J. Willard Marriott Library Special Collections
David Pierpont Gardner papers
Gardner, David Pierpont, 1933-
ACCN 2006
22 linear feet
37 boxes
1958-2000
This collection consists of the papers of David Pierpont Gardner, President of the University of Utah from 1973 to 1983. His papers include awards, correspondence, family materials, honorary degrees, reports, and news clippings. David Pierpont Gardner served as president of the University of Utah from 1973 to 1983 and as president of the University of California from 1983 to 1992. The Excellence in Education Commission was created in 1981 to study to design an alternative to what many felt was a cumbersome and ineffectual education system.
English
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David Pierpont Gardner (b. 1933) was actively involved with President Reagan's Excellence in Education Commission. This commission was created in 1981 to study the decline in American schools and to design a viable alternative to what many felt was a cumbersome and ineffectual system. The prevailing wisdom was that America had lost her edge and much of her inability to compete in the global workforce was due to the lack of competent teaching, bloated budgets, and system-wide apathy. The results of the commission were in the report,
A Nation at Risk, with which David Pierpont Gardner was intimately involved. He is the author of The California Oath Controversy (California, 1967) and coeditor of Higher Education and Government (1979). He published, Earning My Degree: Memoirs of an American University President in 2005. David Pierpont Gardner received his B.S. from Brigham Young University in 1955, his M.A. from the University of California at Berkeley in 1959, and his Ph.D. from the University of Utah in 1966. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, member of the National Academy of Education, and a member of the American Philosophical Society. Following his tenure as President at the University of Utah from 1973-1982, he became President of the University of California from 1983-1992. From 1993 to 1999, he was the president of the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation. More recently, he served as the chairman of the Board of Trustees of the J. Paul Getty Trust from 2000 to 2004. Now in his retirement, he remains an active supporter of education.
The David Pierpont Gardner papers (1930s-2000) concentrate on his tenure as President of the University of Utah from 1973 to 1983 and his involvement promoting high educational standards to the present time. His papers include awards, correspondence, graduation collars, honorary degrees, reports, and news clippings. Also included are a small amount of family letters and the weekly planners kept by David Pierpont Gardner's wife, Elizabeth (Libby) Gardner, while she was the First Lady of the University of Utah.
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.
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.
Collection Name, Collection Number, Box Number, Folder Number. Special Collections, J. Willard Marriott Library, The University of Utah.
16 boxes were donated in 2003 (8 linear feet).
15 boxes were donated in 2005 (12 linear feet).
1 box was donated in 2006 (0.5 linear feet).
1 box was donated in 2010.
See also the
David Pierpont Gardner photograph collection (P0745) and David Pierpont Gardner audio-visual collection (A0024)
in the Multimedia Division of Special Collections.
See also the
David Pierpont Gardner presidential records (Acc 0387)
in the University Archives and Records Management of Special Collections.
Processed by Elizabeth Rogers, Samuel J. Passey and Michael Bills from 2003-2014.
Box 37 processed by Gina C Giang in 2024.
Click here to read a statement on harmful language in library records
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Gardner, David Pierpont, 1933---Archives
United States. National Commission on Excellence in Education--Archives
Education--United States--Sources
Education and state--United States--Sources
Colleges and Universities
Correspondence
Correspondence
1973-1981
1
Correspondence
1982
2
Correspondence
1983
3
Correspondence
1983
4
Charter Information and Correspondence
1981-1983
5
1
Tanner Lectures Correspondence
1982-1983
5
2
Reports and Meeting Materials
Education in American Schools
1981-1983
5
3
"A Threat to Excellence"
1982
5
4
"A Nation at Risk," Report to the Nation
5
5
Meeting Materials
1981-1983
6
Education Reports
1982-1983
7
Draft Documents
Notes and Drafts
1981-1982
8
1-2
Draft Responses
1982
8
3-4
Draft Reports
1982
8
5
Memoranda, Research, and Articles
Memoranda and Panel Notes
1982
9
1-2
Memoranda and Research
1983
9
3
Reference Material
1983
9
4
Daily Education in the News
1983
9
5
Drafts and Reports
1982-1983
10
1-2
Notes and Drafts
1983
10
3
Draft Reports
1983
10
4
Drafts and Panel Reports
1983
10
5
Commission papers, Notes and Drafts
Commission papers
1981-1982
11
1
Commission Recommendation Reports
1982
11
2
National Commission on "Excellence in Education" Correspondence
1983
11
3
"Excellence in Education," Notes and Final Drafts
11
4-5
"Excellence in Education" White House Report
1983
11
6
Student Financial Aid Documents
Committee on Student Financial Assistance
1982
12
1
Student Financial Aid Research
1981-1982
12
2
National Commission on Student Financial Assistance
1982
12
3-4
National Committee on Student Financial Assistance
1981
13
1
Student Financial Aid Research
1981-1982
13
2
National Commission on Student Financial Assistance
1982
13
3-4
Reports, Studies, and Brochures
Education Studies Brochures
14
1-2
Assessment of Performance Reports
14
3
Leverhulme Program Studies
1981
14
4
Education Articles
1981-1982
15
1
Research papers and Brochures
1981-1983
15
2
Pamphlets and Research
15
3
Brochures
15
4
General Materials
Conference Research
1981-1982
16
1
Travel Reimbursement Records
1981-1982
16
2
Staff papers
1983
16
3
Personal Correspondence
1979-1983
16
4
Newspaper Clippings
1981-1983
16
5-6
Addresses
1973-1983
17
1
Articles
17
2
Brochures
17
3
Steve Christensen Article
1982
17
4
Invitations
1973
17
5
Newspaper Clippings
1973-1983
17
6
Passport
17
7
Personal Correspondence
17
8
"A Nation at Risk" Documents
1982-2003
18
Commission Documents and Personal Papers
1973-1981
19
Speeches
1970-1977
20
Speeches
1978-1983
21
Newspaper Clippings
1950-2000
22
These newspaper clippings highlight significant events relating to David Pierpont Gardner's career.
The Papers of Libby Gardner
Planners
1973-1983
23
1-6
This folder contains planners used to calendar events by Libby Gardner while she was First Lady of the University of Utah.
Correspondence
1930s
23
7
These letters are written by Mr. and Mrs. H.O. Gardner.
Correspondence
1940-1979
23
8
This folder contains home-made Mother's Day cards and are signed David.
Selective Service Notice of Classification
1954
23
9
The Grapevine
1978
23
10
The Grapevine is the official publication of the Society [of] Former Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Inc. This issue of The Grapevine is folded to mark a article titled "Hoover Memorial Scholarship Given to the University of Utah." The article includes a picture of David Pierpont Gardner as well as Ralph H. Jones, Sidney D. Butterfield, and Jack N. Egnor.
University of Utah 128th Anniversary Pins
23
11
Postcards
1950-1980
23
12
Programs
1980
23
13
Included in this folder are programs for the commencement activities of the Graduate School of Education at the University of California, Berkeley; the Second Annual Tanner Lecture on Human Values by Wallace Stegner; and the Distinguished Alumnus Award Ceremony at the University of Utah.
"The Point that Divides the Wind"
23
14
This booklet written by Betsy Olsen, gives a brief history of the Villa Serbelloni.
Thomas S. Monson Note
1970s
23
15
This handwritten note to David Pierpont Gardner is signed Tom Monson.
Who's Who Publications Board Certificate
1980-1981
23
16
More students, more quality : the opportunity for Utah schools
Drafts and proofs
1980-1981
37
1-5
Miscellaneous materials
37
6
Includes: Request for Library of Congress Catalog Card Number; notes; news paper clipping; and statements.
Oversize Materials
Medallions
1970-2000
24
Boxes 24-27 contain medallions given to David Pierpont Gardner on special occasions by Universities throughout the world.
Medallions
1970-2000
25
Medallions
1970-2000
26
Medallions
1970-2000
27
Air Force One Trip
1983
28
David P. Gardner was invited by President Ronald Reagan for lunch aboard Air Force One on a flight from Washington D.C. to Minneapolis. During the flight, Gardner received a welcome aboard packet. The contents of this packet are found in this box. The items comprising the packet include the following: One pack of cigarettes adorned with the seal of the President of the United States, two books of "Presidential branded" matches, a one-ounce bag of Jelly Bellys, two booklets entitled
The Trip of the President to Minneapolis-St-Paul, June 9, 1983. The packet also includes a napkin bearing the presidential seal, and two welcome aboard cards.
Brigham Young Plaque
1981
29
This plaque is inscribed, "David P. Gardner Doctor of Humanities Honoris Causa Brigham Young University August 1981" The plaque features a sculpture of Brigham Young's face. The sculpture was limited to an edition of one hundred and was made by Mahonri Young, a grandson of Brigham Young.
Lengthen our Stride Plate
30
1
Blue Glass Plate from UCSC
1992
30
2
Education Commission of the States Plate
1985
30
3
Awards and Honors, David and Libby Gardner Wedding Materials
1958-2000
31
Graduation Collars
1973-2000
32
Rotary Club of San Francisco Plaque
1987
33
1
California Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors Plaque
1992
33
2
Scripps Institution of Oceanography Plaque
1984
33
3
Utah Symphony Distinguished Honoree Baton
1990
33
4
Berkeley High School Hall of Fame Plaque
1990
33
5
Republic of China, Ministry of Education Plaque
33
6
Marriott School of Management Plaque
1996
33
7
Graduation Collars
1973-2000
34
Golden Plate Award
1989
35
This prestigious award was presented to David Pierpont Gardner by the American Academy of Achievement.
Eccles Theatre (Under Construction) Watercolor Painting
1992
36