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Purdy, Victor W. (Victor Willliam), 1926-2012

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 1926 - 2012

Biographical History

Victor Purdy (1926-2012) was a librarian and teacher at Brigham Young University.

Victor Purdy was born on March 4, 1926 to Victor William Purdy and Rhina Anna Steins Purdy. After growing up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Purdy served in the United States Navy during World War II. Following the war, Purdy served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to the North Central States Mission from 1948 to 1950. He attended University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee, St. John's College at Annapolis, Md., and finally received his undergraduate degree at Brigham Young University in 1952. Purdy later received a master's degree in library science from Columbia University in 1957 and worked on his PhD at both the University of Wisconsin at Madison and the University of Utah.

Purdy worked at the Fresno State College Library from 1953 to 1954, when he started working at the Brigham Young University library. In 1966 he began to teach at BYU's School of Library and Information Sciences, where he worked until that department closed in 1993. He also taught various classes for the Department of History and Department of Church History and Doctrine.

Purdy married Alice Mary Thalman in 1951. Together they had three daughters and one son. Alice died in in 1996 and in 2002 Purdy married Deanne Moore Craig. Purdy died on April 9, 2002.

Citation:
Obituary of Victor William Purdy, Daily Herald (Provo, UT), April 12, 2012

Berg Mortuary, November 19, 2012: Victor William Purdy, Jr. (born to Victor William Purdy and Rhina Anna Steins Mar. 4, 1926; U.S. Navy during WWII; served in the North Central States mission 1948-1950; attended UW-Milwaukee, St. John's at Annapolis, Md., and Brigham Young University; Master's of Library Science from Columbia University; PhD work at UW-Madison and University of Utah; Fresno State College Library from 1953-1954; Brigham Young University library from 1954-1966; BYU School of Library and Information Sciences 1966-1993; taught other classes at BYU; married Alice Mary Thalman 1951; three daughters and one son; Alice died in 1996; married Deanne Moore Craig in 2002; died on April 9, 2012)

Found in 5 Collections and/or Records:

Victor W. Purdy papers

 Collection
Identifier: MSS 8107
Scope and Contents

Contains materials from Victor Purdy's time at Brigham Young University. This includes class records, course syllabi, and student assignments, as well as minutes from various committees within the School of Library and Information Sciences, Purdy's own research on Pueblo Indians, and biblographic files. These materials date from 1959 to 1993.

Dates: 1959-1993
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections

Victor Purdy index cards, between 1966-1993

 Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 8107 Series 4
Scope and Contents

Within this series are index cards containing bibliographic information on a variety of subjects related to Purdy's teaching and doctoral dissertation. Topics include LIS 540, LIS 488, dissertation sources, Pueblo Native American Tribes. There are no discernable dates of composition although it appears he acquired the information over a number of years.

Dates: between 1966-1993
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Victor W. Purdy papers

Victor Purdy papers from the School of Library and Information Sciences, 1962-1993

 Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 8107 Series 3
Scope and Contents This series contains the minutes of faculty meetings (1977-1991), the curriculum committee (1971-1989), and the administrative committee (1962-1965). University policies, collection development policies, course and teaching schedules are also present. This series also has the Grad SLIS news letters from 1966-1993. Issues of the Journal of the Utah Library Association published during the 1970's are also part of this series. There are evaluations, accreditations, annual reports (1966-67),...
Dates: 1962-1993
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Victor W. Purdy papers

Victor Purdy papers on the Pueblo Indians, 1986

 Series — Carton 4: Series 2 [Barcode: 31197233632857]
Identifier: MSS 8107 Series 2
Scope and Contents Contains articles, correspondence, and statistical data, about scholars whose work pertains to the Pueblo Native American tribe. Victor's dissertation for the history department of the University of Utah was a study of the career paths of doctoral students of the Pueblo Indians. The title is "Doctoral Students of the Pueblo Indians of the American Southwest, 1889-1979: The Dissertation Process as Influenced by Personal, Institutional, Thematic and Disciplinary Factors." Purdy was working...
Dates: 1986
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Victor W. Purdy papers

Victor Purdy teaching materials, 2003, 1966-1993

 Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 8107 Series 1
Scope and Contents Contains syllabi, course packs, notes and student papers. Three classes are prominently represented; they are LIS 513 selection and acquisition of materials, LIS 540 communication and information use among scholars and scientists, and LIS 696 library operations research. Prior to 1986, LIS 696 was a research seminar without a specific focus. After 1986, the course focused on collection assessment and became library operations research. Other courses present are LIS 549/614 literature of...
Dates: 2003; 1966-1993
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Victor W. Purdy papers

Additional filters:

Type
Archival Object 4
Collection 1
 
Subject
Library education 4
Library science 3
Colleges and Universities 2
Education 2
Education, Higher 2
∨ more
Articles 1
Bibliographies 1
College students' writings 1
College teachers -- Utah -- Provo 1
Indexes 1
Letters 1
Minutes (Records) 1
Personal papers 1
Pueblo Indians -- Education 1
School records 1
Statistics 1
Universities and colleges -- Faculty 1
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