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Harry Nelson papers, 1886-2015

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Nelson, Harry, 1901-1988
Title
Harry Nelson papers
Dates
1886-2015 (inclusive)
Quantity
6 linear feet, (11 boxes)
Collection Number
MS 0645
Summary
The Harry Nelson papers (1886-2015) are mainly a collection of materials documenting the life of Maud May Babcock (1867-1954), a theater teacher and director at the University of Utah from 1892 to 1938. Journals, travelogs, daily planners, teaching materials, manuscripts, programs, announcements, letters, and news clippings are included. Harry Nelson (1901-1988) was a theater student and friend of Maud May Babcock.
Repository
University of Utah Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections, J. Willard Marriott Library
University of Utah
295 South 1500 East
Salt Lake City, UT
84112-0860

Telephone: 8015818863
special@library.utah.edu
Access Restrictions

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.

Languages
English
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Historical Note

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.

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Content Description

The Harry Nelson papers (1886-2015) are mainly a collection of materials documenting the life of Maud May Babcock (1867-1954), a theater teacher and director at the University of Utah from 1892 to 1938. Journals, travelogs, daily planners, teaching materials, manuscripts, programs, announcements, letters, and news clippings are included. These materials describe Babcock's day-to-day life, her travels, her involvement with the theater community, and her participation in the LDS Church. Some personal materials of Harry Nelson, including programs and scripts relating to his theatrical activities, are included.

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Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

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.

Preferred Citation

Collection Name, Collection Number, Box Number, Folder Number. Special Collections, J. Willard Marriott Library, The University of Utah.

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Administrative Information

Acquisition Information

Gift of Harry Nelson in 1983.

Addendum donated by Linda Burbidge-Gardner and Karin Brown in 2016.

Processing Note

Processed by Julie Middlemas in 1992.

Addendum processed by Betsey Welland in 2017.

Click here to read a statement on harmful language in library records.

Separated Materials

See also the Harry Nelson photograph collection (P0585) in the Multimedia Division of Special Collections.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • College theater--Utah--Salt Lake City
  • Drama teachers--Archives
  • Latter Day Saint women--Utah--Salt Lake City--Archives
  • Swedish Americans--Utah--Salt Lake City--Archives
  • Theater--Study and teaching--Utah--Salt Lake City
  • Women college teachers--Utah--Salt Lake City--Archives
  • Women theatrical producers and directors--Utah--Salt Lake City--Archives

Personal Names

  • Babcock, Maud May, 1867-1954--Archives
  • Babcock, Maud May, 1867-1954--Travel
  • Nelson, Harry, 1901-1988--Archives

Corporate Names

  • University of Utah. Department of Theatre--Alumni and alumnae--Archives
  • University of Utah. Department of Theatre--Faculty--Archives

Form or Genre Terms

  • Appointment books
  • Autobiographies
  • Biographies
  • Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.)
  • Diaries
  • Financial records
  • Genealogical tables
  • Instructional and educational works
  • Literary readings
  • Manuscripts
  • Personal correspondence
  • Scrapbooks
  • Scripts (documents)
  • Speeches
  • Theater programs
  • Travel writing

Finding aid created by Julie Middlemas.
1992 (last modified: 2017 and 2019)

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