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Lowry Nelson writings and papers

 Collection
Identifier: UUS_COLL MSS 17

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of the writings and correspondence of Lowry Nelson. The first box contains various articles by Nelson. The second box holds the carbon copy of his book, The Birth and Growth of a Science, and some smaller studies. Box three consists of reprints and seminar materials, and also contains notes for his class on Latin America. The fourth box holds Nelson's personal papers, consisting mostly of correspondence. There are also some... reprinted articles and two books in this box as well. This last box contains materials added to the collection after the first three boxes were already processed.

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Dates

  • Creation: 1916-1974

Language of Materials

Collection materials are in English.

Restrictions

Open to public research.

Copyright

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

Permission to publish material from the Lowry Nelson writings and papers must be obtained from the Special Collections and Archives manuscript curator and/or the Special Collections and Archives department head.

Biographical Note

Lowry Nelson was born in Ferron, Utah in April of 1893. He attended college in Utah and later earned a PhD at the University of Wisconsin. During his lifetime, he became a world-known sociologist.

Nelson earned a BS degree at Utah State University in 1916. He spent the next two decades working mainly in Utah. He served as the county agricultural agent in Sanpete County, Utah in 1919, he became the field agriculturist for the People's Sugar Company...
in 1920, and edited the Utah Farmer from 1920 to 1922. He was associated with Brigham Young University from 1921 to 1935. During the Depression, he worked for the Utah Relief Administration in 1934, he was regional advisor to the Federal Emergency Relief Administration, and in 1935 he became director of the Resettlement Administration. He was then director of the Utah Agricultural Experiment Station at Logan. In 1937, he received a position at the University of Minnesota in the Sociology Department.

During his tenure at the University of Minnesota, Nelson began to develop an international reputation as a rural sociologist. In 1944, he did a study for the State Department on rural life in the Caribbean. In 1945, he received a Fulbright to study rural life in Italy. Dr. Nelson continued his international work, taking an interest in different aspects of Canadian rural life.

Dr. Nelson's works include several monographs and a multitude of articles and papers ranging from rural life in Latin America, the United States, and Canada as well as studies on various Mormon villages in Utah. Dr. Nelson died in Provo, Utah in 1986.

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Extent

4 boxes (1.75 linear feet)

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Abstract

This collection consists of the writings and personal papers of Lowry Nelson. Writings include articles, study reprints, seminar materials, notes for his class on Latin America, and books, including Rural sociology (1955) and American Farm Life (1954), and a draft carbon copy of his book, The Birth and Growth of a Science. Personal papers consist mostly of correspondence.

Arrangement

Arranged by material type.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Lowry Nelson, 1974.

Title
Guide to the Lowry Nelson writings and papers 1916-1974
Author
Finding aid created by Special Collections and Archives.
Date
©2008
Description rules
Finding Aid Based On Dacs (Describing Archives: A Content Standard)
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding guide is in English in Latin script.
Sponsor
Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant, 2007-2008

Revision Statements

  • 2009: Template information was updated to reflect Archives West best practice guidelines.

Repository Details

Part of the Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections & Archives Repository

Contact:
Merrill-Cazier Library
Utah State University
3000 Old Main Hill
Logan Utah 84322-3000 United States
435 797-8248
435 797-2880 (Fax)