Lila Eccles Brimhall photograph collection, 1893-1962

Overview of the Collection

Title
Lila Eccles Brimhall photograph collection
Dates
1893-1962 (inclusive)
Quantity
156 Photographs
Collection Number
P0337
Summary
The Lila Eccles Brimhall photograph collection contains family portraits, portraits of various performers, and scenes from various stage productions.
Repository
University of Utah Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections, J. Willard Marriott Library
University of Utah
295 South 1500 East
Salt Lake City, UT
84112-0860

Telephone: 8015818863
special@library.utah.edu
Access Restrictions

Twenty-four hour advanced notice encouraged. Materials must be used on-site. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.

Languages
English

Historical NoteReturn to Top

Lila Eccles Brimhall was born in Ogden, Utah on November 26, 1892. She was raised there by her parents, David Eccles and Bertha Marie Jensen Eccles.

Her father held half-ownership in the Ogden Opera House. Lila is reported to have attended many productions there as a child and was able to watch and visit with the actors backstage.

On August 28, 1917 Lila married Dean R. Brimhall, of Provo, Utah. He had a long career with the federal government, including service from 1940 until his retirement in 1951, as Director of Research form the Civil Aeronautics Administration. The couple had two children, a son McKeen, and a daughter, Frances. McKeen was killed in action in World War II. Frances marries Hal W. Osborn and had five children: Rachel Osborn Sander, Kristin, Joan, Kimberly, and Dean.

She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1914 from the University of Utah which she attended from 1910 to 1914. During that time she studied under Maud May Babcock, professor and head of the Speech Department.

She received a diploma in 1916 from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City after course work in 1915 and 1916. After further study there several years later, she also received a certificate from the institution in 1929.

She also took summer courses at Columbia University in 1917, 1933 and 1942, and at the University of London in 1937.

She received a Master of Arts degree from the University of Southern California in 1939.

An Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree was posthumously awarded to her in 1980 commencement ceremonies at the University of Utah.

A member of the faculty of the University of Utah from 1929 until her retirement to emeritus status in 1960, she held the following ranks: Part-time Instructor in Speech (1929-1930); Instructor (1931); Assistant Professor (1948-1955); Associate Professor in Speech and Theater (1956-1960); Associate Professor Emeritus in Speech (1930-1980); Associate Professor Emeritus in Theater (1967-1980).

Throughout her career she presented numerous lectures and speeches around the state of Utah.

While attending the University of Utah she was an active member of the University of Utah Players and performed in several student productions. She toured Utah and the western states as a member of the Moroni Olsen Players in the late 1920s. She performed in productions with the Pasadena Players in California. During the course of her faculty career she appeared frequently in the theaters on the campus of the University of Utah. She also performed in productions of other Utah colleges.

A portrait of Lila Eccles Brimhall painted by Alvin Gittins was unveiled during a ceremony at the University in 1977. It now hangs on campus in the lobby of the Pioneer Memorial Theater.

Lila Eccles Brimhall died in Salt Lake City, Utah on April 3, 1980.

Chronology

1892: Born in Ogden, Utah

1914: B. A., University of Utah

1914-1916: Attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, New York City

1917: Married Dean R. Brimhall

1929: Part Time Instructor, Speech Department, University of Utah

1931: Full Time Instructor, Speech Department, University of Utah

1939: M. A., University of Southern California

1948: Assistant Professor, Speech Department, University of Utah

1952: Received Tenure, University of Utah

1956: Associate Professor, Speech and Theater Department, University of Utah

1960: Retired Tenure, University of Utah

1967: Named Associate Professor Emeritus of Theater, University of Utah

1974: Dean R. Brimhall died

1980: Lila Eccles Brimhall died on April 3

1980: Received an Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts Degree, University of Utah

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The Lila Eccles Brimhall photograph collection consists mainly of portraits of her, other actors and actresses, professional associates, and scenes from plays in which she appeared during her long theater career. The plays included range from children's plays from her early years in Ogden, Utah to professional theater in Salt Lake City during her later years. A number of photographs of groups with which she was associated area also included.

The collection was received with, and compliments manuscript material concerning her that are the addendum to "The Paper of Dean R. Brimhall." (The Manuscript collection of her husband, Ms 114.)

The Majority of the photographs are resin coated black and white prints.

Subject Photographs Number

  • A
  • Academy of Dramatic Art, American 13-16, 18, 38, 39[?]
  • Adams, Dorothy 31
  • Adix, Vern 79, 81
  • American Academy of Dramatic Art 13-16, 18, 38, 39 [?]
  • Anderson, Betty Jo 72, 75, 77, 83, 85
  • Arms and the Man 47
  • As You Like It 48-50
  • B
  • Babcock, Maud May 32
  • Ballif, Algene 107, 111, 112, 114
  • Ballif, Marsha 133
  • Blithe Spirit 51-64
  • Brimhall , Lila Eccles 1-30, 47, 48, 52-79, 81-83, 85, 107-114, 121-126, 128, 129, 134, 135, 137, 139, 140. 142, 144, 149, 151-156
  • Brimhall, Vicki 83
  • C
  • Cannaday, Dick 56-58
  • Chase 135
  • Chase, Ilka 69
  • Children's Play 135
  • Christensen, Janet 53, 54
  • Circle, The 65-68
  • Constant Wife, The 69-71
  • Corn is Green, The 72-77
  • D
  • Daglish, Bob 137
  • Drake, Alfred 33
  • Dramatic Art, American Academy of 13-16, 18, 38, 39[?]
  • Dramatic Club, University of Utah 42-44
  • Dramatic Club, Weber 41
  • E
  • Eccles, Bertha Marie Jensen 30[?], 135[?]
  • Eccles, David 46
  • Eccles Home 45, 46
  • F
  • Family Photo 30
  • Fashion 78-82
  • Folland, Harold 65-68, 72, 74, 77, 83, 101, 110
  • Francis, Arlene 34
  • G
  • Gibson. Bernice 77
  • Group photograph 41-46
  • H
  • Hamer Children, three 135
  • Hansen, Nathalie 56-58
  • Hazel 39
  • Heugly, Arch 73, 79, 80, 110, 113
  • Hollywood 35
  • Howe, Pershing 71
  • I
  • I Remember Mama 83-85
  • J
  • Jarvis, Boyer 98-100, 102, 103
  • K
  • Kuhn, Paul 135
  • L
  • Levine, Florence 69
  • Lilies of the Field 24, 31
  • Little New Moon 86-90
  • M
  • Madwoman of Chaillot 91-93
  • Mason Theater 24
  • Maw, Herbert B., Governor 125, 126, 129
  • Midgely, Marsha Ballif 133
  • Midsummer Night's Dream 94
  • Moroni Olson Players 24, 31, 35, 36, 63, 142
  • Mrs. Bumpstead Leigh 95, 96
  • N
  • Nelson, Gordon R. 35
  • Nelson, Harry 71
  • New York City 13-16, 18, 38, 39
  • O
  • O'Conner, Red 123
  • Ogden, Utah 20, 23, 24, 31, 45, 46, 135, 136, 140
  • Oklahoma 97
  • Olson, Moroni 24, 31, 35, 36, 63, 142
  • P
  • Pasadena Players 86-90
  • Patterson, Allie 135
  • Patterson, Maude 135
  • Plays A-E, Scenes from 47-77
  • Plays F-R, Scenes from 78-114
  • Plays S, Scenes from 115-124
  • Plays T-Z, Scenes from 125-134
  • Plays, Scenes from Unidentified 135-156
  • Portraits A-Z 31-38
  • Portraits of Lila Eccles Brimhall 1-29
  • Portraits, Unidentified 39, 40
  • Postcard Printing Paper 42-44
  • Potting Shed, The 98-103
  • Price, Margaret 70
  • Promised Valley 33, 37
  • R
  • Rassmussen, Frank 97, 142
  • Rivals, The 104, 105
  • Rogers, Tom 83
  • Romeo and Juliet 106-114
  • Russon, Aileen 72, 74, 75, 77, 79, 82, 121,
  • Russon, Stan 65, 66, 68, 72, 75, 79, 80, 82, 109, 113
  • Ryan, Duane 51, 56, 57, 58, 61
  • S
  • Sandy 115, 116
  • Scenes from plays A-E 47-77
  • Scenes from plays F-R 78-114
  • Scenes from plays S 115-124
  • Scenes from plays T-Z 125-134
  • Scenes from unidentified plays 134-156
  • Scofield, John 83, 85
  • Shining Hour, The 117-120
  • Silver Whistle 121, 122
  • Smith, Kathryn 51
  • Solid Gold Cadillac 123
  • Sorority, Theta Upsilon 46
  • Spenser, [?] 135
  • Steffan, Paul 37
  • Sun Up 124
  • Sufferagette, Lila the 19
  • Swan, Katherine 135
  • Swan, Louise 135
  • T
  • Theta Upsilon Sorority 46
  • Thomas, Wanda Clayton 100, 102
  • Turner, John Hastings 24, 31
  • Twelfth Night 125-132
  • U
  • University of Utah 137
  • University of Utah Dramatic Club 42-44
  • University of Utah Sorority 46
  • Utah, Herbert B. Maw Governor of 125, 126, 129
  • Utah, University of
  • W
  • Warrington, Jane 38
  • Weber Dramatic Club 41
  • West Virginia 25
  • White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia 25
  • Wilson, Dorothy 69, 70, 72
  • Wilson, Robert Hyde 122
  • Wingless Victory 133
  • Witness for the Prosecution 134
  • Wright, Carol Lyn 51, 52, 56, 57, 58, 59, 61

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

The library does not claim to control copyright for all materials in the collection. An individual depicted in a reproduction has privacy rights as outlined in Title 45 CFR, part 46 (Protection of Human Subjects). For further information, please review the J. Willard Marriott Library’s Use Agreement and Reproduction Request forms.

Preferred Citation

Collection Name, Collection Number, Box Number, Folder Number. Special Collections, J. Willard Marriott Library, The University of Utah.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

Collection arranged topically.

Processing Note

Processed by Robert Westby and Ashley Arave in 1989. Processed by Peter Schmid and Rebecca Walker in 2003.

Separated Materials

Audio-visual materials were transferred to the Lila Eccles Brimhall audio-visual collection (A0316).

Related Materials

See also the Dean R. Brimhall papers (MS 0114).

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Family portraits, portraits of various performers, and scenes from various stage productionsReturn to Top

Container(s) Description
Box Folder
1 1
Portraits of Lila Eccles Brimhall
  • Photograph number 1: Approximately one year old (undated)
  • Photograph number 2: Approximately one year old (undated)
  • Photograph number 3: About age five
  • Photograph number 4: Probably taken during her adolescence (undated)
  • Photograph number 5-8: undated
  • Photograph number 9-11: 1915-1916
  • Photograph number 12: undated
  • Photograph number 13-16: 1915-1916 Taken in New York City during the time she was studying at the American Academy of Art.
1 2
Portraits of Lila Eccles Brimhall
  • Photograph number 17: During childhood (undated)
  • Photograph number 18: New York City, 1915-1916
  • Photograph number 19: Note on reverse "Lila The Sufferagette" (undated)
  • Photograph number 20: Taken in Ogden, Utah (undated)
  • Photograph number 21: Salt Lake City, circa 1931
  • Photograph number 22: (undated)
1 3
Portraits of Lila Eccles Brimhall
  • Photograph number 23: Taken in Ogden, Utah (undated)
  • Photograph number 24: Taken in Ogden, Utah. Note on reverse: "Miss Lila Eccles of the Moroni Olsen Players who plays the part of 'Lady Susan Rocker' in the English comedy "The Lillies of the Field" by John Hastings Turner, Mason Theater April 1930
  • Photograph number 25: Taken in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia (undated)
  • Photograph number 26-28: (undated)
  • Photograph number 29: Color snapshot portrait, printed "week of November 30, 1957"
1 4
Family photograph
  • Photograph number 30: Lila and three women, possibly two sisters and her mother
1 5
Portraits A-Z
  • Photograph number 31: Dorothy Adams, (undated)
  • Photograph number 32: Maud May Babcock, (undated)
  • Photograph number 33: Alfred Drake, circa 1947
  • Photograph number 34: Arlene Francis, circa 1962
  • Photograph number 35: Gordon R. Nelson, circa 1930
  • Photograph number 36: Moroni Olsen, (undated)
  • Photograph number 37: Paul Steffan, (undated)
  • Photograph number 38: Jane Warrington, 1915-1916
1 6
Unidentified Portraits
  • Photograph number 39: Hazel [last name is illegible] (undated); taken in New York City
  • Photograph number 40: Unidentified man, circa 1957
1 7
Group photographs
  • Photograph number 41: Weber Dramatic Club, 1907
  • Photograph number 42-44: University of Utah Dramatic Club, 1912
  • Photograph number 45: Lila Speaking to unidentified groups from front steps of Eccles home in Ogden, 1959
  • 4Photograph number 6: Lila, her father David Eccles and unidentified members of, possibly, the Theta Upsilon Sorority on lawn of the Eccles home in Ogden, Utah. (undated)
1 8
Scenes from Plays A-E
  • Photograph number 47: Arms and the Man, 1912
  • Photograph number 48-50: As You Like It, 1912
  • Photograph number 51-64: Blithe Spirit, 1963
  • Photograph number 65-68: The Circle, 1950
  • Photograph number 69-71: The Constant Wife, 1953
  • Photograph number 72-77: The Corn Is Green, 1951
1 9
Scenes from Plays, F-R
  • Photograph number 78-82: Fashion, undated
  • Photograph number 83-85: I Remember Mama, 1955
  • Photograph number 86-90: Little New Moon, undated
  • Photograph number 91-93: Madwoman of Chaillot, undated
  • Photograph number 94: Midsummer Night's Dream, 1916
  • Photograph number 95-96: Mrs. Bumpstead Leigh, 1936
  • Photograph number 97: Oklahoma, undated
  • Photograph number 98-103: The Potting Shed, 1957
  • Photograph number 104-105: The Rivals, 1960
  • Photograph number 106-114: Romeo and Juliet, 1944 and 1956
1 10
Scenes from Plays "S"
  • Photograph number 115-116: Sandy, undated
  • Photograph number 117-120: The Shining Hour, undated
  • Photograph number 121-122: Silver Whistle, 1951
  • Photograph number 123: Solid Gold Cadillac, 1957
  • Photograph number 124: Sun Up, undated
1 11
Scenes from Plays T-Z
  • Photograph number 125-132: Twelfth Night, undated
  • Photograph number 133: Wingless Victory, 1939
  • Photograph number 134: Witness for the Prosecution, 1957
1 12
Scenes from unidentified plays
  • Photograph number 135-156: undated, unidentified

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Actors--United States--Photographs
  • Theater--United States--History--Photographs

Form or Genre Terms

  • Photographic prints
  • Portrait photographs