J. Willard Marriott Library Special Collections
Russell Marion Nelson papers
Nelson, Russell M. (Russell Marion), 1924-
ACCN 2458
18 linear feet
2 boxes and 8 oversize boxes
1942-2003
The Russell Marion Nelson papers (1942-2003) contain manuscripts, publications, working boards, certificates, and plaques relating to Nelson's career. Nelson is an internationally renowned cardiothoracic surgeon. Along with his professional career, he has held many positions within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, including being called as an Apostle in 1984, and as the 17th president from 2018 until his death in 2025.
English
Russell Marion Nelson (b.1924) received his B.A. and M.D. degrees from the University of Utah (1945,1947). He married Dantzel White in 1945. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota(1954). Shortly after going to medical school he began working with the tem of doctors that created the first heart-lung machine. In 1955 he was the first doctor in Utah to successfully perform open-heart surgery using a heart-lung machine. Nelson continued to perform important surgeries, and do cutting edge research, which is reflected in his publications.
His professional work included the positions of research professor of surgery and director of the Thoracic Surgery Residency at the University of Utah and chairman of the Division of Thoracic Surgery at LDS Hospital in Salt Lake City. Dr. Nelson lectured and visited professionally throughout the United States and in many other nations. A host of awards and honors have come to him, including the Distinguished Alumni Award, University of Utah; the Heart of Gold Award from the American Heart Association; a citation for International Service from the American Heart Association; and the Golden Plate Award, presented by the American Academy of Achievement.
Dr. Nelson has served as president of the Society for Vascular Surgery, a director of the American Board of Thoracic Surgery, chairman of the Council on Cardiovascular Surgery for the American Heart Association, and president of the Utah State Medical Association.
Along with his professional career, he held many positions within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, including being called to be an Apostle in 1984, and as the 17th president from 2018 until his death in 2025. He and his wife have 10 children.
In 2005, his wife Dantzel passed away unexpectedly. In 2006 he married Wendy L. Watson.
The Russell Marion Nelson papers contain manuscripts, publications, working boards, certificates, and plaques relating to Nelson's surgical career.
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.
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.
Collection Name, Collection Number, Box Number, Folder Number. Special Collections, J. Willard Marriott Library, The University of Utah.
Donated by Russell Marion Nelson (boxes 1-6) in 2009.
Donated by Russell Marion Nelson (boxes 7-10) in 2009.
Processed by Charlotte Hansen in 2009-2010.
Russell M. Nelson also donated a collection the Eccles Health Sciences Library History (EHSL) of Health Sciences. Please contact this library for further information regarding accessing the collection.
Nelson, Russell M. (Russell Marion), 1924---Archives
Surgeons--Utah
Thoracic surgeons--Utah
Colleges and Universities
Medicine and Health
Research articles
Correspondence
1976-1993
1
1
Curriculum vitae
1
2
List of publications
1950-1992
1
3
"The Effects of Changing Hepatic Blood Flow on 17-Hydroxycorticosteroid Metabolism in Dogs"
1958-1960
1
4
"A Device for Fastening Tubing to Surgical Drapes"
1961
1
5
"Influence of 1-Norepinephrine on Renal Blood Flow, Renal Vascular Resistance and Urine Flow in Hemorragic Shock"
1961
1
6
"Excision of Carotid Body Tumor" - Notes for film
1961-1969
1
7
"Electrophysiologic Study of Human Heart Muscle"
1962
1
8
"Evaluation of Tris(Hydroxymethyl) Aminomethane(THAM) in Experimental Hemorrhagic Shock"
1962-1963
1
9
"Factors Predicting Left Atrial Thrombi in Mitral Valve Surgery"
1962-1963
1
10
"Effective Use of Phophylactic Antibiotics in Open Heart Surgery"
1964
1
11
"An Evaluation of the Acute Pharmacodynamic Effects of Glucocorticoids in the Postoperative Patient"
1966
1
12
"Experimental Investigation of Fluidic and Peristaltic Heart Pumps"
1966
1
13
"Implantable Pacemakers-Indications, Advances in Design, and Results"
1966-1967
1
14
"The Incidence of Hospital Wound Infection in Thoracotomies"
1966-1967
1
15
"Idiopathic Retroperitoneal Fibrosis Producing Distal Esophageal Obstruction"
1967-1968
2
1
"Differential Atrial Arrhythmias in Cardiac Surgical Patients"
1968-1969
2
2
"Double Valve Replacement in Marfan's Syndrome"
1968-1969
2
3
"Differential Atrial Arrhythmias in Cardiac Surgical Patients" - Notes for film
1969
2
4
"Hemolytic Anemia Following Surgical Repair of Endocardial Cushion Defect"
1969
2
5
"Pseudoaneurysm of the Radial Artery Complicating Percutaneous Radial Artery Cannulation"
1970-1977
2
6
"Gastroduodenal Arterial Aneurysms: Report of a case and review of the literature"
1976
2
7
"Hemodynamic Effects of Protamine Sulfate Following Cardiopulmonary Bypass"
1977
2
8
"Aorto-Innominate Venous Fistula"
2
9
"Heparin Dipherinydramine Antagonism"
2
10
Aortic surgery figures
2
11
Aortic Arch - 13 papers
1950-1976
2
12
Extracorporeal Circulation - 3 papers
1956-1975
2
13
TDMAC-Haparin Shunt - 2 papers
1972-1975
2
14
Thomas B. Ferguson, "Guilds, Boards, and Hobgoblins"
1977
2
15
Donald L. Paulson, "A Time for Assessment"
1981
2
16
Jay L. Ankeney, "Assurance"
1981
2
17
Anthony R. C. Dobell, "The Human Touch"
1982
2
18
Robert G. Ellison, "The Society of Thoracic Surgeons: The First Twenty Years"
1984
2
19
Willem J. Kolff
1963-1968
2
20
Collegium Aesculapium syllabus
1983
2
21
Richard Shore, Fellowship of Thoracic Surgery Residents, University of Utah-LDS Hospital
1991
2
22
Biography of Dr. N.F. Hicken
1997-1998
2
23
Oversize materials
Clinical research working boards by type
1951-1980
3-4
These boxes contain working boards that are organized by the type of surgery.
Presentation boards and master charts
1955-1981
5-6
These boxes contain charts used to present research and statistical results as well as master surgical charts, which are numbered.
Utah Medical Bulletin and newspaper clippings
1970-1971
7
1
LDS Hospital office layout drawings
1977
7
2
Certificates and registration
1942-1959
7
3
Certificates and registration
1960-1977
7
4
This folder includes certificates of the Guadalajara Mexico Scientific Collaboration (1961), Diploma of American Surgical Society (1968), and Societe Internationale de Chirurgie Certificate of Membership (1971).
Certificate, guest speaker at the Kiwanis Club
1974
7
5
This certificate is made of metal.
Certificates
1981-2003
7
6
Plaques
1945-1985
8
Plaques
1967-1977
9
Plaques and other material
1973-1984
10
This box contains Dr. Nelson's National Retinoscope, as well as a framed piece commemorating his invention of the Plaque Line Keeper.