Charles Elliot Dibble (1909-2002) was born on August 18, 1909 in Layton, Utah, to George Elliott and Ella Tolman Dibble. He received his B.A. in history in 1936 from the University of Utah, his M.A. in anthropology in 1938, and his Ph.D in 1942 from the Universidia Nacional Autonoma de Mexico. He also did post-doctoral work at Harvard in 1943.
Dr. Dibble came back to the University of Utah as an instructor in anthropology in 1941, and served as department head from 1960-1964. He is the only professor to receive the three most important awards from the University of Utah: Distinguished Research, Distinguished Teaching, and Distinguished Alumnus. In 1977 he also received the Distinguished Professor Award.
Charles Elliot Dibble, in addition to his many publications, speaking engagements, professional affiliations, awards, grants and lectures, is most recognized for one enormous body of work. Along with Dr. Arthur J.O. Anderson, he was responsible for the translation and publication of the Florentine Codex, first envisioned by the Franciscan priest, Fray Bernadino de Sahagun, from Aztec to English. This work, originally envisioned as a five-year project, eventually became a thirty-year labor of love that resulted in several awards in its own right. In 1981, Dr. Dibble received the Mexican Order of the Aztec Eagle, that country's highest honor, and in 1984, he was awarded the decoration and title Knight Commander "Order de Isabel la Catolica," by the King of Spain.
Charles Elliot Dibble was married to Audrey Sarah Nelson from December 1936, until her death in September 2002. They had four children, twenty-three grandchildren, and eleven great-grandchildren. Dr. Dibble died on 30 November, 2002. (Source: "Obituary: Charles Elliot Dibble," Deseret News, December 5, 2002.
The Charles Elliot Dibble photograph collection contains black-and-white photographs and negatives depicting Dibble's research translating dating from approximately 1950-1970.
Arranged by subject
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.
It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances.
Permission to publish material from the Charles Elliot Dibble photograph collection must be obtained from the Special Collections Manuscript Curator.
Donated by Ella Sorensen in 2004.
Processed by Special Collections staff.
See also the Charles Elliott Dibble papers (ACCN 1371) in the Manuscripts Division of Special Collections.