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Kowallis family papers

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 9554

Scope and Contents

Collection contains photographs taken by Reinhart Kowallis during his service in and after WWII in the United States Army from 1940 to 1946, and letters between Reinhart and Norma Kowallis from 1944 to 1945 while Reinhart was deployed during World War II. Includes images of Guam and Okinawa. Also contains Norma Kowallis's 1948 journal, which includes mementoes from President George Albert Smith's visit to Pleasant View, Utah, and a book written by Bart J. Kowallis in 2015, transcribing Reinhart and Norma's WWII letters.

Dates

  • 1944-2015

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Photographs in Box 1 are condition restricted. Items kept in cold storage; access requires 24 hours advance notice. All other materials open for public research.

Conditions Governing Use

It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances. Permission to use material from this collection must be obtained from Reference Services at specialcollections@byu.edu.

Biographical / Historical

Reinhart Theodore Kowallis born May 27, 1910, in River Heights, Utah to Karl August Kowallis and Justine Brenner, one of seven children. He served an LDS mission to Germany from 1932 to 1934 and completed a degree in forestry in 1940 at the Agricultural College in Logan, Utah. On February 18, 1942, Reinhart married Norma Jensen, whom he had met in college, in Salt Lake City, Utah. Norma was born August 30, 1916, in Pleasant View, Utah, to Joseph Jensen and Ethel Chamberlain. She and Reinhart had five children. Reinhart entered the United States Army in 1940, serving until 1946 in WWII in Guam, Okinawa, and in bases in the United States. Reinhart worked as a captain of a photographic and mapping squadron in the military. He later served as a Deputy Sheriff in Weber County, then worked as a science teacher in Weber County schools, for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, and for the U.S. Geological Survey. Norma and Reinhart have a son, Bart J. Kowallis, who as of 2023 was an Associate Dean and professor at the Brigham Young University College of Physical & Mathematical Sciences. Norma died December 2, 1974, in Ogden, Utah. On April 6, 2004, Reinhart passed away in Pleasant View, Utah.

Extent

3 boxes (1.5 linear ft.)

Language of Materials

English

Custodial History

Donated by Bart Joseph Kowallis in August 2022.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Donated; Bart Joseph Kowallis; August 2022.

Appraisal

Utah and the American West (20th Century Western and Mormon Manuscripts, II B VI).

Processing Information

Processed; Sydney Gee; June 2023.

Title
Register of Kowallis family papers
Status
In Progress
Author
Sydney Gee
Date
2023 June 15
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid written in English in Latin script.

Repository Details

Part of the L. Tom Perry Special Collections Repository

Contact:
1130 HBLL
Brigham Young University
Provo Utah 84602 United States