J. Willard Marriott Library Special Collections
Davis Bitton oral histories and autobiographies collection
Bitton, Davis, 1930-2007
MS 0039
4.25 linear feet
5 boxes
1966-2005
The Davis Bitton oral histories and autobiographies collection (1966-2005) contains transcripts of oral histories conducted as an assignment for History 110 at the University of Utah. The interviews cover a wide range of Utah history, politics, government, and every day life. Bitton taught history at the University of Utah from 1966 to 1995.
English
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Davis Bitton (b. 1930) taught history at the University of Utah from 1966 to 1995, the oral histories and autobiographies are the assignments turned in to him, by his students.
The Davis Bitton oral histories and autobiographies collection (1966-2005) contains oral histories assigned to the students from Bitton's 110 history class. The subjects are broad, ranging from family reminiscences of the late nineteenth century to the bombing of Manchester, England, in World War II in box 1. Interviews that include Depression experiences in the West as well as several University of Utah provessors discussing their respective departments are included in box 2. Issues such as the advent of the council form of government in Salt Lake City to a woman who speaks of her near-death experience are in box 3. Box 4 contains interviews that run the gamut of private detective work, to war experiences, to raising a child with AIDS. Box 5 contains a bound collection of student autobiographies as well as family histories. Each history is identified with a brief summary of the content of the interview. If a collection is identified as "Life Experiences," that is because the subject is not concentrating on one event, but is giving a broad painting of life. Essentially, the collection is a microcosim of life in Utah, over almost 100 years. Examples of virtually every walk of life have been included and each box in arranged alphabetically and according to surname.
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.
Boxes 1-4 were donated in 1997-2001.
Box 5 was donated in 2005.
Processed by Elizabeth Rogers in 2002 and Lindsey Moore in 2006.
Click here to read a statement on harmful language in library records.
Atiya, Aziz Suryal, 1898-1988--Interviews
University of Utah--Employees--Interviews
University of Utah--Faculty--Interviews
Utah--History
Utah--Social life and customs
Utah--Ethnic relations
Utah--Politics and government
Germany (East)--Social life and customs
Germany--Armed Forces--Interviews
Germany--Economic conditions--20th century
Germany--Social conditions--1933-1945
Germany--Politics and government--1933-1945
Latter Day Saint missionaries--20th century--Interviews
Pearl Harbor (Hawaii), Attack on, 1941
World War, 1939-1945
World War, 1939-1945--Prisoners and prisons, German
World War, 1939-1945--Prisoners and prisons
Ex-prisoners of war--Interviews
Latter Day Saints--Utah--Interviews
Immigrants--Cultural assimilations--Interviews
Immigrants--Utah--Interviews
African American women air pilots--Interviews
Oral histories
Interviews
Personal correspondence
Family histories
Barker to Williams
James L. Barker, interviewed by Glenna Barker
1970
1
1
An interview with a Salt Lake City Commissioner.
Albert L. Bott, interviewed by Ward Mortensen
1971
1
2
An interview with an Ogden City Comissioner.
Selvoy J. Boyer, interviewed by Kathryn Leilani
1970
1
3
Experiences as a Utah state legislator (1939-1946), mayor of Springville, and president of the British Mission in 1946.
George Dewey Clyde, interviewed by Rodney J. Nelson
1970
1
4
A governor of Utah (1957-1965) speaks about Depression influences on state government.
Veronica Colby, interviewed by Steven Zwisler
1971
1
5
A discussion of the Nazi bombing of Manchester, England, from 1940 to 1942.
Roy Maughan Darley, interviewed by D. Michael Quinn
1971
1
6
An early Mormon Tabernacle organist.
Carl Petersen Dea, interviewed by Leon Hales
1970
1
7
The depression in Magna.
Charles E. Dibble, interviewed by Barbara Chapman
1970
1
8
A professor of anthropology at the University of Utah.
Robert L. Erdman, interviewed by Susan Detton
1971
1
9
A professor in the Department of Special Education, speaks on mental retardation.
William A. Evans, interviewed by Louis Graham
1970
1
10
Experiences in the mining camps of Mercur and Sunshine between 1896 and 1910.
Catherine Fratto, interviewed by Phil Notarianni
1971
1
11
Italian culture and folklore in Utah.
Brewster Ghiselen, interviewed by Barbara Chapman
1971
1
12
Ghiselen was an instructor in the English Department at the University of Utah.
Jesse Marguarite Pace Graham, interviewed by Ruth R. Yeaman
1971
1
13
Interviewed concerning the early history of her family in Utah.
Jesse D. Jennings, interviewed by Elva Smith
1970
1
14
The founder and director of the Museum of Natural History at the University of Utah.
Leroy J. Kimball, interviewed by James Leroy Kimball Jr.
1970
1
15
The director of Nauvoo Restoration Incorporated.
Amarilla Hamblin Lee, interviewed by P. T. Reilly
1970
1
16
Jacob Hamblin's last daughter discusses her life.
Otto Liebergesell, interviewed by Sister Christine Eheman
1970
1
17
A German POW in World War II.
Claude D. Mangum, interviewed by Stephen W. Julien
1970
1
18
Segregation and integration in the army during and after World War II.
John Benjamin Matheson, interviewed by David L. Crowder
1970
1
19
A city commissioner from 1937-1949.
Vince Mayer, interviewed by John D. Sylvester
1970
1
20
Experiences in Nigeria during the Civil War from 1968 to 1970.
S. S. Murthy, interviewed by Frank Thomason
1970
1
21
An immigrant discusses the differences between India and America.
William W. Newby, interviewed by Ruth R. Yeaman
1971
1
22
A professor of Zoology at the University of Utah.
Gottfried Nuemann, interviewed by Lynn Jensen
1971
1
23
A German soldier in World War II.
Waldemar P. Read, interviewed by David A. Moore
1970
1
24
Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at the University of Utah.
Dorothy G. Snow, interviewed by Ruth R. Yeaman
1971
1
25
A professor of English at the University of Utah.
Thomas Soter, interviewed by Leonard Holman
1971
1
26
A Greek immigrant in Utah.
Royal Swasey, interviewed by Kent Powell
1970
1
27
Two parts: An interview about a cabin constructed at the head of Eagle Canyon and the horse business. Also, a reading by Eva Swasey from a journal kept by her husband in 1927.
Elizabeth Vance, interviewed by Peggy Hall
1971
1
28
The field representative in the Anti-Discrimination Division of the State Industrial Commission.
Heinz Wagner, interviewed by Linda Wilcox
1970
1
29
A German soldier's experiences in Leningrad during World War II.
Blair W. Walkington, interviewed by Judith Dieteman Cornell
1970
1
30
Discusses the Division of Industrial Promotion for the State of Utah.
Ardean Watts, interviewed by Spencer T. Gould
1971
1
31
Ardean Watts was the associate conductor of the Utah Symphony Orchestra.
Mary E. Webster, interviewed by Ruth R. Yeaman
1971
1
32
Webster was a Professor Emeritus of Speech at the University of Utah.
J. H. Wheeler, interviewed by Raymond S. Wright III
1970
1
33
Wheeler and his wife, Venus, discuss their youths in Utah and Idaho.
Calvin Whitehead, interviewed by Glenna Barker
1970
1
34
The chief of police in Salt Lake City, Utah.
J. Claire Williams, interviewed by Thomas L. Owen
1970
1
35
An attorney with the Union Pacific Railroad. The interview is concerned with an attempt to block the rezoning of a piece of property.
Atiya to Young
Aziz Atiya, interviewed by George Pence
1975
2
1
An "ancient Egyptian" in America.
Carl Frederick and Bertha Beigle Buehner, interviewed by Doug Bradshaw
1975
2
2
"The Story and History of Carl Frederick Buehner (1873-1935) and his wife, Bertha Geigle Buehner (1874-1935)."
Jay J. Campbell, interviewed by Rex Lorenzo Christiansen
1971
2
3
The Utah State Board of Education and its relationship to higher education.
Jefferson Fordham, interviewed by Ann Marie Dykstra
1975
2
4
Recollections from a professor of law at the University of Utah.
William Gonzales, interviewed by Steven Piott
1972
2
5
Dr. Gonzalez was instrumental in founding the Chicano studies program at the University of Utah.
Frank R. Goodman, interviewed by David L. Washburn
1975
2
6
A Mormon in Vietnam.
Joy Hasimoto, interviewed by Ron Rainger
1971
2
7
World War II relocation experiences in Granada, Colorado.
George Herzog, interviewed by Ray K. Cunningham
1975
2
8
He served as a prison guard at Fort Douglas during World War I.
Harvey and Norma E. Johnson, interviewed by H. Thayne Johnson
1975
2
9
Recollections of Cotterel, Idaho.
Armanag and Arick S. Kerzerian, interviewed by Brian Winterowd
1975
2
10
Immigrant perspectives on early Murray, Utah.
Friedrich Latendorf, interviewed by Norman J. Storrer
1975
2
11
A German soldier on the Eastern Front in 1945.
Brigham D. Madsen, interviewed by David J. Singer
1975
2
12
Experiences in the west during the Depression.
Keith T. and Bernice T. Mann, interviewed by Ann Marie Mann
1975
2
13
Thomas Martin, interviewed by Susan Hanson
1975
2
14
"A Life Worth Living."
Joyce Matsuno, interviewed by John A. Pitts
1971
2
15
Japanese-American perspectives on the West during and after World War II.
Charles William Mays, interviewed by Desiree Mays
1975
2
16
"Charles William Mays, a Profile."
Mayola R. Miltenberger, interviewed by Carol Clark
1975
2
17
General secretary-treasurer of the Relief Society.
Lucille Olsen, interviewed by Robert D. Jensen
1975
2
18
Recollections of an Ogden citizen.
Hans Ranglack, interviewed by Clint Bailey
1975
2
19
A German soldier in World War II.
Clark Ronnow, interviewed by Stephan Moss
1971
2
20
Experiences in prison.
Eldon M. Tolman, interviewed by Roland T. Astin
1971
2
21
Experiences in a German prison camp during World War II.
Mary W. Warmuth, interviewed by Margaret Brady
1975
2
22
The Humane Society in Utah.
Elizabeth Biehler Yearsley, interviewed by Sharon Pugsley
1975
2
23
A Gentile in Abraham, Utah.
George Cannon Young, interviewed by Carol C. Madsen
1975
2
24
An architect in Salt Lake City.
Afeaki to Thiriot
Paul Afeaki, interviewed by Jessica Millward
1992
3
1
Former University of Utah "Runnin' Utes" center.
Lynn Anderson, interviewed by Glenn Anderson
1994
3
2
A safari to Africa.
Jim Aumann, interviewed by Heather Brereton
1994
3
3
A swim team assistant coach at the University of Utah.
Roger Blake, interviewed by Charlotte Langston
1994
3
4
A poet and his craft.
Brinton R. Burbidge, interviewed by Brooke A. Burbidge
1992
3
5
Experiences as the chairman of the Bicentennial of the Constitution for the State of Utah.
Roger Candland, interviewed by Rebecca Candland
1994
3
6
Discusses his parents, Guy and Sophrona Candland.
Jacqueline Clifford, interviewed by Chantal Vanessian
1994
3
7
A professor of modern dance at the University of Utah.
Elaine Elliot, interviewed by WillieAnn Bandy
1994
3
8
The head women's basketball coach at the University of Utah.
Ronald Esplin, interviewed by Michael Le
1992
3
9
History professor at Brigham Young University.
Sydney Fonnesbeck, interviewed by Melissa Fonnesbeck
1992
3
10
Discusses the advent of the City-Council form of government in Salt Lake City.
Howard Franklin, interviewed by Brittany Rickford
1994
3
11
The president of the Utah All Breed Horse Association.
Don Fullmer, interviewed by Hud Fullmer
1994
3
12
A Utah boxer discusses his career.
Emily Goehring, interviewed by John T. Roberts
1992
3
13
Utah culture in the 1940s and 1950s.
Kenneth Dean Gray, interviewed by Kenneth J. Gray
1992
3
14
Life experiences, including teaching in Huntington, Utah.
Reiner Groebs, interviewed by Richard Juluson
1992
3
15
Life in East Germany during World War II, his escape after the war, and his arrival in Utah.
Lehi Milton Jones, interviewed by John R. Siddoway
1975
3
16
A family history in Cedar City.
Howard J. and Mary Leone Green Layton, interviewed by Rick Thornton
1975
3
17
"Life Sketches of Howard James and Mary Leone Green Layton."
Herbert B. Maw, interviewed by Thomas J. Moore Jr.
1978
3
18
A prominent Utah politician.
Sam N., interviewed by Jomanna Dajany
1992
3
19
Under guarantee of anonymity, discusses "near-death" experience.
Carl B. and Anna May Newton Shipp, interviewed by Milton P. Shipp
1975
3
20
"The Life Histories of Carl Bingham and Anna May Newton Shipp."
Tui Sullivan, interviewed by Nancy Densley
1994
3
21
Life experiences.
Richard Thiriot, interviewed by Layne Olsen
1992
3
22
Early television in Utah.
Anderson to Yorgason
Alma Anderson, interviewed by Jason Smith
1994
4
1
Life experiences.
LeGrand Baer, interviewed by Michelle Koopmans
1994
4
2
Life experiences.
Henry Dale Bott, interviewed by Richard Clay Cawley
1994
4
3
Naval experiences from 1955 through 1976.
Mary Lythgoe Bradford, interviewed by Devery S. Anderson
1994
4
4
An editor at Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought.
Kelly Call, interviewed by Kristen Call
1994
4
5
A teenage drug addict's story.
Jewel Clemens, interviewed by Ed Hartley
1994
4
6
An African-American woman's experiences in the Air Force during the 1960s.
Benjamin Mabey Fisher, interviewed by Karen Fisher Bridge
1994
4
7
A Pearl Harbor survivor speaks of his experiences abord the U.S.S. Honolulu.
Norda Finlinson Gardner, interviewed by Elizabeth Greathouse
1994
4
8
Live experiences.
Reita Hunt Hamblin, interviewed by Shawna Hamblin
1994
4
9
Life experiences.
Sidney R. Henderson, interviewed by Michael Roach
1994
4
10
President of the Tacoma Washington Mission.
Mary and John Holmes, interviewed by David Holmes
1994
4
11
Growing up in Iowa.
Lienhard Hoppe, interviewed by Michael Hoppe
1994
4
12
A German immigrant's experiences in 1953.
Grant Wallace Housley, interviewed by Edward K. Barker
1994
4
13
Mostly concerns World War II, including a meeting with Generals, Douglas MacArthur and George C. Marshall.
Alan Jenkins, interviewed by Myrna Walton
1994
4
14
The owner of several pawn shops in Salt Lake City, Utah, discusses his business.
Dick Johnsen, interviewed by Todd Kent
1994
4
15
Experiences in Vietnam.
Doris Blanche Judkins, interviewed by Karen McNichol
1994
4
16
The Depression in Ogden.
Andreas Kalt, interviewed by Dave Beagley
1994
4
17
Gold medalist in the 1993 Utah Summer Games triathlon event.
Jeff Macleod, interviewed by Anita Feltenberger
1994
4
18
Scottish cultural events in Utah.
Miyuki Maruka, interviewed by S. Cameron Beatty
1994
4
19
"A Commentary on Japanese Society."
Jennie Laverne Felton Miller, interviewed by Chadd Watson
1994
4
20
Life experiences.
Margaret Moffat, interviewed by Jennifer Bezzant
1994
4
21
Life experiences.
Peter Michael Nicholas, interviewed by Jenny Nicholas
1994
4
22
An interview about the Coast Guard.
Elbert Peck, interviewed by Blake Murray
1994
4
23
Kim Peek, interviewed by Frank Kimball
1994
4
24
"The Rainman."
Arlo Prisbrey, interviewed by Joanna Robbins
1994
4
25
"Trucking History in Utah."
Mildred Redd, interviewed by Shanette Despain
1994
4
26
Surviving the Depression in Salt Lake City.
Scott Roach, interviewed by Kent McClannan
1994
4
27
An instructor in rock climbing and mountaineering at the University of Utah discusses climbing in the West.
John Solis, interviewed by James David
1994
4
28
A member of the 101st Airborne discusses the Gulf War.
Stephanie Spriggs, interviewed by Gregory William Pozan
1994
4
29
A family lives with AIDS.
Tui Sullivan, interviewed by Jeff Rowland
1994
4
30
A New Zealand immigrant discusses her life in America.
Camm Swift, interviewed by Susan Swift
1994
4
31
A trip the the Amazon in 1980.
D. Cornell Thomas, interviewed by John D. Thomas
1994
4
32
Life experiences of a teacher, a private detective, and a university professor.
Sariah Vellinga, interviewed by Kristie L. Cole
1994
4
33
Notes cultural differences between the United States and Taiwan.
James Wolfe, interviewed by Ken Andersen
1994
4
34
A mathematics professor discusses his career at the University of Utah.
Blaine M. Yorgason, interviewed by Tim Schulte
1994
4
35
An LDS writer and his career.
Articles, Correspondence and Histories
"The Reformation in Current Ecumenical Perspective"
1966-2005
5
1
Correspondence
1970-1983
5
2
Family Histories
1978
5
3
Student Autobiographies
1975-1978
5
4
Oral Histories
1975
5
5