Harold G. Wood papers, 1900-1940

Overview of the Collection

Title
Harold G. Wood papers
Dates
1900-1940 (inclusive)
Quantity
1 box, (.5 linear feet)
Collection Number
UUS_COLL MSS 012
Summary
Includes autobiography written by Harold Wood, As it Seemed to Me, and a collection of poems. Also, My memoirs by his wife Elna I. Wood and several pages on family history.
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

Open to public research.

Languages
English.
Sponsor
Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant, 2007-2008

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Harold Gilbert Wood was born on September 3, 1899 in Lewiston, Utah to Charles Gilbert and Letitia Litz Wood. He was raised in Lewiston and nearby Cornish on his parent's farm. He graduated from the University of Utah as well as of the University of Michigan Law School. He married Elna Ivie in Salt Lake City on September. 24, 1929. Afterwards, they moved to Lewiston where Harold farmed the rest of his life. Harold was a member of the Lewiston Lions Club, served as a Lewiston City Councilman, and was a past president of Dairy Herd Improvement Association in Cache County. He died on June 16, 1976 survived by his two boys Charles Robert and William Craig and a daughter Marylyn Freshwater.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The Harold G. Wood collection contains four rough drafts and one final draft of his autobiography entitled, As it Seemed to Me . Along with his autobiography he wrote numerous poems that are collected in rough draft and final forms. His writings comprise most of the collection, but his wife, Elna, wrote a memoir entitled My Memoirs . Finally, the last part of box 1 includes his family history, while box 2 includes childhood projects from his elementary school years.

This collection gives great insight into a rural community in the north end of Cache Valley during the first half of the twentieth century. Wood's autobiography touches on numerous subjects including farming, family life, religion, school, water rights, and his positions in the city council and as the president of the Dairy Herd Improvement Association. On a literary note his poems reflect his humorous side and life in northern Cache Valley during the early to mid-twentieth century.

This collection is organized to represent the completion of his autobiography. The first four folders of box 1 contain rough drafts while folder 5 contains the completed As it Seemed to Me . His poems reflect the same organization with rough drafts in folder 6 while folder 7 includes the final poems. The last folder of box 1 includes his family history, complete with genealogical charts and newspaper clippings with stories about the historic house his father built in Lewiston.

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 Harold G. Wood papers must be obtained from the Special Collections and Archives manuscript curator and/or the Special Collections and Archives department head.

Preferred Citation

Harold G. Wood papers, 1900-1940 (COLL MSS 012). Utah State University. Special Collections and Archives department.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

Draft copies arranged with final versions of autobiography and poetry; other material arranged topically.

Acquisition Information

Upon his death Harold G. Wood had his papers, family history, autobiographies, and poems donated to USU Special Collections and Archives in 1976.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
1 1 Hand written rough draft of "As it Seemed to Me" undated
1 2 Incomplete typed rough draft of "As it Seemed to Me" undated
1 3 Incomplete typed rough draft of "As it Seemed to Me" undated
1 4 Misc. loose, rough draft sheets undated
1 5 Copies of complete "As it Seemed to Me" undated
1 6 Final draft of collection of poems undated
1 7 Copies of poems undated
1 8 Elna I. Wood's "My Memoirs" undated
1 9 Family history undated
2 1 Collection of Wood's school projects from elementary school. undated

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms