UUM_P0337.xml Lila Eccles Brimhall photograph collection Brimhall (Lila Eccles) photograph collection Finding aid prepared by Robert Westby. J. Willard Marriott Library Special Collections

1989 (last modified: 2025)

295 South 1500 East Salt Lake City, Utah 84112 Business Number: 801-581-8863 special@library.utah.edu https://lib.utah.edu/collections/special-collections/index.php

This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2025-09-19. Finding aid written in English. Finding aid based on DACS (Describing Archives: A Content Standard), 2nd Edition. 2022 Finding aid revised and re-encoded by Sara Davis J. Willard Marriott Library Special Collections Lila Eccles Brimhall photograph collection P0337 156 photographic prints 1893-1962 The Lila Eccles Brimhall photograph collection contains family portraits, portraits of various performers, and scenes from various stage productions. English

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 Eccles Brimhall 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 Eccles 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.

Lila Brimhall 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, Brimhall 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, Brimhall 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

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 Dean R. Brimhall papers (MS 0114).

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

The Lila Eccles Brimhall photograph collection is digitized.

Collection arranged topically.

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.

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

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

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

Forms part of the Aileen H. Clyde 20th Century Women's Legacy Archives.

Eccles, David, 1849-1912--Photographs Eccles, David, 1849-1912--Family--Photographs Olsen, Moroni, 1889-1954--Photographs Dawn, Hazel, 1894---Photographs Drake, Alfred, 1914-1992--Photographs Babcock, Maud May, 1867-1954--Photographs Pearson, Carol Lynn (Carol Lynn Wright) (1939-09-27)--Photographs University of Utah. Department of Theatre--Photographs Theater--Utah--Photographs Actors--Utah--20th century--Photographs Actresses--Utah--20th century--Photographs Theatrical companies--Utah--Salt Lake City--20th century--Photographs College theater-- Utah--20th century--Photographs Theater rehearsals--Photographs black-and-white photographs color photographs Portraits Family portraits, portraits of various performers, and scenes from various stage productions Portraits of Lila Eccles Brimhall 1 1 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. Portraits of Lila Eccles Brimhall 1 2 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) Portraits of Lila Eccles Brimhall 1 3 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" Family photograph 1 4 Photograph number 30: Lila and three women, possibly two sisters and her mother Portraits A-Z 1 5 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 Unidentified Portraits 1 6 Photograph number 39: Hazel [last name is illegible] (undated); taken in New York City Photograph number 40: Unidentified man, circa 1957 Group photographs 1 7 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) Scenes from Plays A-E 1 8 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 Scenes from Plays, F-R 1 9 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 Scenes from Plays "S" 1 10 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 Scenes from Plays T-Z 1 11 Photograph number 125-132: Twelfth Night, undated Photograph number 133: Wingless Victory, 1939 Photograph number 134: Witness for the Prosecution, 1957 Scenes from unidentified plays 1 12 Photograph number 135-156: undated, unidentified