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Thomas Battersby Child photograph collection, 1880-1999

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Child, Thomas Battersby, 1888-1963; Law, Craig
Title
Thomas Battersby Child photograph collection
Dates
1880-1999 (inclusive)
Quantity
.5 linear feet, (1 archives box)
Collection Number
P1112
Summary
Thomas Battersby Child, Jr. (1888-1963) was a mason and sculptor who created Gilgal Garden in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Thomas Battersby Child photograph collection contains images of Child's family, the family of his wife Bertha Rumel, images of Child's work building various temples of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and photographs of Gilgal Garden.
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
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Biographical Note

Thomas Battersby Child, Jr. (1888-1963) was born in Salt Lake City, Utah on May 6, 1888 to Thomas Battersby Child, Sr., and Elizabeth Livingston Child. He was an expert mason and masonry contractor; husband; and bishop of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Tenth Ward. Married to Bertha Derrick Rumel (1891-1965) in 1911; they had three children. He was president of Thomas B. Child and Co., a masonry contracting firm founded by his father. He built the stone and brick work for many prominent buildings in Utah including: the Ogden High School; the chapel for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Washington, D. C.; Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints temples in Idaho Falls, Idaho and Los Angeles, California; and more. He served as senior member of the Sons of Utah Pioneers Luncheon Club.

Starting in 1945, at the age of fifty-seven, Child began working on a sculpture park in his backyard. Using stone from all over Utah, he built twelve sculptures and over seventy engraved stones. The sculptures represent Child's interpretation, in stone, of the basic tenets of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Christianity and work. The park contains many tributes to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, like a sphinx with Joseph Smith, Jr.'s face, and other biblical allusions, like Nebuchadnezzar's Dream from the Book of Daniel. The park also includes personal sculptures, such as an altar to his wife Bertha and a self-portrait statue of Child himself.

Child worked on Gilgal Garden until his death in 1963. After his death, the Grant Fetzer family bought the garden and maintained it until 2000, when they attempted to sell it. The Friends of Gilgal Garden raised enough money to buy the garden and reopen it as a city park. Friends of Gilgal have worked since 2000 to continue preservation and restoration by raising funds to continue their work and keep the park accessible to the public. The purpose of the Friends of Gilgal Garden is to restore, preserve, protect, and maintain the artifacts, sculptures, engraved stones, arrangements, facilities, and land known as Gilgal in Salt Lake City, Utah.

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Content Description

The Thomas Battersby Child photograph collection consists of two parts. The first part, box 1, contains 246 black-and-white and color photographs of Thomas Battersby Child and his family, images of temples of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and images of Gilgal Gardens dating from approximately the 1880s to the 1960s. The second part, box 2, contains 42 gelatin silver prints of Gilgal Garden photographs taken by Craig Law and presented to Hortense Child Smith by the Friends of Gilgal Garden on July 28, 1999.

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Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances.

Permission to publish material from the Thomas Battersby Child photograph collection must be obtained from the Special Collections Manuscript Curator.

Preferred Citation

Initial Citation: Thomas Battersby Child photograph collection, P1112, Box [ ]. Special Collections and Archives. University of Utah, J. Willard Marriott Library. Salt Lake City, Utah.

Following Citations: P1112.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

Arranged by subject

Acquisition Information

Donated by Hortense H. Child Smith in 2003.

Processing Note

Processed by Special Collections staff.

Separated Materials

See also the Thomas Battersby Child papers (ACCN 1877) in the Manuscripts Division and the Thomas Battersby Child Audio-Visual Collection (A0757) in the Multimedia Division of Special Collections.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

  • Description: Child Family

    • 1 : William Barker Child, circa 1860s
    • 2 : Jane Newton Child, died in England 1865
    • 3 : Possibly Elizabeth Battersby Child
    • 4 : Thomas B. Child, Sr, circa 1880s

    Dates: 1860-1900
    Container: Box 1, Folder 1
  • Description: Child Family

    • 1 : Thomas B. Child, Sr, circa 1920s
    • 2 : Joseph Child ("Grandfather Child's brother"), January 1937.
    • 3 : Elizabeth Livingston Child with granddaughter Joan Child Cederlof , Circa 1927
    • 4: Arthur Child, circa 1908.
    • 5 : "Birthday cake made by Herman Forschamn for the 70th birthday celebration of Elizabeth Livingston Child at the Hotel Utah in March 1938. The cake, flowers, ribbon, and all were made of spun sugar. A work of art and edible!"

    Dates: 1901-1939
    Container: Box 1, Folder 2
  • Description: Child Family homes

    • 1-2 : Child Family homes, circa 1900
    • 3 : "Edith [Ketty Lyngby] Child's house in Denmark with Arthur in front." circa 1916
    • 4-5 : 425 South 800 East, Salt Lake City "Childhood home of Robert R. Child." circa 1920s
    • 6-7 : 425 South 800 East, Salt Lake City , "Room in the basement apartment where Ann Child, sister of Thomas (Jr.) lived." circa 1940s

    Dates: 1900-1949
    Container: Box 1, Folder 3
  • Description: Thomas Child, Jr

    • 1-2 Thomas B. Child, Jr. as a baby, circa 1890s
    • 3-6 : Thomas B. Child, Jr. with his brother Arthur, circa 1906
    • 7 : Thomas B. Child, Jr., circa 1906
    • 8 : Thomas B. Child, Jr., circa 1910
    • 9 : Thomas B. Child, Jr with his missionary companion, circa 1910
    • 10 : Thomas B. Child, Jr., in large group. Sitting bottom row third from right. Circa 1910
    • 11 : Thomas B. Child, Jr., circa 1910-1930
    • 12 : Thomas B. Child, Jr., November 1947, negative only.
    • 13 : Thomas B. Child, Jr., Deseret Industries Board, August 15 1962
    • 14 : Thomas B. Child, Jr., Chamber of Commerce, November 6 1947. Cropped from P1112n01_04_012. Item also stamped "Deseret News, September 17 1956."
    • 15-16 : Thomas B. Child, Jr., Salt Lake Board of Education, November 7 1962

    Dates: 1890-1959
    Container: Box 1, Folder 4
  • Description: Rumel Family

    • 1 : Grandmother of Bertha Rumel, Abigaile Gray Rumel, 1826-1904
    • 2 : Grandfather of Bertha Rumel, John Henry Rumel Sr. 1819-1894
    • 3 : Rumel Home circa 1890s
    • 4 : "Family of John Henry Rumel / Amy, Ursula, Bertha, Ernest, John Henry, Walter, Ethel" circa 1890s
    • 5 : Ernest Rumel (1882 -1964) circa 1880
    • 6 : Ethel Rumel (1887-1964) circa 1880
    • 7 : Walter W. Rumel (1889-1972) circa 1890s

    Dates: 1880-1900
    Container: Box 1, Folder 5
  • Description: Bertha Derrick Rumel

    • 1-2 : Bertha D. Rumel, as a baby, circa 1891
    • 3-4 : Bertha D. Rumel, as a child, circa 1900
    • 5 : Bertha D. Rumel, circa 1910
    • 6 : Bertha D. Rumel, circa 1930s
    • 7 : Bertha D. Rumel, circa 1960s

    Dates: 1891-1966
    Container: Box 1, Folder 6
  • Description: Thomas, Bertha Child and their children

    • 1 : Thomas B. Child and Bertha D. Rumel posing in a frame circa 1930s
    • 2 : Robert R. Child, circa 1916
    • 3 : Robert R. Child and Lucille Child, circa 1916
    • 4 : Robert R. Child circa 1916
    • 5 : Lucille Child, Robert R. Child, and father Thomas B. Child, Circa 1916
    • 6 : Thomas B. Child and son Robert R. Child, circa 1916
    • 7 : Child family, left to right front Lucille Child, Robert R. Child (in front), ?, Bertha R. Child, ?, Circa 1918
    • 8 : Lucille Child, Helen Rumel, Bob Child at 452 South 8th East, Salt Lake City, Utah. Circa 1920s
    • 9 : Arthur Child, Lucile Child, Bob Child circa 1916
    • 10-11 : Nellie Child Circa 1916
    • 12 : Nellie Child and Lucille Child Circa 1916
    • 13 : Lucile Child Higgs (fourth from left) posing at a living statue show. Circa 1920
    • 14 : Robert R. Child circa 1920s
    • 15 : Robert R. Child as a missionary to South Africa, 1935
    • 16 : Robert R. Child as a lieutenant, 1944-45
    • 17 : Child family members aboard R.M.S Queen Mary

    Dates: 1920-1950
    Container: Box 1, Folder 7
  • Description: Extended Child Family

    • 1 : Unidentified extended Child family portrait circa 1890-1910
    • 2 : Laurence Heath, "Drowned in the …" circa 1920 - 1930
    • 3-4 : Possibly Lucile Child, Robert R. Child, and an unidentified woman, circa 1918
    • 5 : unidentified woman circa 1920-1930
    • 6 : unidentified group circa 1920 -1930
    • 7 : two boys, circa 1920s
    • 8 : Group at an ostrich farm, two children in an ostrich powered cart, circa 1920-1930
    • 9 : Ethel Rumel, Bertha Child, and Robert R Child, with others Circa 1920
    • 10 : Thomas B. Child Jr., Robert R. Child, Carol Jane Child (Baby), Hortense Hogan Child Smith, and others. Circa 1950s
    • 11 : Bryant Higgs September 7th, 1963

    Dates: 1920-1949
    Container: Box 1, Folder 8
  • Description: Child Family

    • 1 : Arthur L. Child and Edith Child circa 1955-1963
    • 2 : Stanley N. Child and Harold L Child, circa 1955-1963
    • 3 : Harold L. Child and Arthur L. Child circa 1955-1963
    • 4 : Nellie Child Folsom and Harold L. Child circa 1955-1963
    • 5 : Thomas B. Child Jr., and Harold L. Child
    • 6 : Ann Child circa 1955-1963
    • 7 : Thomas B. Child Jr. and Bertha D. Rumel Child circa 1955-1963
    • 8 : Nell Child Folsom and Everett Folsom circa 1955-1963
    • 9 : Harold L. Child and Ann Child circa 1955-1963
    • 10 : Ethel Rumel Riley, Thomas B. Child, Bertha D. Rumel Child, October 1962
    • 11 : Thomas B. Child, Bertha D. Rumel Child, October 1962

    Dates: 1955-1963
    Container: Box 1, Folder 9
  • Description: Gilgal Garden

    • 1-3 : Gilgal Garden circa 1945-1950s

    Dates: 1945-1959
    Container: Box 1, Folder 10
  • Description: Gilgal Garden: Bertha Child Memorial, Birdhouse, and Eagles

    • 1 : Bertha Child Memorial, at Gilgal Gardens, by Thomas B. Child Jr., 1950s
    • 2 : Birdhouse at Gilgal Gardens, by Thomas B. Child Jr., 1950s
    • 3 : Eagles at Gilgal Gardens, by Thomas B. Child Jr., 1950s

    Dates: 1950s
    Container: Box 1, Folder 11
  • Description: Gilgal Garden: Monument to the Priesthood and Captain of the Lord's Host

    • 1-5 : The Monument to the Priesthood at Gilgal Gardens, 1950s
    • 6-7 : Captain of the Lords Host at Gilgal Gardens, 1950s

    Dates: 1950s
    Container: Box 1, Folder 12
  • Description: Gilgal Garden: Testimony of Job, Book of Ecclesiastes, and Religious scripture

    • 1-3 : Testimony of Job at Gilgal Gardens, 1950s
    • 4 : Book of Ecclesiastes at Gilgal Gardens, 1950s
    • 5-11 : Religious Texts at Gilgal Gardens, 1950s

    Dates: 1950s
    Container: Box 1, Folder 13
  • Description: Gilgal Garden: Monument of Peace

    1-3 : Monument of Peace at Gilgal Gardens, 1950s

    Dates: 1950s
    Container: Box 1, Folder 14
  • Description: Gilgal Garden: Daniel II: Nebuchadnezzar's Dream

    1-8 : Daniel II: Nebuchadnezzar's Dream at Gilgal Gardens, 1950s

    Dates: 1950s
    Container: Box 1, Folder 15
  • Description: Gilgal Garden: The Sphinx

    1-9 : The Sphinx at Gilgal Gardens, 1950s

    Dates: 1950s
    Container: Box 1, Folder 16
  • Description: Gilgal Garden: The Monument to the Trade

    1-3 : The Monument to the Trade at Gilgal Gardens, 1950s

    Dates: 1950s
    Container: Box 1, Folder 17
  • Description: Gilgal Garden, general sculptures

    • 1-2 : Gilgal Gardens, 1950s
    • 3 : Cross monument at Gilgal Gardens, 1950s
    • 4 : Cross monument at Gilgal Gardens, 1950s, duplicate of P1112n01_19_004
    • 5 : Cross monument at Gilgal Gardens, 1950s
    • 6-11 : Sculptures at Gilgal Gardens, 1950s
    • 12-13 : The Altar at Gilgal Gardens, 1950s
    • 14-17 : Sculptures at Gilgal Gardens, 1950s
    • 18 : Fireplace at Gilgal Gardens, 1950s
    • 19 : Metal building at Gilgal Garden, 1950s

    Dates: 1950s
    Container: Box 1, Folder 18
  • Description: Gilgal Garden, album pages

    1-8 : Colored on photographs of Gilgal Gardens, 1960s

    Dates: 1960s
    Container: Box 1, Folder 19
  • Description: Gilgal Garden, group photo

    1-3 : Group at Monument to the Trade by Thomas B. Child at Gilgal Gardens Circa 1990s

    Dates: 1990s
    Container: Box 1, Folder 20
  • Description: Construction of the Washington D.C. Temple

    • 1 : Illustration of Washington D.C. Chapel, circa 1932
    • 2 : Skeleton of Washington D.C Chapel, "Washington Chapel, 16th and Columbia Street, July 1932
    • 3 : Partially constructed Washington D.C Chapel, 1932
    • 4 : Group atop the Washington D.C Chapel, 1932
    • 5-7 : Construction of Washington D.C Chapel, 1932
    • 8 : "South-East front corner and angel to get any amount of building and show you how things look is hard" Construction of Washington D.C Chapel, 1932
    • 9 : "Notice how the sun appears to bow the corner, I tried to show you how nice everything lined up and that is a trick of the sun."
    • 10 : "In the center front is my putty kit. This picture taken when north wall was story high south wall scaffold high." Construction of Washington D.C Chapel, 1932
    • 11 : Construction of Washington D.C Chapel, April 11, 1932
    • 12 : Construction of Washington D.C Chapel, April 15, 1932
    • 13-22 : Construction of Washington D.C Chapel, 1932
    • 23 : "By main steps" Construction of Washington D.C Chapel, 1932
    • 24 : Construction of Washington D.C Chapel, 1932
    • 25 : "East End area ways are covered" Construction of Washington D.C Chapel, 1932
    • 26 : Three men at the construction of Washington D.C Chapel, 1932
    • 27-40 : Construction of Washington D.C Chapel, 1932
    • 41 : "Taken from one of the buttresses" Construction of Washington D.C Chapel, 1932
    • 42 : Four men at the construction of Washington D.C Chapel, 1932
    • 43 : "South side church Washington D.C." At construction of Washington D.C Chapel, 1932
    • 44 : "Looking west showing one of the big lumps, 34 1/2" thick" At construction of Washington D.C Chapel, 1932
    • 45-46 : Construction of Washington D.C Chapel, 1932
    • 47 : "Looking east at north part wall. This wall is up for show to pair his lintels" at construction of Washington D.C Chapel, 1932
    • 48-49 : Construction of Washington D.C Chapel, 1932
    • 50 : Construction of Washington D.C Chapel, 1932. "[Thomas] B. Child and workmen readying the base for the Angel Moroni atop the Washington, D.C. Chapel at 16th and Columbia - about 1938 or so."
    • 51-63 : Construction of Washington D.C Chapel, 1932

    Dates: April-July 1932
    Container: Box 1, Folder 21
  • Description: Construction of the Los Angeles Temple

    • 1-10 : Construction of the Los Angeles Temple, circa 1950s
    • 11-15 : Completed Los Angeles Temple, 1956

    Dates: 1950s
    Container: Box 1, Folder 22
  • Description: Reconstruction of the Salt Lake City Temple

    • 1 : Temple Square, circa 1950
    • 2-5 : Construction on Salt Lake City Temple, November 5th, 1961
    • 6-7 : Men with the Angel Moroni, possibly Thomas B. Child Jr. on left, on top of Salt Lake City Temple, circa 1960, duplicates
    • 8-9 : Construction on Salt Lake City Temple, November 5th, 1961
    • 10 : REMOVED to folder 21 (Washington D.C. Temple. See P1112n01_21_050.
    • 11-12 : Close up of masonry on Salt Lake City Temple, circa 1960
    • 13-15 : Construction of Salt Lake City Temple, circa 1960
    • 16-17 : Angel Moroni atop Salt Lake City Temple, circa 1960
    • 18 : Men working on Salt Lake City Temple, circa 1960
    • 19 : "Bricklayers (masons) painting up the joints on the Salt Lake Temple. One of the last jobs Thomas B. Child had before he retired from brick (masonry) contracting. About 1960-61"
    • 20 : "Looking South from Angel Moroni" at Salt Lake City Temple, circa 1960
    • 21 : "Looking North from Angel Moroni" at Salt Lake City Temple, circa 1960
    • 22 : "In confirmation of my deduction as to the intended grade of the Temple and the Temple block wall." circa 1850-1890
    • 23: Salt Lake City Temple construction, circa 1850-1890

    Dates: 1962
    Container: Box 1, Folder 23
  • Description: Deseret Industries

    1-6 : Thomas B. Child Jr. and others, Deseret Industries and Chruch of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Welfare Program, circa 1950-1963

    Dates: 1938
    Container: Box 1, Folder 24
  • Description: General Buildings

    • 1 : The Sherrill, a hotel apartment building, circa 1960s
    • 2-3 : Curved masonry, circa 1960s
    • 4 : Bishop's building, circa 1960s
    • 5-6 : "Photos of block where church office high rise now stands- Formerly L.D.S. High School and L.D.S. Business College" circa 1960s
    • 7-8 : Deseret Gym, circa 1960s
    • 9 : House and yard, September 22, 1947

    Dates: 1960s
    Container: Box 1, Folder 25
  • Description: Travel, Versailles (France)

    1 : Group at Palais De Versailles, circa 1950-1960

    Dates: 1950s
    Container: Box 1, Folder 26

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Outdoor sculpture--Utah--Salt Lake City
  • Sculpture gardens--Utah--Salt Lake City

Corporate Names

  • Gilgal Garden (Salt Lake City, Utah)

Geographical Names

  • Salt Lake City (Utah)

Form or Genre Terms

  • black-and-white photographs
  • color photographs
  • gelatin silver prints

Finding aid created by Special Collections Staff
2022

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