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Nils Gunnar Rasmuson papers

 Collection
Identifier: MSS FM 19

Scope and Contents

Consists of personal papers, business papers, and three subject files which Gunnar compiled during his life. Also included are papers of his sister, Anna C. Rasmuson. Included in his personal papers are two missionary journals, an autobiography written about 1944, personal correspondence, including letters written in Swedish to relatives in Sweden, patriarchal blessings, certificates, and a large group of genealogical papers.

Dates

  • 1912-1969

Creator

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 History

Nils Gunnar Rasmuson was born on June 10, 1889, in Ystad, Malmöhus, Sweden to Nils Rasmuson and Kerstin Mattson. At the age of seven Gunnar began attending school which he continued to do for six years until 1902. He then quit school and took a job as an errand boy for a local stationary retailer. In May of 1905, Gunnar joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and in June he was on his way to Utah. In the fall of 1905, he entered school in Manila, Utah, where he struggled to learn the English language. In June of 1906, his family arrived from Sweden, and they built a home in Pleasant Grove. In 1912, Gunnar accepted a call as a missionary to the Northern States Mission where he worked primarily in Chicago, Illinois and St. Paul, Minnesota. Upon returning home in September of 1914, Gunnar obtained a job teaching elementary school in Pleasant Grove. He married Lydia Leona West on June 10, 1915, in Salt Lake City, Utah. They eventually had six children. The next few years found Gunnar working as a teacher, farmer, and minute clerk at the Utah State Legislature, and in 1919 he became judge of the Juvenile Court for Utah, Wasatch, and Juab counties. In 1921, Gunnar began a career in the newspaper business. He first worked for the Provo Post but soon moved to the Provo Herald and at the same time he served as the Provo reporter for the Deseret News. By 1924, he was editor of the Herald and held that position until 1929, when he became editor of the Logan Herald-Journal in Logan, Utah. He was editor in Logan for over 20 years, retiring in 1949. Over the years Gunnar held several church positions in the Logan, Utah 11th Ward Bishopric and the Mt. Logan Stake High Council. He died on December 25, 1965, in Hyrum, Utah.

Extent

22 boxes (11 linear ft.)

16 microfilm reels (1.6 linear ft.)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Handwritten and typewritten documents on microfilm. They include diaries, correspondence, blessings, certificates, and miscellaneous items. The materials relate largely to Rasmuson's career as a journalist and to his personal life. Also included are papers of Nils' sister, Anna C. Rasmuson.

Arrangement

Arranged in six series: 1. Nils Gunnar Rasmuson personal papers, 2. Nils Gunnar Rasmuson business papers, 3. Nils Gunnar Rasmuson general subjects, 4. Nils Gunnar Rasmuson sermons, 5. Nils Gunnar Rasmuson published articles, and 6. Anna C. Rasmuson papers.

Other Finding Aids

A more detailed finding aid is available in print in the repository.

Other Finding Aids

File-level inventory available online. http://files.lib.byu.edu/ead/XML/MSSFM19.xml

Custodial History

Materials were donated by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Library Archives in 1981.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Donated; The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Library Archives; 1981.

Appraisal

Utah and American West and LDS cultural, social, and religious history (20th Century Western & Mormon Manuscripts collection development policy, 5.VII, 2007).

Processing Information

Processed; Larry Draper; March 1981.

Title
Register of the Nils Gunnar Rasmuson papers
Status
Completed
Author
Larry Draper
Date
March 1981
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.
Sponsor
Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant, 2007-2008

Repository Details

Part of the L. Tom Perry Special Collections Repository

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