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Norma W. Matheson papers

 Collection
Identifier: ACCN 0849

Scope and Contents

The bulk of the Norma W. Matheson papers (1906-2010) contain material documenting Matheson's public life during her tenure as first lady of Utah from 1977 to 1985. The collection also features correspondence, schedules and agendas, plans and financial information for the governor's mansion, and early keepsakes. The addendum contains her parents' correspondence from 1918-1959.

Dates

  • 1906-2010

Creator

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

Norma Warenski Matheson was born in Nephi, Utah and lived briefly in Philidelphia and San Francisco before returning to Utah. She attended East High School, and married Scott M. Matheson in 1951. During and after her tenure as the First Lady of Utah, she advocated for and was a member of the Democratic Party in Utah, the Nature Conservancy, the University of Utah College of Nursing Development Committee, the State Board of Aging, and more. She was also the President of the League of Women Voters and helped organize the International Women's Year conference in 1977. In 2014, Norma Matheson campaigned with the Count My Vote iniative to establish a hybrid primary election system in Utah. Together with Scott, she had four children: Scott, Jr., James, Thomas, and Lu. James served as member of the House of Representatives from 2001-2005, and Scott, Jr. is currently a federal judge. Scott M. Matheson died of multiple myeloma in 1990.

Extent

39.5 Linear Feet (68 boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

The bulk of the Norma W. Matheson papers (1906-2010) contain material documenting Matheson's public life during her tenure as first lady of Utah from 1977 to 1985. The collection also features correspondence, schedules and agendas, plans and financial information for the governor's mansion, and early keepsakes.

Arrangement

The collection is organized chronologically and by format according to original order.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Boxes 1-24 were donated by Norma W. Matheson in 1984.

Boxes 26-35 were donated by Norma W. Matheson in 1992.

Boxes 36-37 were donated by Norma W. Matheson in 2000.

Boxes 38-50 were donated by Norma W. Matheson in 2005.

Boxes 51-56 were donated by Norma W. Matheson in 2011.

Boxes 57-59 were donated by Norma W. Matheson in 2015.

Related Materials

Separated Materials

See also the Norma W. Matheson photograph collection (P0259) in the Multimedia Division of Special Collections.

Processing Information

Processed by Kate Kimball, Sam Passey, Allison Newman, and Karen Carver from 2000-2008.

Addendum processed by Kevin Priest and Sean Taylor in 2015.

Click here to read a statement on harmful language in library records.
Title
Inventory of the Norma W. Matheson papers
Author
Finding aid created by Kate Kimball.
Date
2005 (last modified: 2015 and 2018)
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

  • 2015: Finding aid revised and re-encoded by Kevin Priest to include an addendum to the collection.
  • 2015: Finding aid revised and re-encoded by Sean Taylor to include an addendum to the collection.

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