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Donation: Diane Nielsen Call
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Jeanne Lavon Merrell Nielsen was born June 29, 1942, in Utah to LaVoir and Voniel Merrell. She is the oldest of five children in her family. Her younger siblings include four brothers: Richard who served a mission in Scotland at the same time as Jeanne Merrell, Lynn who passed away in the scouting accident of 1963 when he was fifteen years old, Wayne who served a mission in Finland and the Gulf States’ missions, and Phil who served a mission in San Diego, California. Jeanne Merrell graduated from Provo High School in 1960 and later attended Brigham Young University.
After receiving a semi-professional degree, she served a mission to the Eastern States Mission, where President Wilburn C. West presided. She entered the mission field on November 4, 1963. After two months the Eastern States Mission was divided and Sister Merrell was assigned to serve in the new Palmyra/Cumorah Mission under President Lester Peterson. She first served in Lyons, New York as a proselyting missionary. Sister Merrell next served in Geneseo, a college town where she was assigned not only to proselyte but also to help with the funeral services for some of the members. Sister Merrell was next assigned to serve as the mission president’s personal secretary at the mission home located in Rochester, New York. She served in this position for ten months. During this time the Hill Cumorah Pageant was important to the mission and Sister Merrell’s personal missionary efforts. Adding to the challenge of missionary work were the racial riots that Rochester was experiencing during 1964. There was a curfew placed on Rochester residents, however Sister Merrell and her companion were allowed to enter the city past curfew because of their involvement with the Hill Cumorah Pageant. At the request of her mother, Sister Merrell concluded her mission in a proselyting area. Sister Merrell served last in Niagara Falls, New York. She was released one week early which afforded her time to visit her former Mission President (President West) and visit the World’s Fair being held in New York. Sister Merrell returned home after being officially released on April 20, 1965.
Jeanne Lavon Merrell returned to Brigham Young University where she earned a BS degree in Business Education /Administration Management in 1968. At Brigham Young University Jeanne Merrell met Douglas Kraig Nielsen (who was born on July 7, 1943.) They were married in the Salt Lake City Temple on May 25, 1967. The Nielsens have four children: Diane, Wendy, Michael, and Mark. The family lived for 23 years in Orem, Utah, but Jeanne and Douglas Nielsen have since moved around the country because Douglas works for the federal government. The Nielsens now live in Traverse City, Michigan, and serve in their local church branch.
Jeanne Lavon Merrell Nielsen LDS Mission Papers, 1963 – 1965 includes four archival series:
Series I includes two archival Sub-Series: Family and Friends
The Family Sub-Series has three archival Sub-Sub-Series: Incoming, Outgoing, and Third-Party correspondence. The Family Incoming Correspondence includes letters from Sister Merrell’s parents, brothers, and grandmothers. The Family Outgoing Correspondence includes Sister Merrell’s letters home to her immediate family. The Family Third Party Correspondence includes letters from extended family members to her immediate family which are not directly addressed to Jeanne Merrell. It is unknown how Sister Merrell obtained the third party correspondence.
The Friends Sub-Series has two archival Sub-Sub-Series: Incoming and Third Party correspondence. The Friends Incoming Correspondence includes letters from Jeanne Merrell’s friends to her while she was serving her mission. The Friends Third Party Correspondence includes letters from friends (or persons not of the Merrell family) to Sister Merrell’s family. It is unknown how Sister Merrell obtained letters from friends of the family addressed to her immediate family.
Series II includes two folders: Friends and Sister Merrell
The Friends folder includes photos sent to Sister Merrell by her friends while serving her mission.
The Sister Merrell folder includes photographs of Sister Merrell whiles serving as a missionary and one photograph from 1978.
Series III includes three Sub-Series: Postcards 1960 –1964, Brigham Young University Related Ephemera, 1958 – 1962, and Miscellaneous Mission Ephemera, 1963 – 1965.
The Sub-Series Postcards, 1960 – 1964, includes postcards of various historical and tourists sites in New York.
The Sub-Series Brigham Young University Related Ephemera, 1958 – 1962, includes the English program requirements for graduation and a class secretary letter.
The Sub-Series Miscellaneous Mission Ephemera, 1963 – 1965, includes various notes, journal entries, LDS pamphlets, mission newsletters, Hill Cumorah Pageant pamplets, and other Mission related papers.
Series IV includes greeting cards sent to Sister Merrell during and after her mission.
These cards are arranged in alphabetical order by the last name of the sender. The Greeting cards range from holiday greeting cards to special occasion cards.
Jeanne Lavon Merrell Nielsen LDS Mission Papers, 1963 – 1965 includes four archival series:
Series I includes two archival Sub-Series: Family and Friends
The Family Sub-Series has three archival Sub-Sub-Series: Incoming, Outgoing, and Third-Party correspondence.The Family Incoming Correspondence includes letters from Sister Merrell’s parents, brothers, and grandmothers. The Family Outgoing Correspondence includes Sister Merrell’s letters home to her immediate family. The Family Third Party Correspondence includes letters from extended family members to her immediate family which are not directly addressed to Jeanne Merrell. It is unknown how Sister Merrell obtained the third party correspondence.
The Friends Sub-Series has two archival Sub-Sub-Series: Incoming and Third Party correspondence. The Friends Incoming Correspondence includes letters from Jeanne Merrell’s friends to her while she was serving her mission. The Friends Third Party Correspondence includes letters from friends (or persons not of the Merrell family) to Sister Merrell’s family. It is unknown how Sister Merrell obtained letters from friends of the family addressed to her immediate family.
Series II includes two folders: Friends and Sister Merrell
The Friends folder includes photos sent to Sister Merrell by her friends while serving her mission. The Sister Merrell folder includes photographs of Sister Merrell whiles serving as a missionary and one photograph from 1978.
Series III includes three Sub-Series: Postcards 1960 –1964, Brigham Young University Related Ephemera, 1958 – 1962, and Miscellaneous Mission Ephemera, 1963 – 1965.
The Sub-Series Postcards, 1960 – 1964, includes postcards of various historical and tourists sites in New York.
The Sub-Series Brigham Young University Related Ephemera, 1958 – 1962, includes the English program requirements for graduation and a class secretary letter.
The Sub-Series Miscellaneous Mission Ephemera, 1963 – 1965, includes various notes, journal entries, LDS pamphlets, mission newsletters, Hill Cumorah Pageant pamplets, and other Mission related papers.
Series IV includes greeting cards sent to Sister Merrell during and after her mission.
These cards are arranged in alphabetical order by the last name of the sender. The Greeting cards range from holiday greeting cards to special occasion cards.