Laura R. Merrill papers, 1917-1964
Table of Contents
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Merrill, Laura Liona Rees, 1876-1963.
- Title
- Laura R. Merrill papers
- Dates
- 1917-1964 (inclusive)19171964
- Quantity
- 6 boxes, (3 linear ft.)
- Collection Number
- UUS_COLL MSS 119
- Summary
- Bulk of the material is outgoing correspondence to her sons Dean and Asa Merrill (1940-1960). There is also a small amount of correspondence to and from Dean Merrill, mostly concerning his mother. Other correspondents include friends and other family members. The letters written by Merrill mainly recount happenings in Logan and in her personal life. The remainder of the collection contains personal material of Laura Merrill. Most significant here are a series of journals (1938, 1940-1943, 1946-1961 intermittent). Typewritten summaries are available with the journals. Also, the collection has personal material from Merrill's missions with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) and some Merrill family history. Material associated with the Central Utah Relocation Camp (Topaz Japanese internment camp) includes correspondence from former inmates (mostly cards with brief notes) and a few miscellaneous papers, but does not include a record of Merrill's experiences working in the camp library.
- Repository
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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
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Open to public research.
- Languages
- English.
- Sponsor
- Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant, 2007-2008
Biographical Note
Laura Merrill was a long time resident of Logan, Utah. Born in Brigham City on 6 February 1876. After having only formal education to the eighth grade available to her, she studied and passed the teacher's exam and taught primary school. When requirements were raised, she attended Utah State Agricultural College in Logan, Utah, becoming one of the first women to attend. She then taught in Portage and Brigham City, Utah. Married to Lorin Asa Merrill on 13 June 1900, she bore eight children before her husband's death in 1919. Merrill then served six years as Cache County Recorder (1920-1926). In 1927, she studied Library Science at the University of Washington in Seattle, then returned to become the librarian at Logan High School, where she worked intermittently from 1922 through 1961. Merrill served two missions: Canada (1946-1948) and the Eastern States (1941-1943). Merrill also worked at the Topaz Japanese internment camp in 1944.
Content Description
Bulk of the material is outgoing correspondence to her sons Dean and Asa Merill (1940-1960). There is also a small amount of correspondence to and from Dean Merrill, mostly concerning his mother. Other correspondents include friends and other family members. The letters written by Merrill mainly recount happenings in Logan and in her personal life.
The remainder of the collection contains personal material of Laura Merrill. Most signficant here are a series of journals (1938, 1940-1943, 1946-1961 intermittent). Typewritten summaries are available with the journals. Also, the collection has personal material from Merrill's mission with the L.D.S. Church and some Merrill family history.
The collection does not include a record of Merrill's experiences working in the Topaz Japanese internment camp library. Material associated with the Utah Relocation Camp include correspondence, mostly cards with brief notes and a few miscellaneous papers.
Use of the Collection
Restrictions on Use
It is the responsibility of the user to obtain permission to publish from the owner of the copyright (the institution, the creator of the record, the author or his/her transferees, heirs, legates, or literary executors). The user agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Utah State University Libraries, its officers, employees, and agents from and against all claims made by any person asserting that he or she is an owner of copyright.
Permission to publish material from the Laura R. Merrill papers must be obtained from the Special Collections Manuscript Curator and/or the Special Collections Department Head.
Preferred Citation
Laura R. Merrill papers, 1938-1964. (COLL MSS 119). Utah State University. Special Collections and Archives Department.
Administrative Information
Arrangement
Outgoing letters are grouped by correspondent and are arranged chronologically within each group. Incoming letters to Merrill, have been arranged chronologically.
Acquisition Information
No records detailing the donor of these records are on file, but they were likely donated by Laura's sons Asa and Dean Merrill.
Related Materials
Laura R. Merrill Newberry & Caldecott Book Award WinnersCOLL MSS 090
Detailed Description of the Collection
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Description: To Dorothy BaileyDates: 1949Container: Box 1, Folder 1
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Description: To Elizabeth BurnhamerDates: 1946Container: Box 1, Folder 2
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Description: To Asa J. and Ann MerrillDates: 1946-1961Container: Box 1, Folder 3
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Description: To Dean MerrillDates: undatedContainer: Box 1, Folder 4
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Description: To Dean MerrillDates: 1940Container: Box 1, Folder 5
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Description: To Dean MerrillDates: 1941Container: Box 1, Folder 6-7
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Description: To Dean MerrillDates: 1943Container: Box 1, Folder 8-11
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Description: To Dean MerrillDates: 1944Container: Box 1, Folder 12-13
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Description: To Dean MerrillDates: 1945Container: Box 1, Folder 14-15
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Description: To Dean MerrillDates: 1946Container: Box 1, Folder 16-17
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Description: To Dean MerrillDates: 1947Container: Box 2, Folder 1
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Description: To Dean MerrillDates: 1948Container: Box 2, Folder 2-3
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Description: To Dean MerrillDates: 1949Container: Box 2, Folder 4
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Description: To Dean MerrillDates: 1950Container: Box 2, Folder 5
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Description: To Dean MerrillDates: 1951Container: Box 2, Folder 6
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Description: To Dean MerrillDates: 1952Container: Box 2, Folder 7
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Description: Io Dean MerrillDates: 1953Container: Box 2, Folder 8
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Description: To Dean MerrillDates: 1954Container: Box 2, Folder 9-10
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Description: To Dean MerrillDates: 1955Container: Box 2, Folder 11
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Description: To Dean MerrillDates: 1956Container: Box 2, Folder 12-13
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Description: To Dean MerrillDates: 1957Container: Box 2, Folder 14-15
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Description: To Dean MerrillDates: 1958Container: Box 2, Folder 16-17
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Description: To Dean MerrillDates: 1959Container: Box 2, Folder 18
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Description: To Dean MerrillDates: 1959 JulyContainer: Box 3, Folder 1
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Description: To Dean MerrillDates: 1959 AugustContainer: Box 3, Folder 2
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Description: To Dean MerrillDates: 1959 SeptemberContainer: Box 3, Folder 3
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Description: To Dean MerrillDates: 1959 OctoberContainer: Box 3, Folder 4
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Description: To Dean MerrillDates: 1959 NovemberContainer: Box 3, Folder 5
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Description: To Dean MerrillDates: 1959 DecemberContainer: Box 3, Folder 6
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Description: To Dean MerrillDates: 1959Container: Box 3, Folder 7
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Description: To Dean MerrillDates: 1960 JanuaryContainer: Box 3, Folder 8
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Description: To Dean MerrillDates: 1960 February-AprilContainer: Box 3, Folder 9
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Description: To Dean MerrillDates: 1960 September-DecemberContainer: Box 3, Folder 10
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Description: To Dean MerrillDates: 1960Container: Box 3, Folder 11
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Description: To Dean MerrillDates: 1961 JanuaryContainer: Box 3, Folder 12
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Description: To Dean MerrillDates: 1961 February-MarchContainer: Box 3, Folder 13
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Description: To Dean MerrillDates: 1961Container: Box 3, Folder 14
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Description: To Mrs. Lorin C. MerrillDates: 1941Container: Box 3, Folder 15
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Description: To Katherine MilhouseDates: 1952Container: Box 3, Folder 16
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Description: From Dorothy BaileyDates: 1948Container: Box 3, Folder 17
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Description: From Claire HulmeDates: 1960-1961Container: Box 3, Folder 18
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Description: From Amy MerrillDates: 1946-1962Container: Box 3, Folder 19
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Description: From Effie MerrillDates: 1947-1962Container: Box 3, Folder 20
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Description: From Jo MerrillDates: 1945Container: Box 3, Folder 21
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Description: From Clementine Churchill, September 1948. From Charles DeGaulleDates: undatedContainer: Box 3, Folder 22
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Description: From Japanese students that Laura taught at Topaz
Mostly brief cards; 3 letters from Tommy and May Meyasaki in Idaho.
Dates: 1950-1961Container: Box 3, Folder 23 -
Description: Miscellaneous incomlng correspondence filed alphabeticallyDates: undatedContainer: Box 3, Folder 24-25
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Description: Incoming correspondence to Laura Merrill, no surnamesDates: undatedContainer: Box 4, Folder 1
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Description: Incoming correspondence to Dean MerrillDates: 1963-1964Container: Box 4, Folder 2
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Description: Dorothy Bailey to Dean MerrillDates: 1960Container: Box 4, Folder 3
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Description: Claire Hulme to Dean MerrillDates: 1957-1963Container: Box 4, Folder 4
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Description: Sherman Lloyd to Dean MerrillDates: 1959Container: Box 4, Folder 5
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Description: Amy Merrill to Dean MerrillDates: 1960-1964Container: Box 4, Folder 6
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Description: Margaret White to Dean MerrillDates: 1945Container: Box 4, Folder 7
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Description: Incoming correspondence to Milton MerrillDates: 1963Container: Box 4, Folder 8
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Description: Unknown correspondentsDates: undatedContainer: Box 4, Folder 9
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Description: Letters about Rees RelativesDates: undatedContainer: Box 4, Folder 10
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Description: David And Laura Rees genealogyDates: undatedContainer: Box 4, Folder 11
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Description: Tracting essay by Laura MerrillDates: undatedContainer: Box 4, Folder 12
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Description: Testimony of Laura MerrillDates: undatedContainer: Box 4, Folder 13
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Description: Notes by Laura Merrill on the Discourses of Brigham YoungDates: undatedContainer: Box 4, Folder 14
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Description: Notes by Laura Merrill on the Life Story of Brigham YoungDates: undatedContainer: Box 4, Folder 15
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Description: Notes and personal writings of Laura MerrillDates: undatedContainer: Box 4, Folder 16
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Description: Baptism and missionary papersDates: 1917-1941Container: Box 4, Folder 17
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Description: Topaz material, including two memorial addresses given by Shigeo Shimada and Masaru Narahara, Topaz Times 4 Nov 1944, and one page description of the libraryDates: undatedContainer: Box 4, Folder 18
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Description: Merrill family funeral announcementsDates: 1961-1965Container: Box 4, Folder 19
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Description: Merrill family chronology chartDates: undatedContainer: Box 4, Folder 20
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Description: Correspondence from Langston HughesDates: 1945Container: Box 4, Folder 21
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Description: Book of poetry "The Sunshine of Life"Dates: 1912Container: Box 4, Folder 22
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Description: "The Affair at the Inn" by Charles J. Finger, inscribedDates: 1930Container: Box 4, Folder 23
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Description: Journals kept by Laura Merrill, 1-15Dates: undatedContainer: Box 5
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Description: Journals kept by Laura Merrill, 16-21Dates: undatedContainer: Box 6
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Mormon women--Utah--Correspondence.
- Mormon women--Utah--Diaries.
Personal Names
- Merrill, Asa Rees, 1903-
- Merrill, Asa Rees, 1903---Correspondence.
- Merrill, Dean Rees, 1907-1981--Correspondence.
- Merrill, Dean Rees, 1907-1981.
- Merrill, Laura Liona Rees, 1876-1963--Correspondence.
- Merrill, Laura Liona Rees, 1876-1963--Diaries.
- Merrill, Laura Liona Rees, 1876-1963.
- Shimada, Shigeo, 1906-. Memorial address for Private Nobuo Kajiwara.
Corporate Names
- Central Utah Relocation Center.
Family Names
- Merrill family.
- Reese family.
Geographical Names
- Logan (Utah)--History.
- Topaz (Utah)--History.
