S. George Ellsworth photograph collection
Scope and Contents
The Samuel George Ellsworth photograph collection contains nearly 2,000 photographs that Dr. Ellsworth collected through his research on Utah History. It contains a wide array of scenes ranging from artistic conceptions of prehistoric Utah, to modern day Utah, and from images of the founding of the LDS Church, to Utah's multiple ethnic and religious groups. Also included in the collection are numerous geographical and geological photos, maps of Utah and the United States, and early Native Americans in Utah (including photos taken by Jack Hillers during John Wesley Powell's expedition). A number of the images relate to the economic and technological developments in urban and rural Utah including mining, business, railroads, communications, and education. Finally, there are some of Ellsworth's personal photographs of his extended family in the collection.
Dates
- ca. 1940-1995
Language of Materials
Collection materials are in English.
Restrictions
Open to public research. Nearly all of this collection (aside from the family images) was duplicated from photographs held by institutions such as the Utah Historical Society, the Utah Travel Council, the Bureau of Reclamation, etc. Photographic reproductions of these images must be obtained from the original institution.
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 S. George Ellsworth photograph collection must be obtained from the Special Collections Photograph Curator and/or the Special Collections Department Head.
Biographical Note
Samuel George Ellsworth was born on June 19, 1916 in Safford, Arizona. He graduated from high school in Kansas City, Missouri, then attended Kansas City Junior College in 1935 and 1936. After serving an LDS mission to the North Central State Mission, he attended Utah State Agricultural College where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in history and mathematics in June 1941. During World War II Ellsworth served as a staff sergeant, clerk, and administrative inspector at Hammer Field in Fresno, California. From January 1945 to June 1946, Ellsworth served as a Chaplain in the Philippines. After leaving the Army, Ellsworth continued his education at the University of California at Berkley where he received his Master of Arts degree in History in 1947, and his Ph.D. in History and Philosophy in 1951. He returned to the Utah State Agricultural College where he taught until his retirement in 1983.
In addition to his long teaching career, George Ellsworth published extensively and was a member of many local, state, and national historical associations. He received a number of prominent awards and wrote numerous articles, reviews, and encyclopedia entries dealing with LDS and Utah history. Ellsworth is perhaps best known for his seventh-grade textbook Utah's Heritage. This textbook came out in 1972 and a second edition was published in 1985. Ellsworth also published Dear Ellen: Two Mormon Women and Their Letters in 1974, The Journals of Addison Pratt in 1990, Seasons of Faith and courage: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in French Polynesia A Sesquicentennial History, 1843-1993 (a joint project with Kathleen C. Perrin) in 1994, and The History of Louisa Barnes Pratt came after his death in 1998.
On October 24, 1942 George Ellsworth married Maria Smith. The couple would have two sons, Stephen and Mark. Ellsworth passed away in his home in Logan, Utah on December 22, 1997.
Extent
13 boxes (8 linear feet)
Abstract
Collection contains nearly 2,000 copies of photographs (originals dating 1850-1995, bulk 1840-1975) that Dr. Ellsworth collected for his research on Utah history. Images include a wide range of topics, including artistic conceptions of prehistoric Utah, the founding of the LDS Church, Utah's multiple ethnic and religious groups, and early Native Americans in Utah (including photographs taken by Jack Hillers during John Wesley Powell's expedition). A number of the images relate to the economic and technological developments in urban and rural Utah including mining, business, railroads, communications, and education. Also includes numerous geographical and geological photographs and maps of Utah and the United States from the 17th, 18th, and 19th century. Finally, there are some of Ellsworth's personal photographs of his extended family.
Arrangement
Arrangement: Topical.
Separated Materials
Some of the images removed from MS228, S. George Ellsworth collection. Additionally, box 10. was removed to P0280, Pratt Family Photograph Collection.
Processing Information
Register completed Mindy Mitchell, May 2001.
- Title
- Guide to the S. George Ellsworth photograph collection, 1940-1995
- Author
- Finding aid created by Mindy Mitchell, May 2001.
- 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
- May 31, 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
Merrill-Cazier Library
Utah State University
3000 Old Main Hill
Logan Utah 84322-3000 United States
435 797-8248
435 797-2880 (Fax)
scweb@usu.edu