USU International Student Council Award
1982
3 14
KSL Radio "People Make the Difference" Award
1986
3 15
American Association of University Women Recognition
1991
3 16
Program from Friends of HASS Society Recognition Ceremony
1994
3 17
Sunshine Terrace Award
1997
3 18
Old Main Society Membership
undated
3 19
Sunshine Terrace Certificates
undated
3 20
USU Women's Center Awards
undated

Honors/Awards – Pins and Medallions, undatedReturn to Top

Container(s): Box 4

Utah and Cache County Politics, 1951-1956Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
5 1
Utah Women's Issues/Equal Rights Amendment
undated
5 2
Utah – Misc. Political Issues
undated
5 3
Utah – Political Newsletters
undated
5 4
Utah – Volunteer Material
undated
5 5
Cache Valley, Utah, Women's Legislative Council
undated
5 6
Cache Valley, Utah, Women's Legislative Council Correspondence
1951-1956
5 7
Alternate Forms of Cache County Government – Report of the Logan City Mayor's Commission on Government Organization
undated
5 8
Alternate Forms of Cache County Government – General Information about Logan/Cache County
undated
5 9
Alternate Forms of Cache County Government – Articles About County Government
undated
5 10
Alternate Forms of Cache County Government – General Information about Utah Local Governments
undated
5 11
Alternate Forms of Cache County Government – Letters and Notes
undated
5 12
Alternate Forms of Cache County Government – LWVCC Studies
undated

National Politics, undatedReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
6 1
Education
undated
6 2
People for the American Way
undated
6 3
American Civil Liberties Union
undated
6 4
Misc. Newsletters
undated

League of Women Voters, 1973-1976Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
7 1
LWVCC – Meeting Minutes
1973-1974
7 2
LWVCC – Cache County Voter
undated
7 3
LWVCC – Newspaper Articles
undated
7 4
LWVCC – Membership Lists
undated
7 5
LWVCC – Bylaws
1974
7 6
LWVCC – Fact Sheets
undated
7 7
LWVCC – Mosquito Abatement
undated
7 8
LWVCC – "A Study of Cache County and Logan City School Districts"
undated
7 9
LWVCC – "Low Income Housing"
undated
7 10
LWVCC – "Solid Waste: Our Only Growing Resource"
undated
7 11
LWVCC – Misc.
undated
7 12
LWVU – ERA
undated
7 13
LWVU – Meeting Agendas and Minutes
1975-1976
7 14
LWVU – Budgets and Treasurer's Reports
1975-1976
7 15
LWVU – Utah Voter
undated
7 16
LWVU – "Children, Children Everywhere…Who Cares?"
undated
7 17
LWVU – "Review of Utah Election Laws and Procedures"
undated
7 18
LWVU – "Legislative Process: How a Bill Becomes a Law"
undated
7 19
LWVU – "Revenue Sharing"
undated
7 20
LWVU – "Health Services in Utah: Recent Developments"
undated
7 21
LWVU – "Does Utah Promote the General Welfare?"
undated
7 22
LWVU – "Making Sense of Your Property Taxes"
undated
7 23
LWVU – "Challenges of the Future for Utah's Water Policies"
undated
7 24
LWVU – Misc.
undated
7 25
LWV – Informational Booklets
undated
7 26
LWV – Pamphlets
undated
7 27
LWV – Misc.
undated

Political Buttons, undatedReturn to Top

Container(s): Box 8

Non-political Utah and Cache County Materials, 1987Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
9 1
LDS Material
undated
9 2
Utah Material
undated
9 3
University of Utah Material
undated
9 4
Logan, UT Material
undated
9 5
Bear River Water Seminar
1987 January 9
9 6
Friends of the Logan Library
undated
9 7
Logan Canyon Nature Center
undated
9 8
Logan 24th Ward Relief Society
undated
9 9
USU/USAC Newspaper Clippings
undated
9 10
Utah Newspaper Clippings
undated
9 11
Logan, UT Newspaper Clippings
undated
9 12
Marjorie Gardner
undated
9 13
Marjorie Gardner – Cassette Recording of Funeral
undated
9 14
George Meyer
undated

Personal Papers, 1908-1994Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
10 1
Patriarchal Blessing
1908
10 2
Certificate of Baptism and Confirmation
1917
10 3
Autograph Book of Birthday Wishes to Ione
1931
10 4
Wayne Bennion and Ione Spencer Marriage Certificate
1937
10 5
Wayne Bennion and Ione Spencer Wedding Invitation
1937
10 6
Temple Recommend
1955
10 7
Bennion Family Newsletter
1993 May
10 8
Ione Bennion Interview
1994 October 3
10 9
ID Cards and Passports
undated
10 10
Around the World Travel Itineraries
undated
10 11
Around the World Travel Brochures
undated
10 12
Travel Journals
undated
10 13
Notices of Appointment as instructor at USAC
undated
10 14
Notices of Appointment as teacher in Logan City Schools
undated
10 15
80th Birthday Party Guest Register
undated
10 16
Ione Bennion's Will
undated
10 17
Trust Agreements
undated
10 18
Ione Bennion Newspaper Clippings
undated
10 19
Ione and Wayne Bennion Endowment and Teacher Workshop
undated
10 20
Wayne and Ione Spencer Bennion Fund for the Women's Center at USU
undated

Personal Correspondence, 1940-1999Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
11 1
Personal Correspondence
1940-1949
11 2
Personal Correspondence
1950-1959
11 3
Personal Correspondence
1960-1969
11 4
Personal Correspondence
1970-1979
11 5
Personal Correspondence
1980-1989
11 6
Personal Correspondence
1990-1999
11 7
Personal Correspondence
undated
11 8
Christmas Cards
undated
11 9
Letters to the Editor
undated

Family Materials, 1930-1982Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
12 1
Wayne Bennion – Patriarchal Blessing
undated
12 2
Wayne Bennion – Investment Records
undated
12 3
Wayne Bennion – Leland Stanford Junior University MBA Diploma
1933
12 4
Wayne Bennion – Univ. of Utah B.S. Diploma
1930
12 5
Wayne Bennion – High School Teaching Certificate
undated
12 6
Wayne Bennion – Death Certificate
undated
12 7
Wayne Bennion – USAC Notices of Appointment and Transcript
undated
12 8
Wayne Bennion – US Army Certificates
undated
12 9
Wayne Bennion – Univ. of Washington Transcripts
undated
12 10
Wayne Bennion – Certificates of Ordination and Baptism in LDS Church
undated
12 11
Lowell L. Bennion Newspaper Clippings
undated
12 12
Milton Bennion
undated
12 13
George Spencer
undated
12 14
Cassette Recording of the Spencer Reunion
1982
12 15
Pencil Drawing of T.W. Daniel
undated
12 16
Genealogy Materials
undated

Class Essays and Notes, undatedReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
13 1
Folklore
undated
13 2
Physics
undated
13 3
Political Science
undated
13 4
Spanish
undated
13 5
Speech
undated
13 6
Misc. Writings
undated

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • County government--Utah--Cache County.
  • Education--Utah--Cache County.
  • Social advocacy--Utah.

Geographical Names

  • Cache County (Utah)