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Mrs. Virginia Cutler, former chairman of the B.Y.U. Home Economics Department, obtained most of the material in the collection from the daughters of Leah D. Widtsoe. She donated it to the College of Family Living after Leah Widtsoe Day in 1965 or 1966, and they in turn transferred it to the University Archives. Some material was also obtained from the Church Historical Department and the B.Y.U. University Archives Biographical File.
Collection is open to public use.
It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances.
Permission to publish material from the Leah D. Widtsoe Collection must be obtained from the Supervisor of Reference Services and/or the Special Collections Board of Curators.
Leah Eudora Dunford was born February 24, 1874, to Dr. Alma B. Dunford and Susa Young Dunford Gates, daughter of Brigham Young. Leah graduated from the University of Utah in 1896 and received a B.S. Degree from Brigham Young University in 1899. She was put in charge of the Department of Domestic Science at B.Y.U. in 1897. In 1960 she received an Honorary Doctorate of Humanities Degree from B.Y.U.
She married John A. Widtsoe on June 1, 1898, and they were the parents of 7 children. Throughout her life she served as a civic and church worker, lecturer, and author, and she was renowned for her work as a home economist.
Leah Widtsoe died June 7, 1965, in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Considering Leah Widtsoe's vast and diverse experiences, both vocationally and avocationally, this collection of her papers is relatively small. It cannot be more than a fragment of the original, complete collection. Included is information on her family history, her education at Pratt Institute and the University of Utah, and her career as a teacher and writer at Brigham Young University.
The collection is arranged in the following categories: Biographical; Education; Career; Genealogy, Temple Work, and Personal and Family History; Photographs; and Memorabilia.
The following material, which was given to Mrs. Virginia Cutler by Bob Smith, secretary to Reed Smoot, has been transferred to the Reed Smoot Collection (Mss 1187): Home Economics Information File; Home Economics Bill File
Transcript of oral history interview conducted by Hollis Scott, February 11, 1965.
Quantitative Analysis, Household Sanitation, Sanitation
Photo of Leah Widtsoe in lab, p. 82 of Pratt Institute Catalog, 1897-98.
Physics; Unidentified lab book; Xerox of sample pages from
Articles: "Training for Girls," "I Remember Brigham Young," "Heavenly Father's Health Law," "Drugs In Our Foods Today," "Paradise on Earth--Proof of the Word of Wisdom," "The Great Need of Training for Parenthood," "Home Economics in B.Y.U."
Outline and report of Leah D. Widtsoe's trip to Washington, D.C., 1923-24.
List and description of courses taught by Leah D. Widtsoe at B.Y.U.; Book list from Mrs. Widtsoe Collection (publication dates 1794-1964).
Newspaper articles of personal mention, 1949-1966; Presentation of Honorary Doctoral Degree, 1960; Address given by Dr. Benjamin R. Andrews (for tribute see p. 3); Tribute by granddaughter JoAnne Koplin, 1966; "Development of Home Economics in Utah" by Tricia Ormsby with Dr. Virginia Cutler (for tribute see p. 5)
Wedding announcement of Leah Dunford and John Widtsoe, June 1, 1898; Leah D. Widtsoe Funeral Services, June 12, 1965
Lovina Tricilla Clayton Dunford autobiography; Alma Bailey Dunford biography; Dr. A.B. Dunford obituary article; Alma Bailey Dunford family picture; Dunford Family picture; Address given by Ernest L. Wilkinson at graveside of Brigham Young on June 1, 1962.
Two books containing a record of temple ordinances performed.