Heslop, J. Malan, 1923-2011
Dates
- Existence: 1923 - 2011
- Usage: 1923 - 2011
Biography
J Malan Heslop (1923-2011) was an American photojournalist, newspaper editor, and missionary from Utah. J Malan Heslop was born June 18, 1923, in Taylor, Weber County, Utah, to Jesse and Zella Malan Heslop. His birth certificate confirms that his name is J without the period. As Heslop would say, "It's a name and not an initial." When he was three years old the family moved to a farm in West Weber, Utah, where he grew up as the oldest of three children. Heslop's love of photography was inspired and encouraged by his father, Jesse, who acquired a glass plate camera around 1906. By the time Heslop was born, Jesse had the popular Kodak roll film folding camera. Heslop describes photography as an "abiding factor" in his life. In 1939 he began attending Weber High School, where one of his favorite school activities was taking photos for the yearbook. He graduated from high school on May 17, 1941, and enrolled at Weber College in Ogden, Utah, in the fall of 1941. He decided to study photography at Los Angeles City College and registered in September 1942. In October 1942 he enlisted in the Army Reserve Corps and by early November he was studying at Paramount Studios as a part of the Signal Corps Photographers School. By April 1943 he was called to active duty. Before departing for Europe, Heslop married Fae Stokes on May 1, 1944, in the Salt Lake Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His photographs provide a moving and memorable visual witness to the final nine months of the war's European Theater, from September 1944 to the end of the war in May 1945. Upon his return he reunited with his wife, Fae, and enrolled at Utah State Agricultural College (now Utah State University). He graduated with a bachelor's degree in Agriculture in the spring of 1948 and almost immediately he was hired by the Deseret News as a photographer. During his busy professional years, J and Fae Heslop also raised a family of five children—Paul, daughter Lyn, Scott, Ann, and Don—and became the grandparents of nineteen. J Malan Heslop was foremost a photojournalist, with a career which spanned forty-five years. He was a photographer in World War II for the 167 Army Signal Photographic Company in the European Theater, and spent forty years with the Deseret News newspaper. During his distinguished forty-year career, he served twenty years as the chief photographer, eight years as Church News editor, and ten years as managing editor of the Deseret News, with three years as a mission president for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Heslop covered local, national, and international events while at the Deseret News, from the inauguration of Utah's governors to those of presidents of the United States. Professional honors included being ranked by Life magazine as sixth among 1720 entrants for its young photographers contest in 1951. In 1972 the Deseret News rewarded Heslop its first-ever "Outstanding Performance Award." Upon retirement in 1988 J and Fae continued to travel, spend time with family, and be involved in their church. J took photographs wherever he went. Fae passed away in Salt Lake City on November 29, 2009. J Malan Heslop died on July 29, 2011, in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Citation:
UPB files, 27 August 2014 (was born June 18, 1923, in Taylor, Weber County, Utah, to Jesse and Zella Malan Heslop; birth certificate confirms that his name is J without the period; As Heslop would say, "It's a name and not an initial"; When he was three years old the family moved to a farm in West Weber, Utah, where he grew up as the oldest of three children; Heslop's love of photography was inspired and encouraged by his father, Jesse, who acquired a glass plate camera around 1906; By the time Heslop was born, Jesse had the popular Kodak roll film folding camera; Heslop describes photography as an "abiding factor" in his life; In 1939 he began attending Weber High School, where one of his favorite school activities was taking photos for the yearbook; graduated from high school on May 17, 1941, and enrolled at Weber College in Ogden, Utah, in the fall of 1941; decided to study photography at Los Angeles City College and registered in September 1942; October 1942 he enlisted in the Army Reserve Corps and by early November he was studying at Paramount Studios as a part of the Signal Corps Photographers School; By April 1943 he was called to active duty; Before departing for Europe, Heslop married Fae Stokes on May 1, 1944, in the Salt Lake Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; His photographs provide a moving and memorable visual witness to the final nine months of the war's European Theater, from September 1944 to the end of the war in May 1945; Upon his return he reunited with his wife, Fae, and enrolled at Utah State Agricultural College (now Utah State University); He graduated with a bachelor's degree in Agriculture in the spring of 1948 and almost immediately he was hired by the Deseret News as a photographer; During his busy professional years, J and Fae Heslop also raised a family of five children—Paul, daughter Lyn, Scott, Ann, and Don—and became the grandparents of nineteen; J Malan Heslop was foremost a photojournalist, with a career which spanned forty-five years; He was a photographer in World War II for the 167 Army Signal Photographic Company in the European Theater, and spent forty years with the Deseret News newspaper; During his distinguished forty-year career, he served twenty years as the chief photographer, eight years as Church News editor, and ten years as managing editor of the Deseret News, with three years as a mission president for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; covered local, national, and international events while at the Deseret News, from the inauguration of Utah's governors to those of presidents of the United States; Professional honors included being ranked by Life magazine as sixth among 1720 entrants for its young photographers contest in 1951; In 1972 the Deseret News rewarded Heslop its first-ever "Outstanding Performance Award"; Upon retirement in 1988 J and Fae continued to travel, spend time with family, and be involved in their church; J took photographs wherever he went; Fae passed away in Salt Lake City on November 29, 2009; J Malan Heslop died on July 29, 2011, in Salt Lake City, Utah).Found in 38 Collections and/or Records:
J Malan Heslop personal and family papers, 1940s-1996
Contains family histories, newsletters, photographs, negatives, and scrapbooks related to Heslop's church calling, high school reunion, children, missions, and trips.
J Malan Heslop personal photographs of World War II, 1943-1945
J Malan Heslop photograph albums, 1987-2002
This series includes 27 photo albums of the trips that J Heslop made with his wife, Fae Heslop. Their trips took them to all fifty states in the United States and many countries in Western Europe. Materials dated 1987 to 2002.
J Malan Heslop photographs from Cache Valley, Utah, 1939-1948
Includes 320 photographs taken while J Malan Heslop was attending Utah State Agricultural College. There are photographs of people, agriculture, city streets, national parks, and the Logan Temple. Dated 1939-1948.
J Malan Heslop photographs from international countries, 1988-2002
Includes 1,669 photographs taken internationally in Great Britain, visiting Heslop and Stokes family history locations, along with sites in Germany, Czechoslovakia, and Yugoslavia. Materials dated 1988-2002.
J Malan Heslop photographs from Utah State Agricultural College, 1939-1948
Includes 473 photographs J Malan Heslop took after the war at Utah State Agricultural College. The photographs include portraits of students, student social activities, athletics, and some agriculture. Dated 1939-1948.
J Malan Heslop photographs in United States except Utah, 1988-2002
Includes 5,704 photographs taken during J Malan Heslop's retirement throughout the United States, visiting major national parks, cities, state legislatures, and capitol buildings. Materials dated 1988-2002.
J Malan Heslop photographs in Utah, 1988-2002
Includes 4,795 photographs J Malan Heslop's trips in Utah made during retirement, the Capitol Hill Kiwanis Club, and the Ensign Peak Project. Materials dated 1988-2002.
J Malan Heslop photographs of agricultural subjects, 1939-1948
Includes 28 photographs of agriculture in Utah and the Western United States after the war while Heslop attended Utah State Agricultural College. Dated 1939-1948.
J Malan Heslop photographs of American Fork Training School, 1957
Includes 222 photographs of the American Fork Training School in 1957. The photographs document daily life in the school. Materials dated 1957.