Thomas Battersby Child audio-visual collection
Collection
Identifier: A0757
Scope and Contents
This collection has been digitized and is available in the Special Collections' reading room on compact disc or DVD.
Dates
- undated
Creator
- Child, Thomas Battersby, 1888-1963 (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
Materials must be used on-site; no use of original material, access copies will be made available for viewing. Five business days advanced notice required. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law, condition of the material, or by donor.
Conditions Governing Use
It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances.
Permission to publish material from the Thomas Battersby Child Audio-Visual Collection must be obtained from the Special Collections Multimedia Archivist.
Permission to publish material from the Thomas Battersby Child Audio-Visual Collection must be obtained from the Special Collections Multimedia Archivist.
Historical Note
Thomas Battersby Child, Jr. (1888-1963) was the creator of Gilgal Garden. Starting in 1945, at the age of fifty-seven, he began working on Gilgal Garden with the help of few people. Using stone from all over Utah, he built twelve sculptures and over seventy engraved stones. Through his dedication to the church, Gilgal Garden came to show important themes including the restoration of the Aaronic and Melchizedek Priesthood that allowed worthy men to baptize and bestow the Holy Ghost, the great Mormon migration West from Nauvoo to escape persectution, and the deep connection between the ancient Israelites and the LDS forefathers.
Up until his death in 1963, Child's worked devotedly on Gilgal Garden. After his death, the Grant Fetzer family bought the garden and maintained it until 2000 when they attempted to sell it. Through the dedication by the Friends of Gilgal Garden, enough money was raised to buy the garden and reopen it as a city park. Friends of Gilgal have worked since 2000 to continue preservation and restoration by raising funds to continue their work. Located in Salt Lake City, Utah, the park is accessible everyday as a place to wander and explore the work of Child and experience the wonders of the garden.
Gilgal Garden, spanning half an acre, offers many tourist and locals an interesting view of Child's creativity and devotion. Using a variety of stones from around Utah, Child created a tranquil space filled with many Mormon tributes like the sphinx with Joseph Smith Jr.'s face and other biblical allusions like Nebuchadnezzar's Dream from the Book of Daniel. Besides themes of Mormonism, Child has included an altar to his wife and a statue of himself with brick pants, often mentioned as a key point in Gilgal Garden. Child also carved a thirty foot rock in relief with a heavenly messenger with an unsheathed sword. Through exploration of the garden, many can find hidden sculptural treasures that reveal the beauty and eccentricities of Child's garden.
Up until his death in 1963, Child's worked devotedly on Gilgal Garden. After his death, the Grant Fetzer family bought the garden and maintained it until 2000 when they attempted to sell it. Through the dedication by the Friends of Gilgal Garden, enough money was raised to buy the garden and reopen it as a city park. Friends of Gilgal have worked since 2000 to continue preservation and restoration by raising funds to continue their work. Located in Salt Lake City, Utah, the park is accessible everyday as a place to wander and explore the work of Child and experience the wonders of the garden.
Gilgal Garden, spanning half an acre, offers many tourist and locals an interesting view of Child's creativity and devotion. Using a variety of stones from around Utah, Child created a tranquil space filled with many Mormon tributes like the sphinx with Joseph Smith Jr.'s face and other biblical allusions like Nebuchadnezzar's Dream from the Book of Daniel. Besides themes of Mormonism, Child has included an altar to his wife and a statue of himself with brick pants, often mentioned as a key point in Gilgal Garden. Child also carved a thirty foot rock in relief with a heavenly messenger with an unsheathed sword. Through exploration of the garden, many can find hidden sculptural treasures that reveal the beauty and eccentricities of Child's garden.
Extent
2 Audiocassette
2 reel-to-reel audiotapes
1 VHS
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The Thomas Battersby Child Audio-Visual Collection details Thomas B. Child's life through a tour of Gilgal Garden and his funeral. There is also a video of his son and nephew giving a walking tour of the garden with details on the garden's and Child's history and importance.
Arrangement
Materials are arranged as provided by the donor.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donated by in .
Processing Information
Processed by Braden J McKenna in 2013.
Creator
- Child, Thomas Battersby, 1888-1963 (Person)
- Title
- Guide to the Thomas Battersby Child audio-visual collection
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Finding aid created by Ellyx Jolley.
- Date
- 2014
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid encoded in English in Latin script.
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