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John R. Christiansen family papers

 Collection
Identifier: MSS 4116

Scope and Contents

Contains materials regarding John R. Christiansen's professional career in sociology, including interviews, course materials, publications, research, and other materials. Materials cover various topics including emergency preparedness, nuclear war survival, and books John R. Christiansen donated to Brigham Young University, as well as information regarding John R. Christiansen's membership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Collection also contains material documenting the lives of other Christiansen family members, including ancestors and particularly the John Evans Rees family, their interaction with Bishop Robert Lewis Johnson of Fountain Green, and Robert Lewis Johnson's communications with notable church leaders. Also contains materials created by John R. Christiansen's wife, Lucele K. Christiansen, and their daughter, Carol C. Pope.

Dates

  • 1804-2008

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 publish material from the John R. Christiansen family papers must be obtained from the Supervisor of Reference Services and/or the L. Tom Perry Special Collections Coordinating Committee.

Biographical History

John R. Christiansen (1927-2001) was a professor of sociology and social work at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah.

John Rees Christiansen was born in Wales, Utah, on August 17, 1927 to Elray Lavar and Lewella Ann Rees Christiansen. He served as an Aviation Cadet in the U.S. Navy from 1945 to 1947. He earned a bachelor's degree from Utah State University in 1949 and a master's degree in 1952, and he received a doctorate degree in sociology from the University of Wisconsin in 1955. John R. Christiansen married Lucele Kartchner Christiansen on September 18, 1951 in Logan, Utah. Together they had five children. He lectured at the University of Kentucky for two years before becoming a member of the Brigham Young University faculty, gaining full professorial status in 1964. Christiansen stayed on as professor of sociology and social work until his retirement in 1997. Throughout his career, he received numerous research grants, wrote forty-two books and pamphlets, and published and presented over seventy articles. John R. Christiansen passed away on March 16, 2001 at his home in Provo, Utah.

Extent

7 boxes (3.5 linear ft.)

15 cartons (15 linear ft.)

1 media box (0.5 linear ft.)

8 oversize folders (1.2 linear ft.)

Language of Materials

English

Arrangement

Arranged in four series: 1. John R. Christiansen papers, 1941-1995. 2. Christiansen family papers, 1804-1966. 3. Lucele K. Christiansen papers, 1949-2008. 4. Carol C. Pope sound recordings, 1982-1983.

Custodial History

Donated by James Heiner in 1993 and 1995.

Donated by Steven J. Christiansen, on behalf of the Christiansen family, in March 2018.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Donated; James Heiner; 1993 and 1995.

Donated; Steven J. Christiansen; March 2018.

Appraisal

LDS cultural, family, social, intellectual, mission and religious history (19th Century Mormon and Western Manuscripts Collection Development Policy, V.b.v.1, November 2013).

Utah and the American West and LDS cultural, social, and religious history (20th and 21st Century Western and Mormon Americana, II.B.5.VI, August 2007).

Faculty: Teaching level (University Archives Collection Development Policy, V.b.v.b, October 2015).

Processing Information

Processed; Amanda Clark, student manuscript processor; July 16, 2007.

Addendum processed; Megan Courchaine, student manuscript processor, and Cory Nimer, curator; September 2018.

Title
Register of John R. Christiansen family papers
Status
Completed
Author
Karen Glenn, Amanda Clark, and Megan Courchaine, student processors, and Cory Nimer, curator
Date
2009
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