Draft of Pioneering with film -- A history of Church and Brigham Young University films / Wetzel O. Whitaker
Scope and Contents
Draft of Wetzel O. Whitaker's "Pioneering with Film -- A History of Church and Brigham Young University Films," which was published in 1983. The book outlined the history of the Brigham Young University Motion Picture Studio as told by Wetzel O. Whitaker, who established and ran the studio for 22 years. The draft does not appear to be a complete version of the final publication. It is dated 1975 to 1976.
Dates
- 1975-1976
Creator
- Whitaker, Wetzel O. (1908-1985) (author, Person)
Conditions Governing Access
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
Wetzel Owen Whitaker was born on September 30, 1908, in Heber City, Utah, and was raised in Brigham City, Utah. In 1918, he and his family moved to Denver, Colorado, where he grew up.
Wetzel attended the Chicago Art Institute, and afterwards moved to St. Louis to work as a newspaper art director. He later moved to California where he had a successful career as an animator for Disney Studios. In 1952, he took a position at Brigham Young University to establish and head the BYU Motion Picture Studio. He led the studio until his retirement in 1974.
Wetzel and his brother, Scott Whitaker, were responsible for many iconic Latter-day Saint films such as "Johnny Lingo," "Pioneers in Petticoats," and "The Windows of Heaven." Wetzel received an honorary doctorate from Brigham Young University in 1971.
Whitaker passed away on November 1, 1985, in Murray, Utah.
Extent
1 volume (unnumbered leaves) ; 28 cm
Language of Materials
English
Custodial History
Donated in 1978 by W.O. Whittaker.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donated; 1978; W.O. Whittaker.
Appraisal
History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon and Western American Manuscripts Collection Development Policy V.B.5.a, 2020)
Processing Information
Proccessed; Isabella Titus: 2024.
- Autobiographies
- Brigham Young University. Motion Picture Studio -- History
- Church Educational System
- Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
- Latter Day Saints in motion pictures -- History
- Local histories
- Motion picture producers and directors -- Utah
- Motion pictures -- Production and direction -- Utah -- Provo
- Whitaker, Wetzel O. (1908-1985)
- Title
- Register of Draft of Pioneering with film -- A history of Church and Brigham Young University films / Wetzel O. Whitaker
- Status
- In Progress
- Author
- Isabella Titus
- Date
- 2024 April 5
- 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
1130 HBLL
Brigham Young University
Provo Utah 84602 United States