Archives West Finding Aid

Harry Nelson was born on October 17, 1901 in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Pehr and Ulrika Nelson, who were of Swedish descent. He graduated from Granite High School in 1919 and then attended the University of Utah until his graduation in 1924. Nelson was active in the drama department and appeared in several plays produced by Maud May Babcock. After graduating from the University, Nelson continued his studies in a graduate program at the University of London, England, where he became acquainted with Sir Laurance Olivier who was a fellow student. He later performed on Broadway and with traveling dramatic groups. He later returned to the Intermountain West and taught at Ricks College in Rexsburg, Idaho, and at the University of Utah. He married Alice Evelyn Moyle in 1929 in Brooklyn, New York, and worked for ZCMI as the general merchandising manager for twenty years until his retirement in 1966. He served in various LDS Church positions. He died in 1988.