Skip to main content

Earl, Don L. (Don Lee), 1917-1997

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 1917 - 1997

Biographical History

Don L. Earl (1917-1997) was a professor of music at Brigham Young University.

Don Lee Earl was born on August 19, 1917, to Ira Joseph and Ada Lovisa Leavitt Earl. He grew up in Las Vegas and served as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Bern, Switzerland, before being transferred back to the United States with the outbreak of Word War II. During the war he served as a Navy flight instructor and a light bomber pilot. He married Ruth Lillian Moss on October 22, 1944, in Texas. The marriage was solemnized October 22, 1944, in the Salt Lake LDS Temple.

He graduated from Brigham Young University in music and received his PhD from Indiana University. He taught music and religion at BYU for 35 years. He conducted many choirs, operas, and symphonies, and ran the BYU Opera Workshop. He was the music director for the Utah Valley Opera in the late 1960's. He was a member of and served as president for the Provo branch of the American Federation of Musicians Union for twenty years. He was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in several church positions.

Earl died on September 7, 1997, in Provo, Utah.

Citation:
Deseret News obituary website, viewed May 23, 2011 (Don Lee Earl; b. August 19, 1917, to Ira Joseph and Ada Lovisa Leavitt Earl; grew up in Las Vegas; missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Bern, Switzerland and the United States; Navy flight instructor and a light bomber pilot in World War II; m. Ruth Lillian Moss October 22, 1944, in Texas; marriage solemnized October 22, 1944, in the Salt Lake LDS Temple; graduated from Brigham Young University in music; PhD from Indiana University; taught music and religion at BYU for 35 years; conducted choirs, operas and symphonies; ran the BYU Opera Workshop; music director Utah Valley Opera in the late 1960's; member of and president of the Provo branch of the American Federation of Musicians Union for 20 years; active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in several positions; d. on September 7, 1997, in Provo, Utah)

Found in 4 Collections and/or Records:

Don L. Earl class and student files, 1969-1977

 Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 7836 Series 2
Scope and Contents

Contains class and student files and correspondence for classes taught by Don Earl while he was a faculty member at BYU, 1969-1977.

Dates: 1969-1977

Don L. Earl photographs and slides, 1952-1976

 Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 7836 Series 3
Scope and Contents

Contains photographs and slides of various productions, including Masked Ball, La Triviata, HMS Pinafore, Sweethearts, Merry Widow, Mikado, Rigoletto, Lakme, Martha, The Marriage of Figaro, Golden Goose, Marriage by Lantern, Carmen, and other opera performances and tours, 1952-1976.

Dates: 1952-1976

Don L. Earl professional papers, 1953-1978

 Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 7836 Series 1
Scope and Contents

Contains opera files from his time overseeing and directing the opera program at Brigham Young University, music seller files, symphony orchestra programs, workshops, convocation addresses, newspaper clippings, correspondence, and other administrative materials that were collected during his time as a professor of music at Brigham Young University, 1953-1978.

Dates: 1953-1978

Don L. Earl scores, approximately 1952-1978

 Series — Carton 10: Series 4
Identifier: MSS 7836 Series 4
Scope and Contents

Contains scores that belonged to Don Earl that were collected by him for his personal and professional use.

Dates: approximately 1952-1978

Filtered By

  • Type: Archival Object X

Additional filters:

Subject
Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences 2
Music 2
Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.) 1
College theater -- Utah -- Provo -- Photographs 1
Letters 1