Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
LeGrand Spencer papers, 1927-1948
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Spencer, LeGrand Dee, 1910-1991
- Title
- LeGrand Spencer papers
- Dates
- 1927-1948 (inclusive)19271948
- Quantity
- 3.5 linear feet, (7 boxes)
- Collection Number
- UUS_COLL MSS 576
- Summary
- Correspondence between LeGrand Spencer and his family between 1929 and 1946.
- Repository
-
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
-
No restrictions on use, except: not available through interlibrary loan.
It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances.
Permission to publish material from the LeGrand Spencer papers must be obtained from the Manuscript curator and/or the Special Collections Department Head.
- Languages
- English, German
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
These materials are mainly personal letters between LeGrand and members of his family (wife, parents, and siblings) throughout his time as an LDS missionary in Germany, a medical school student, and later, in the US Navy. These materials document what missionary and military life was like in the 1930s and 1940s as well as life in Logan during that time.
This collection contains Spencer Family letters sent between Germany and Logan 1929-1932, between St. Louis and Logan 1938-1944, and sent between the ship USS Laurens and Logan 1944-1946, as well as accompanying photograph albums. Additional materials relate to Spencer's medical practice and the Logana Plunge, among other topics. Photos consist of commercial postcards and images of Germany, London, and New York, as well images of LDS missionaries in Germany, and images Spencer took in Europe. Also includes images of the Graf Zeppelin airships, and nitrate negatives.
Historical NoteReturn to Top
LeGrand Dee Spencer was born February 24, 1910, to Charles Robert Spencer and Isabelle [Kennedy] Spencer in Logan, Cache Valley, Utah and was their fifth of eight children. He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints and went on to serve an LDS mission, serving in the Swiss-German mission from 1929 to 1932. After his mission, he graduated from Utah State Agricultural College (today USU) and then taught chemistry and German at the North Cache High School LeGrand married Faye Preston of Weston, Preston County, Idaho in Logan, Utah in 1936. Before volunteering for the US Navy, LeGrand graduated from the St. Louis University School of Medicine and completed his internship in Missouri. He then went on to serve as a Naval doctor on the USS Laurens in the South Pacific in World War II between 1944 and 1946.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Preferred Citation
Initial Citation: LeGrand Spencer papers USU_MSS 576. Special Collections and Archives. Utah State University Merill-Cazier Library. Logan, Utah.
Following Citations:USU_MSS 576, USUSCA.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
These materials grouped chronologically, with oversized items stored together. They retain the basic order in which they arrived.
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
I. Correspondence, newspaper clippings, 1927-1948Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box | Folder | ||
| 1 | 1-11 | Correspondence February to December |
1931 |
| 1 | 12 | "The Vision Listing" |
1932 April |
| 1 | 13 | Literary Digest |
1931 October |
| 1 | 14 | Revelation; LDS; "Kirchengeschichte" |
circa 1930 |
| 1 | 15 | Newspaper clipping |
circa 1930 |
| 1 | 16 | Mission letters, newspaper clippings, calendar, diary/itinerary entries |
1930-1931 |
| 1 | 17-19 | AirMobile Vehicle order books, photos, newspaper clippings, specs, dealer information |
1937 |
| 2 | 1-26 | Correspondence, newspaper clippings in German and English
Includes messages from the First Presidency Christmas and Cache Relief Society
|
1930-1932 |
| 2 | 27 | Lesson/talk notes |
undated |
| 2a | 1 | LDS Mission calling |
1929 |
| 2a | 2-3 | Correspondence, ordination certificate |
1929 |
| 2a | 4-15 | Correspondence, newspaper clippings January to December |
1930 |
| 2a | 16 | Scrapbook pages, newspaper clippings |
1931 |
| 2a | 17 | Correspondence, tuition receipts |
1938-1940 |
| 2a | 18 | Correspondence |
1944 |
| 3 | 1 | Teaching contract, Logan City School Directory, school bus accident report |
1937 |
| 3 | 2 | Zanol medical order book, trappers supply list, correspondence with fur companies, Chamber of Commerce, mentions of Logana Plunge |
1936-1937 |
| 3 | 3 | Correspondence, mentions of Logana Plunge |
1942 |
| zfolder | |||
| 3 | 4-6 | Assorted Military documents |
1944-1946 |
| Folder | |||
| 3 | 7 | Correspondence, USS Laurens Comic Book "Life of the Laurens," minimum physical standards for Naval qualifications |
1944-1945 |
| 3 | 8 | Medical Association correspondence, pre-practice |
1945-1948 |
| 4 | 1-5 | Correspondence June to December
Includes Navy Christmas cards, children's drawings
|
1944 |
| 4 | 6-9 | Correspondence January to April
Includes comic, photographs, Japanese government bills, Mother's Day cards
|
1945 |
| 5 | 1-8 | Correspondence May to December
Includes postcards, Dentyne gum envelope, telegrams, kids drawing, photographs, newspaper clippings of houses for sale, children's drawings
|
1945 |
| 5 | 9-11 | Correspondence January to March
Includes photographs, tickets, presidential book marker
|
1946 |
| 6 | 1 | Poems, news articles in German and English |
1929-1948, 1983 |
II. Bound materials, 1929-1948Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box | Folder | ||
| 6 | 2 | Yearbooks
Includes the Amphion (Logan High School) and Polaris (North Cache High School), where he is included in the German Club photograph, presumably as an adviser.
|
1928, 1936 |
| 6 | 3 | Logan High School diploma |
1928 |
| 6 | 4 | Daily mission record book, address book |
1929-1932 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Occupations
- Missionaries
Finding aid written by Leigh Casler and Clint Pumphrey
2024
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
