Lowell L. Bennion papers, 1928-1987

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Bennion, Lowell L., 1908-1996
Title
Lowell L. Bennion papers
Dates
1928-1987 (inclusive)
Quantity
1.5 linear feet
Collection Number
ACCN 1065
Summary
The Lowell L. Bennion papers (1928-1987) contain many articles and speeches that Bennion wrote, as well as a portion of Bennion's missionary diary. Bennion (1908-1996) was the first director of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) Institute at the University of Utah. He was also a major leader in humanitarian service and the University of Utah's Lowell Bennion Service Center is named in his honor.
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

Lowell Lindsay Bennion (1908-1996) was a well known LDS scholar and humanitarian. He was born in Salt Lake City to Milton Bennion and Cora Lindsay Bennion. He attended the University of Utah and graduated in 1928. That same year he married Merle Colton and soon after was called on a mission to Germany, one of the last young LDS missionaries to be called while married. He continued to study in Germany after his mission ended and was heavily influenced by the ideas of Max Weber. When Bennion returned to the United States in 1934, he became the first director of the brand-new LDS Institute of Religion at the University of Utah. He influenced a whole generation of LDS college students in Salt Lake City. In the 1960s however, he clashed with LDS Church authorities over the issue of African-Americans being denied the priesthood. He was fired from his position in 1962. Although hurt deeply, he refused to say anything bitter and encouraged his students to not protest his release. Bennion was quickly hired as Assistant Dean of Students at the University of Utah and as a Professor of Sociology. He continued to work at the university until 1972 when he became Executive Director of the Salt Lake Area Community Services Council. During his eighteen years with Community Services, he helped establish the Utah Food Bank and helped get volunteers directly involved in helping individuals. In 1986, the University of Utah established the Lowell Bennion Community Service Center in his honor. The center promotes student humanitarian service to those in the community. Bennion continued to work and volunteer until a few years before his death in Salt Lake City in 1996.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The Lowell L. Bennion papers (1928-1987) contain several articles and speeches that Bennion wrote and parts of some of his books. A copy of part of his missionary journal is also in the collection.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

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

Preferred Citation

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

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Acquisition Information

Gift of Eugene England in 1989.

Processing Note

Processed by Manuscripts Division staff.

Separated Materials

Photographs were transferred to the Multimedia Division (P0650) of Special Collections.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Mission Diary and ArticlesReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
1 1
Mission Diary
1928-1931
1 2
Youth and Its Religion
1930
1 3
What About Religion?
1934-1935
1 4
Improvement Era Articles
1934-1935
1 5
LDS Millennial Star Articles
1934-1935
1 6
Youth and Its Religion
1939-1940
1 7
Week-Day Religious Education Articles
1939
1 8
Contributions of Joseph Smith
This folder contains pages 69-83 from the book Contributions of Joseph Smith.
1940
1 9
Improvement Era Article
1941
1 10
Relief Society Magazine Articles
1945-1946
1 11
MIA (Mutual Improvement Association) Senior Scout Guide
1947-1948
1 12
Article about Joseph Smith
1948
1 13
Trail Builder Lessons for Blazers
1948
1 14
Trail Builder Lessons for Guides
1949
1 15
Trail Builder Lessons for Trekkers
1949
1 16
Speeches
1952-1956
1 17
Articles
1957-1958
1 18
BYU Speeches of the Year
1959
1 19
Ten Commandments Today
1959-1960
2 1
Improvement Era Articles
1960
2 2
Spiritual Values of the Old Testament
1960-1961
2 3
Six Fundamentals of Good Teaching and Leadership
1961
2 4
Articles
1962-1965
2 5
"Jesus the Christ" Series
1963-1964
2 6
"Jesus Taught the People" Series
1965
2 7
Dialogue Articles
1967
2 8
Instructor Articles
1967
2 9
Articles
1968
2 10
Instructor Articles
1968
2 11
Articles
1969
2 12
Family Perspective
1969
2 13-14
Articles
1970-1979
2 15-16
Articles
1970-1971
2 17
Articles and Book Reviews
1972
2 18
Articles
1973
2 19
"Max Weber"
1973
2 20-21
Articles
1974-1979
3 1-2
Articles
1980-1985
3 3
"Lowell Bennion Night"
1986
3 4
Articles
1987

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Christian life--Latter Day Saint authors
  • Latter Day Saints--Diaries
  • Latter Day Saints--Missionary experiences--Germany
  • Latter Day Saints--Missions--Germany

Personal Names

  • Bennion, Lowell L., 1908-1996--Archives

Form or Genre Terms

  • Diaries
  • Drafts (documents)