Ephraim Edward Ericksen papers
Collection
Identifier: MS 0534
Scope and Contents
The Ephraim Edward Ericksen papers (1828-1968) contain writings by Ericksen, some writings by others, and personal correspondence and notes. Manuscript drafts and related materials for books Ericksen planned make up the bulk of the collection. Much of the correspondence is from family members after Ericksen's retirement.
Dates
- 1828-1968
Creator
- Ericksen, Ephraim Edward (Person)
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.
Conditions Governing Use
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.
Biographical Sketch
Ephraim Edward (known as E.E.) Ericksen was born into the second family of Danish emigrant Bendt Jensen Ericksen of Logan, Utah, at the turn of 1882. After grammar school membership in the first graduating class of the Oneida Stake Academy, Ericksen returned to Logan to attend Brigham Young College. It was under his instructors here that the young man decided to professionally pursue the study of philosophy and to do so at the University of Chicago.
Before completing undergraduate work at the BYC, Ericksen met and married Edna Clark of Auburn, Wyoming. The couple returned to Chicago where Ephraim continued graduate school under the tutelage of James H. Tufts, a notable American thinker and philosopher. It was in Chicago that Ericksen "began to examine more critically my religious heritage." In the homes of married couples near campus Latter-day Saint students would meet to discuss their religion and church. It was here that Ericksen was exposed to scientific and sociological methodology in the consideration of his culture. The fruit of discussions in this circle, his primary study interest in moral philosophy with a minor emphasis in economics, was his doctoral dissertation, "The Psychological and Ethical Aspects of Mormon Group Life," completed in 1918. It was published by the university in 1922.
In 1911 Ericksen accepted an appointment as principle of the Murdock Academy in Beaver, Utah. Here he taught in and administered the four-year prep/normal/reform/high school. In 1914 he requested a leave of absence to continue his work at the University of Chicago. Upon completion of his Ph.D. he returned to Utah, not to Beaver, but to Salt Lake City where he accepted a $1700 annual salary to teach in the Philosophy Department at the University of Utah. Here he remained as a well respected instructor, department head, and dean of the College of Arts and Sciences until his retirement in 1948.
He wrote a textbook titled Social Ethics, as well as an autobiography. Ephraim Edward Ericksen died in 1967.
Before completing undergraduate work at the BYC, Ericksen met and married Edna Clark of Auburn, Wyoming. The couple returned to Chicago where Ephraim continued graduate school under the tutelage of James H. Tufts, a notable American thinker and philosopher. It was in Chicago that Ericksen "began to examine more critically my religious heritage." In the homes of married couples near campus Latter-day Saint students would meet to discuss their religion and church. It was here that Ericksen was exposed to scientific and sociological methodology in the consideration of his culture. The fruit of discussions in this circle, his primary study interest in moral philosophy with a minor emphasis in economics, was his doctoral dissertation, "The Psychological and Ethical Aspects of Mormon Group Life," completed in 1918. It was published by the university in 1922.
In 1911 Ericksen accepted an appointment as principle of the Murdock Academy in Beaver, Utah. Here he taught in and administered the four-year prep/normal/reform/high school. In 1914 he requested a leave of absence to continue his work at the University of Chicago. Upon completion of his Ph.D. he returned to Utah, not to Beaver, but to Salt Lake City where he accepted a $1700 annual salary to teach in the Philosophy Department at the University of Utah. Here he remained as a well respected instructor, department head, and dean of the College of Arts and Sciences until his retirement in 1948.
He wrote a textbook titled Social Ethics, as well as an autobiography. Ephraim Edward Ericksen died in 1967.
Extent
7.75 Linear Feet
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The Ephraim Edward Ericksen papers (1828-1968) contain writings by Ericksen, some writings by others, and personal correspondence and notes. E. E. Ericksen (1882-1967) was a moral philosopher and served as dean of the University of Utah's College of Arts and Sciences.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Margaret E. Kenney in 1983.
Gift of Scott G. Kenney in 1991.
Transferred from Western Americana in 2011.
Gift of Scott G. Kenney in 1991.
Transferred from Western Americana in 2011.
Separated Materials
Photographs were transferred to the Multimedia Division of Special Collections (P0494).
Processing Information
Processed by Richard Saunders in 1993.
Addendum processed by Betsey Welland in 2013.
Addendum processed by Betsey Welland in 2013.
Creator
- Ericksen, Ephraim Edward (Person)
- Title
- Inventory of the Ephraim Edward Ericksen papers
- Author
- Finding aid prepared by Richard Saunders and Betsey Welland.
- Date
- 1993 (last modified: 2013 and 2019)
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English.
Revision Statements
- 2013: Finding aid revised and re-encoded by Betsey Welland.
Repository Details
Part of the J. Willard Marriott Library Special Collections Repository
Contact:
295 South 1500 East
Salt Lake City Utah 84112 United States
801-581-8863
special@library.utah.edu
295 South 1500 East
Salt Lake City Utah 84112 United States
801-581-8863
special@library.utah.edu