Diaries, Daybooks, Notebooks, and Address Book

File — Box: 4, Volume: 1-21

Identifier: I

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

From the Collection: Lowry Nelson's collection of personal writings, correspondence, books, and manuscripts was presented to Marriott Library, Special Collections beginning in 1974 and continuing through 1976. Personal items filed with the collection include two bound autobiographies, comprising memoirs of his boyhood and his personal life; diaries and daybooks concerning his years of foreign travel and research; and personal photographs, family histories, and family correspondence.

The correspondence concerning his professional life spans the years 1917 to 1976. Much of the correspondence is concerned with his federal appointments and research. Included in the alphabetical correspondence file are letters from friends and acquaintances he met through his professional interests. Other correspondence has been filed in related parts of the collection. For example correspondence concerned with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has been included with his writings and clippings on that subject.

The section on his professional research, writings, and publications comprises the central portion of this collection. The writings include published and unpublished manuscripts, field notes, and daybooks as well as poems, speeches, and unpublished commentaries. This section also includes two boxes of reprints and monographs written by other individuals in areas of Dr. Nelson's special interests.

The last portion of the collection pertains to Lowry Nelson's relationship with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was particularly interested in the church policy toward black people. Included in this section are correspondence, articles and unpublished commentaries on these articles, and commentaries on people and church actions that attracted his attention. The last box contains a collection of research materials and an unpublished manuscript titled "Reflections on the Last Days." This is the most recent manuscript written by Dr. Nelson and is concerned with the religious millennial attitude present in today's society.

Dates

1906-1985

Conditions Governing Access

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.