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Champ family papers

 Collection
Identifier: UUS_COLL MSS 130

Scope and Contents

The collection contains the papers from the George H. Champ and Frederick P. Champ families. These papers include Frederick P. Champ's college correspondence, material from St. John's Episcopal Church of Logan, and financial and personal records from Frances, Frederick, George, Winton, and Mary Champ.

Sections of these papers have been separately cataloged for more in-depth access. This includes Frederick P. Champ's journal in Armenia (1919); and Frances Champ's papers. Other material of Frances Champ exists elsewhere in the collection.

A large portion of the material is the personal papers of Frederick P. Champ, including material from Frederick Champ's business ventures, including the Cache Valley Banking Company, Walker Bank and Trust, Champ Investment Company, and the Utah Mortgage and Loan Corporation. Also materials on the activities of St. John's Church. Champ family papers include materials concerning George "Herbert" Champ, Mary Knox Champ, and H. Merle Smith. Frances Winton Champ's correspondence, and personal papers including materials concerning her involvement with the Utah Branch Christian Women's Auxiliary, Las Encinas Sanitarium, etc. (Box 16-33)

This collection also contains fifty-one art pieces drawn by Everett Thorpe and set to music by Frances Champ from an unpublished manuscript. A detailed list of these art-music items can be found at the end of this collection inventory. (For more information about this unpublished art-music manuscript, see the F.P. Champ's correspondence with William T. Foster in COLL MSS 50: The Fredrick P. Champ Papers, Boxes 132-133.

Researcher Note: USU Special Collection also contains the papers of the Utah Mortgage & Loan Corporation started by Champ in 1892. These materials have been cataloged as COLL MSS 131: The Utah Mortgage & Loan Corporation Papers. Photographs from boxes 10, 60, and 63 were removed and placed in the Champ Family Photograph Collection P0354.

Dates

  • 1900-1980

Language of Materials

Collection materials are in English.

Restrictions

Open to public research.

Copyright

It is the responsibility of the user to obtain permission to publish from the owner of the copyright (the institution, the creator of the record, the author or his/her transferees, heirs, legates, or literary executors). The user agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Utah State University Libraries, its officers, employees, and agents from and against all claims made by any person asserting that he or she is an owner of copyright.

Permission to publish material from the Champ family papers must be obtained from the Special Collections Manuscript Curator and/or the Special Collections Department Head.

Biographical Note

Geoge Herbert Champ was born November 13, 1856 in Rockford, Illinois to Frederick P. Champ. In 1892 George Champ and his wife Alla came to Logan, Utah to visit relatives, but Champ, who had already run businesses in Illinois and Iowa, saw an opportunity to start a new mortgage company in Cache Valley. They stayed and Champ started the Utah Loan Mortgage Corporation which specialized in importing capital to finance farm mortgages. In 1896, Alla C. Champ gave birth to Frederick Percival Champ, the only child the couple would have. Soon thereafter Champ also began the Cache Valley Banking Company and he ran both companies until his death in 1919. Alla Champ died in 1911.

Responding to pleas from his father, Frederick Champ returned to Logan from his work for Herbert Hoover and his studies at Harvard University to run the family businesses. On December 29, 1921, Champ married Frances Elizabeth Winton in Duluth, Minnesota. He became very active in both the mortgage banking industry, in civic affairs, and in agricultural matters. He held numerous positions on many boards in all these areas and was especially active in the Boy Scouts of America. He was also active in St. John's Episcopal Church in Logan, Utah serving as their treasurer for many years. Frances was likewise active and was an accomplished pianist performing in concert halls across the country and also published music which she wrote. Frances and Frederick had three children, George Herbert "Herb" Champ, Mary Knox Champ (Nielsen), and Frederick W. Champ. "Herb" Champ took over for his father and his brother Frederick, known as "Wint," served as Vice President. Frederick P. Champ retired in 1965. He passed away in March 1976. Frances W. Champ died in August 1982. Herb Champ continued to run the family businesses for many years and still resides in Logan, Utah. Mary K. C. Nielsen lives in Connecticut. Frederick W. Champ passed away in 2001 while living in Salt Lake City.

Extent

135 boxes (65 linear ft.)

Abstract

A large portion of the material is the personal papers of Frederick P. Champ, including college correspondence and significant amounts of material from Frederick Champ's business ventures, particularly the Cache Valley Banking Company, Champ Investment Company, Walker Bank and Trust Company, and the Utah Mortgage and Loan Corporation. Also includes records concerning St. John's Episcpal Church of Logan, Utah. Champ family material includes papers of George "Herb" Champ, Mary Knox Champ, and H. Merle Smith. Francis Winton Champ's correspondence and personal papers includes materials concerning her involvement with the Episcopal Church's Women's Auxiliary Missionary District of Utah, and Las Encinas Sanitarium.

Arrangement

Arranged topically.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The material in this collection was donated to USU Special Collections & Archives in various batches between the period of 1977 and 1991 by Frances E.W. Champ, George H. Champ, Frederick W. Champ, and Mary Knox Champ (Nielson).

The letter to Frances W. Champ from Andor Foldes in box 33, folder 12 was discovered in the department and added to the collection in 2020.

The American Conservatory of Music Program and ticket stub in box 123, folder 27 was discovered in the department and added to the collection in 2020.

The music and program notes by Frances W. Champ, program sketch, and cover of piano studies with daily practice exercise schedule in box 141, folder 10 were discovered in the department and added to the collection in 2020.

The music receipts in box 136, folder 13 were discovered in the department and added to the collection in 2020.

The "Darkness Growing Into Light" music sheet in box 141, folder 6 was discovered in the department and added to the collection in 2020.

Mary Champ's Wieck Piano Studies workbook in box 52, folder 13 was discovered in the department and added to the collection in 2020.

Related Materials

Fredrick P. Champ PapersCOLL MSS 50

Frederick P. Champ photograph collectionP0345

The Utah Mortgage & Loan Corporation Papers (COLL MSS 131)

Champ Family photograph collectionP0354.

Title
Guide to the Champ family papers 1900-1980
Author
Finding aid created by Special Collections and Archives.
Date
©2008
Description rules
Finding Aid Based On Dacs (Describing Archives: A Content Standard, 2nd Edition)
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

  • December 8, 2008.: Template information was updated to reflect Utah Manuscript Association best practices
  • 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)