This collection consists of images taken and collected by Dr. Mehdi Heravi as well as letters, maps, newspaper clippings, thank you letters, and numerous awards and certificates. The collection documents his education at Logan High School and Utah State University, his career as an academic and philanthropist, and his numerous friendships with high-ranking officials and politicians. Of particular note are his USU images and letters from 1959 to 1965 and photographs that document his close relationship with Senator Frank Moss, Ambassador Ardeshir Zahedi, and another USU alum, Harry Reid.
Mehdi Heravi was raised by a prominent family in Tehran, Iran. His father, A. A. Hervavi, was a professor of agriculture at the University of Tehran. Heravi attended English boarding schools at a young age, and came to Logan, Utah to finish high school at age 16. After Logan High, he attended Utah State University, graduating in 1963 with a degree in Business and Social Science and a master's in political science in 1964. He received a Ph.D. from American University's School of International Service in 1967. After teaching at Tennessee Technological University for six years, he returned to Iran where he was the Vice President at the National University of Iran. After the fall of the Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi and the start of the Islamic Republic, he returned to America where he became a provost at American University. Heravi has been very active with various philanthropic endeavors. He has funded an orphanage in Iran, as well as Cerebral Palsy research. At USU he has funded numerous scholarships, the A. A. Heravi Atrium, and the Mehdi Heravi Faculty Seminar Room in the Merrill-Cazier Library. Most recently he funded the construction of a new building on campus, the Mehdi Heravi Global Teaching and Learner Center. Heravi has received numerous accolades over the years. He was the 2015 American University Alumnus of the year, and he received an honorary degree from USU in 2019.
Dr. Heravi has published five books:
No restrictions on use, except: not available through interlibrary loan.
It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances.
Permission to publish material from the Mehdi Heravi photograph collection must be obtained from the
This collection is arranged in two series: I. Photographs; II. Other memorabilia
These materials were donated to USU Special Collections and Archives by Mehdi Heravi.
Individuals include: Harry Reid, George H.W. Bush, Al Gore, George W. and Laura Bush, Ed Madigan, Frank E. Moss, Calvin Rampton
Images include Salt Lake airport, car, palm-lined street, Logan High party, high school in California, house after high school, librarian Aunt Bessie, in cricket uniform
Images include Heravi as a freshman/sophomore, student groups, Dr. and Mrs. Boston, USU International Days, Ed Madigan, Bruce Gardner, Ann, Agricultural Science building, Bob Gross, John Allen and wife, the Ardeshir Zahedi Atrium
Individuals include: Tom McCloughlin, Ed Madigan, Barry McIntyre, Ted Roziska, Julie Seers Eyre, Harmon Eyre
Individuals include: Alexander Kerentsky, George Myer, Eleanor Roosevelt, Daryl Chase, Milton R. Merrill, Ed Madigan, Dr. Peterson
Subjects include: Valentina (first female astronaut), Mrs. Boston, last Iranian foreign minister in CHaSS, Soviet official, Frank Moss, Dr. Harmon, Ed Madigan, Utah State Capital, mother of John McCain, staff of School of International Service at the American University, Stacey Abrams, Ed Madigan, Barry McIntyre
Subjects include: Bob and Deanne Feldman, Gary E. Stevenson, Quinton L. Cook, Orrin G. Hatch, Noelle Cockett, John Ferry, Kent Alder, Sylvia.
Also inlcudes signed photos of former United States President, George W. Bush and former USU President, Elizabeth Cantwell
These bills appear to grant permanent residence (U.S.) to Heravi
Correspondents include: Hubert H. Humphrey, Glen L. Taggart, Frank E. Moss, Harry S. Reid, Jauad T. Khazeni, Jae, CAPSA, Robert and DeAnn Fehlman
Include: Paul G. Stephenson, M. Judd Harmon, Calvin L. Rampton, Ross LaJeunesse, John Hilley, James W. Symington, Bahman Amini
Include: Smoot family, Mary Wall, Teya Porter, Krista Phillips, Henry Hallock, Ta'Mariah Jenkins
Includes scholarship endowments.
Per donor request, the award was moved to permanent display in Room 208 at the Merrill-Cazier Library as part of the