President H. Aldous Dixon papers

President H. Aldous Dixon papers, 1870-1990, bulk 1950-1955

Overview of the Collection

Title: President H. Aldous Dixon papers
Dates: 1870-1990, bulk 1950-1955 (inclusive)
18701990
Quantity: 1.25 linear feet, (3 boxes)
Collection Number: UUS_3.1/9
Summary: President Henry Aldous Dixon papers document his time as the ninth President of Utah State University.
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: No restrictions on use, except: not available through interlibrary loan.
Languages: English

Historical NoteReturn to Top

Henry Aldous Dixon known mostly as Aldous Dixon was born in Provo Utah in 1890 and married his wife Lucile Knowlden in 1915. He received degrees from Brigham Young University, the University of Chicago, and the University of Southern California. Dixon served as the president and teacher at the Weber Academy, an institution operated by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, at various times throughout 1914-1937, and was the superintendent of Provo City schools around 1920-1932 However, after his father's death in 1924, he took over his family's banking business until 1932. Dixon was the ninth President of the Utah Agricultural State College, now known as Utah State University (USU) between 1953-1954. In 1954 Dixon was drafted by the Utah Republican Party to run for the congressional seat vacated by Douglas Stringfellow. Dixon resigned the presidency in October of 1954 to campaign and ultimately win the congressional seat where he was one of the only congressmen to support the Civil Rights Acts of 1957 and 1960. Although he only served for one year, Dixon is known for his commitment to community and teamwork and designating USU as a partner of the common welfare in his inaugural address.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The President H. Aldous Dixon papers mostly include correspondence, reports, and office files that document the university business between approximately between 1953-1954.

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 President H. Aldous Dixon papers must be obtained from the University Archivist and/or the Special Collections Department Head.

Preferred Citation

Initial Citation: President H. Aldous Dixon Papers USU_3.1/9. Special Collections and Archives. Utah State University Merrill-Cazier Library. Logan, Utah.

Following Citations:USU_3.1/9, USUSCA.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

The arrangement of this collection reflects an intellectual order of Peterson's activities as President. The physical order and numbering of items are second to the intellectual ordering of this collection. This collection is arranged into five series. I. Assorted Correspondence and Office Files II. Department and Faculty III. Committees IV. Inauguration V. Personal Papers Box 2 Folders 9 and 34 don't exist

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

I. Assorted Correspondence and office files, 1938-1955Return to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	Folder
1	3	Alumni association Includes a report from the Alumni board concerning a dispute with state officials	1952 November 9
1	6	Board of Trustees correspondence and resolutions	1953-1954
1	7	Board of Trustees memos, reports and correspondence Includes list of board of trustees and new clippings	1953-1954
1	9	President of Brigham Young University Ernest L. Wilkinson Concerns Wilkinson congratulating H. A. Dixon on being appointed to president	1953 October 1
1	13	Campus directory Includes clubs, organizations, and department affiliations	1953
1	14	Commencement Concerns the awarding of honorary degrees and includes Albert Sydne Raubenheimer's speech "The Prospect Before Us"	1954 April - May
1	15	Commencement addresses It's assumed these materials were collected by H. A. Dixon. Includes Founder's Day program and assembly, "Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow" by Henry H. Blood, speeches by E. G. Peterson, John A. Widstoe, Harris of B.Y.U, President Quinney, Melvin J. Ballard, Fredrick P. Champ, and the speeches titled "The Role of the Scientist in Modern Life", "Our Opportunities", and "Travelers or Wanderes"	1938 March 8
1	15a	Fifty-ninth annual Utah State Agricultral College commencement program	1952 June
1	16	Bulletins	1946-1950
1	20	College of Southern Utah Concerns budet, contract agreements, faculty and staff, and bonds	1954
2	4	Girl's State textbook and guide	1954 June 13
2	5	Governor J. Bracken Lee Includes salary buget and analysis of employees and student enrollment	1950-1954
2	8	High school relations Includes enrollment reports, Deans' council, and committees	1951-1953
2	11	Iran Concerns Utah State Agricultural College staff visiting Iran	1954 June
2	12	Leave of absence	1954
2	14	Invitation for celebration for David O. McKay, past president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-say Saints An invitation to a limited issue of the Improvement Era commemorating McKay's 80th birthday	1953 September 8
2	16	"Conflict with Mediocrity" a speech delivered at the annual Phi Kappa Phi meeting It is assumed to be given or collected by H. A. Dixon	1954 May 27
2	21	Student fee statistics	probably 1953-1954
2	22	Salary reports and proposals Includes 17 western states colleges and universites	1953-1954
2	25	Snow College reports Includes invitation to dedication of auditorium, budgets, scholarships, and building repairs	1953-1955
2	27	Student body president Includes student government organization and vending machine policies	1954
2	33	Symposium on Mormon culture presented at the Utah Academy of Sciences, Arts, and Letters Includes "A Community Portrait" by Juanita Brooks, "Mormonism and Literature" by William Mulder, "Trends in Mormon Economic Policy" by Leonard J. Arrington, and "The Development of Mormon Ethics" by Gaylon L. Caldwell	1952 November 14
2	35	Utah Conference on Higher Education event and report	1953
2	36	Utah Scientific Research Foundation articles of incorporation	1945
2	27	Veterans employment	1953-1954
2	38	Ogden Standard-Examiner newspaper Concerns Weber College	1953 December 11

II. Department and Faculty, 1950-1954Return to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	Folder
1	1	Administration Includes list of adminstration officers and letter from Guy E. Suavely	1953
1	2	School of Agriculture Includes correspondence with R. H. Walker and L. Mark Neuberger, agricultural communications project, agreement with Geneva Steel, and Federal Irrigation office	1953-1954
1	4	Athletic council code	1954 January 12
1	5	Duties and responsibilities of athletic departments	probably 1953-1954
1	8	University bookstore controversy and the manager Eric Johnson	1954
1	10	Buildings and grounds Concerns policy changes, postion changes, and an addition of a film library	1954 February - March
1	11-12	Business manager D. A. Broadbent Includes budget, reports, student fees, college calendar, annual short course for canning crop growers and canner's field men, Ezra Taft Benson, Fredrick P. Champ, E. G. Peterson, and O. B. Jesness	1954
1	17	School of Commerce Concerns Les Pocock's employment	1954 April 21
1	19	Controller's office Concerns budget matters	1953-1954
2	6	Special collection Hatch Room Concerns Hatch Room opening, members of the board of trustees, scholarship, and emertius faculty	1953
1	21	Dean of Women applications	1954
2	39	Mae Welling, Dean of Women Concerns consolidation of scholarships on campus	1954
1	22	School of Education recommendations of rank	1954
1	23	Employee files Includes job appointments, notices of resignation, applications, and recommendations	1953-1954
1	24	School of engineering memos, position recommendations, and applications	1953-1954
1	25	Ira Hayward, English department Concerns a conflict over the religious views of USU staff	1954 April
1	26	Evening school schedule, faculty members, and enrollment Includes a meeting on foreign students	1950-1954
2	1	Faculty association appointments	1953 January 1
2	2	Finance commission	1954 Februrary 11
2	3	Forest, range, and wildflife management accreditation and future plans	1953 October 27
2	15	Off-campus instruction teaching schedules, salaries, and reports Mostly concerns extra pay for instructors	1953-1954
2	17	Duties and qualifications of instructors	1953 August 7
2	19	Registrar's Office reports Includes statistics, attendance, enrollment, and faculty code committee	1951-1954
2	20	ROTC program description Includes newsclipping from Magazine of Salt Lake Tribune	1953-1954
2	28	Student personnel and guidance report and program	1954 June 3
2	29	Summer school Includes conferences, events, officers of adminstration, and programs and lectures	1953-1954
2	31	Retirement program and the teacher's retirement system	1953 December 18
2	39	Faculty memos	1954

III. Committees, 1953-1954Return to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	Folder
1	18	Committees Includes dormitory committee, campus planning committee, coordinating committee, committee on credits and admission, graduation requirements, debating committee, housing committee, library committee, lyceum committee, faculty representatives, civic music membership week, credit rating committee, out-of-state travel committee, personnel and guidance committee, pre-medical, pre-dental, pre-veterinary, publication council, radio and T.V. policy committee, registration committee, teacher placement committee, graduation committee, and committee on test week evaluation	1953-1954
2	7	Health Committee reports and recommendations	1953-1954
2	13	Manion Committee Includes discussion of H. A. Dixon's inaugural address	1953-1954
2	18	Professional relations and faculty welfare committee Concerns membership, contracts and services, salaries, policies, and suggestions	1951-1955
2	23	Scholarship committee membership	probably 1953-1954
2	24	Space allocation committee memerships and reports	1953
2	26	Student affairs committee Includes calendar, duties and responsibilities, membership, and reports	1951-1953
2	30	T. V. committee policies	1954 March 31
2	32	Traffic committee reports, minutes, and plans	1951-1952

VI. Inauguration, 1953-1954Return to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	Folder
2	10	Acceptance speech It's assumed to be an acceptance speech given or collected by H. A. Dixon	probably 1953-1954
3	1	Programs	1954 March 8

V. Personal Papers, approximately 1890 - 1992Return to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	Folder
3	2	Correspondence and newspaper clippings concerning the life and death of H. Aldous Dixon Includes photos	approximately 1890 - 1992

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