Alvin L. Gittins papers, 1883-1987

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Gittins, Alvin L., 1922-1981
Title
Alvin L. Gittins papers
Dates
1883-1987 (inclusive)
Quantity
22 linear feet
Collection Number
ACCN 0909
Summary
The Alvin L. Gittins papers (1883-1987) contain correspondence, biographical information, news clippings, day books, financial records, travel documents, lecture materials, and drawings related to the personal and professional life of Gittins (1922-1981), a portraitist and teacher.
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

Historical NoteReturn to Top

Alvin L. Gittins (1922-1981) was born in Kidderminster, Worcester, England, and came to the United States as an exchange student in 1946. He graduated with a B.A. from Brigham Young University in 1947 and was appointed to the University of Utah Art Department faculty in that same year. He served as head of the university's Art Department from 1956 to 1962.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The Alvin L. Gittins papers (1883-1987) contain correspondence, biographical information, news clippings, day books, financial records, travel documents, lecture materials, and drawings related to the personal and professional life of Alvin Gittins (1922-1981), a portraitist and teacher. Material concerning Gittins' personal life, dating from 1932 to 1987, is located in boxes 1-4. Included are correspondence, school and LDS Church records, University of Utah contracts and benefits information, medical and insurance records (focusing on his first wife, Gwendolyn), and information on his immigration and his divorce. Of interest are some mortgage indentures, located in box 4, folder 8, dating from the 1880s. Day books, notebooks, and address books are found in box 5 and date from the 1960s to 1981. Tax documents and receipts, dating from 1948 to the 1970s, are housed in boxes 6-7. Bank statements, checks, and other financial documents are housed in boxes 8-14 and date from 1946 to 1971.

Documents concerning art work painted by Gittins can be found in boxes 15-17 and include information on his exhibits, awards, and sales. These documents date from the 1940s to 1980. Materials related to Gittins' tenure at the University of Utah are located in boxes 18-24 and date from 1946 to 1980. Included are correspondence, invoices, faculty and university publications, travel documents, and notes and publications on the Reynold's lecture given by Gittins. His involvement in cultural and civic activities is reflected in box 25. Information, dating from the 1950s to the 1970s, on the Salt Lake Cultural Activities Committee, the Salt Lake Art Center, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, and other institutions is included. Undated, blank postcards collected by Gittins are also in box 25. Box 26 houses oversize materials including a Board of Education Examinations in Art Certificate, 1940; reprints of portraits by Gittins, 1948 and 1958 to 1959; reprints of Danseuses by Degas; and a pencil sketch of the University of Utah seal, 1916. Other oversize documents, stored in the Manuscripts Division map case, include a portrait reproduction print by David Levine; a poster depicting the papermaking process and its emergence in America; an advertisement for the art index, Old Master Drawings; and mortgage indentures dating from 1843 to 1887.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

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.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Acquisition Information

Boxes 1-26 were donated in 1986 by the University of Utah Department of Art (14.5 linear feet).

Box/cartons 27-29 were donated in 1999 (7.5 linear feet).

Separated Materials

Photographs have been transferred to the Multimedia Division of Special Collections (P0319).

Processing Note

Processed by Lisa Townsend and Karen Carver in 1998 and 1999.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Personal MaterialsReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
1 1-6
Correspondence
 1943-1971
1 7
Book of Letter Drafts Written by Gittins
1 8
Biographical Information
This folder includes curriculum vitae, lists of art exhibits, news clippings, and other documents.
2 1
University of Utah Contracts
This folder also includes compensation status information and correspondence regarding Gittins' sabatical leave.
1947-1980
2 2
University of Utah Benefits, Information Booklets and Statements
 1961-1987
2 3
Mortgage and Rent Documents
Included are agreements, contracts, correspondence, statements, and notes.
1950-1968
2 4-6
Family Medical Records
Statements, information booklets, invoices, bills, and correspondence are included.
1950s-1960s
2 7-9
Insurance Papers
Included are statements and bills for fire, health, auto, and teacher's insurance.
1950s-1980s
3 1-3
Gittins v. Rose
Correspondence, depositions, summons, and notices are included in this folder.
1959-1964
3 4
Divorce and Custody Papers
 1967, 1969
3 5-6
Immigration and Deportation Papers
 1946-1949
4 1
Marriage Certificates
The certificates concern Gittins' marriage to his second wife, Gayle Hamilton.
1970
4 2
LDS Church Records, Certificates of Ordination and Correspondence
 1935-1947
4 3-5
School Records
Included are certificates and commencement programs for Queen Elizabeth School (England) and Brigham Young University.
1932-1947
4 6
Certificates
 1952; 1967
4 7
"Portrait of a Portraitist"
Booklet prepared upon Gittins' death.
1981
4 8
Mortgage Indentures
 1883-1887
4 9
Horoscope, Typescript
4 10
Esther Gittins, Funeral Information
 1964
4 11
News Clippings
 1940s
4 12
Miscellaneous
 1960s-1980
5
Day Books, Notebooks, and Address Books
 1960s-1981

Financial MaterialsReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
6
Tax Documents and Receipts
 1948-1970
7
Tax Documents and Receipts
 1960s-1970s
Bank Statements and Checks
Box Folder
8 1
First Security Bank of Utah
 1955
8 2-7
Walker Bank and Trust Company
 1962-1965
9
Walker Bank and Trust Company
 1965-1966
10
Walker Bank and Trust Company
 1966-1967
11
Walker Bank and Trust Company
 1967-1969
Folder
12 1-3
Walker Bank and Trust Company
 1969-1970
12 4-6
Valley National Bank
 1967-1969
12 7
Western Saving and Loan Company
 1964
Folder
8
University of Utah Employees Credit Union
 1968-1969
9
Checks
 1960s
Box
13
Check Registers and Stubs
 1959-1968
Box
14
Bills
Box Folder
14 1
Valley National Bank, Credit Card
 1967-1971
14 2-5
Mountain States Telephone
 1962-1970
14 6
Mountain Fuel
 1964-1965
14 7
Utah Power and Light Company
 1964-1965
14 8
Department of Water Supply and Waterworks
14 9
Miscellaneous
 1946-1970

Portrait BusinessReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
15 1-10
Correspondence
 1940s-1980
15 11
Invitations
16 1
Exhibit Information
16 2
Awards
 1948; 1958
16 3
Sales
This folder includes lists of Gittins' paintings that were sold and their prices. Also included is an acknowledgment of rights concerning a drawing of Brigham Young for Zions National Bank.
1960s
16 4-5
Sales Receipts, Invoices, and Notes
 1950s-1970s
16 6
Licenses and Contracts
 1960s-1980
16 7
Check Stubs
 1959-1960
16 8
Account Book
 1965-1966
16 9
Royal Academy of Arts and Royal Society of British Artists, Exhibition Catalogs and Documents
 circa 1945
16 10
Picture Reproductions
16 11
Documents
This folder contains biographical information collected by Gittins about various individuals.
17 1
Artist Lists and Business Cards
17 2
News Clippings
 1940s-1970s
17 3
Miscellaneous

University of UtahReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
18 1-5
Correspondence
 1946-1980
18 6
Student Enrollment Statistics
 1959-1962
18 7-8
Quarterly Statistical Summaries
 1956-1959
19
Quarterly Statistical Summaries
 1959-1962
Folder
20 1-4
Fellowship Applications
These folders also include correspondence.
1950s-1970s
20 5-7
Faculty Publications and Lists
 1954-1959
20 8
University of Utah Publications
 1952-1975
20 9
Visual Aids and Graphics
20 10
Anatomy Descriptions
21 1-5
Ballet Committee
These folders include documents concerning admission and retention practices in the Ballet Department. Ballet Department histories are also included.
1980
21 6
Theater Graduate Council
Included are correspondence and undergraduate and graduate reports.
1979-1980
21 7-8
Music Committee
Reports, correspondence, and reviews of the Music Department are included.
1979-1980
University of Utah, Travel Documents
Box Folder
22 1
European Trip
Included are agenda, correspondence, and parental release forms.
1954
22 2-8
Mexico Trip
Agenda, correspondence, parental release forms, notes, receipts, and expense information are included.
1966-1972
22 9
Kanab Trip
Brochures, background information, and notes are included.
1979-1980
22 10
Travel Brochures and Maps
22 11
Travel Expenses
 1960s
22 12
British Passport and I.D. Card
Box
23
University of Utah, Reynolds Lecture
 1954-1980
Box Folder
23 1
Correspondence
 1963-1980
23 2-8
Alvin Gittins, "What is Aught but as 'Tis Valued?"
 1964
23 9
Lecture Materials Collected by Gittins
 1958-1970
Folder
24 1-4
University Art Library
Included are television, audio-visual, print, book, and slide reference lists.
24 5
Miscellaneous
 1963; 1976

Cultural AffairsReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
25 1
Correspondence
 1958-1969
25 2
Goals for Utah
Cultural Activities Committee meeting minutes, news clippings, and a report are included.
1960s
25 3
Salt Lake Art Center
Budget information, meeting minutes, and statistics are included.
1950s-1960s
25 4
Institute of Fine Arts
Included are meeting minutes, a roster, and a Ballet West information booklet.
1970s
25 5
Democratic Party Involvement
Included are notes, meeting minutes, correspondence, invitations, and rosters concerning Gittins' involvement in Democratic affairs.
1962-1964
25 6
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Membership Cards and Receipts
 1964
25 7
American Craftsmen's Council, Pamphlet and Letters
25 8-10
Postcards
Most depict well-known architectural structures and paintings in Europe.
25 11
Miscellaneous
 1960s

Oversize Documents, 1916-1959Return to Top

Container(s): Box 26

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
26 1
Board of Education Examinations in Art Certificate
 1940
26 2
Reprints of Portraits by Gittins
 1948-1959
26 3
Reprints of Danseuses by Degas
26 4
Pencil Sketch of the University of Utah Seal
 1916
27
Scrapbook

AddendumReturn to Top

Container(s) Description
Carton
28
Correspondence
29
Personal Documents

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Painters--Utah
  • Portrait painting, American--Utah

Corporate Names

  • University of Utah--Art Dept.
  • University of Utah--Faculty

Form or Genre Terms

  • Clippings
  • Correspondence
  • Drawings
  • Financial records
  • Office files
  • Statistics

Finding aid prepared by Lisa Townsend and Karen Carver
1998 (last modified: 2019)

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