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Oral history interview with Ephraim Hatch

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 6688

Scope and Contents note

Contains typed transcripts, audio cassette tapes, a booklet, and digitized photographs that are all involved with Brad Westwood's interviews with Ephraim Hatch on February 15 and March 15, 2008.

Dates

  • 2008

Creator

Conditions Governing Access note

Open for public research.

Conditions Governing Use note

It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances. Permission to publish material from the Oral history with Ephraim Hatch must be obtained from the Supervisor of Reference Services and/or the L. Tom Perry Special Collections Board of Curators.

Biographical History

Ephraim Hatch (1920-1982) helped plan several buildings on campus during the building frenzy of the Wilkinson years.

Ephraim Hatch was born in 1920 in Woods Cross, Utah. In 1928 his family moved to Spanish Fork and opened up a grocery store. They lived there until The Depression prevented them from continuing their business and they moved to Provo to farm. As a young boy he enjoyed building models and in 1935 he won a model building contest and received $75 which he used to buy a Model T. He was also into HAM radios. He got a HAM radio license in 1937 and in 1939 he and his brother Noal hiked Mount Timpanogos with it and they were able to talk to their friend Jack Halliday from the top. He feels they were the first to ever broadcast from the top of Mount Timpanogos but they forgot to take a picture of the event. During World War II Ephraim worked for Boeing for two years before being enlisted into the Navy. He became a radio repair and maintenence man for ships. During this time he met his wife, Verena Ursenbach, while visiting Provo. They were married on August 4, 1944 while Ephraim was training for to maintain radios. Following the war Ephriam built wooden toys for a while, then went into the cabinet business. Soon he started designing and building a few homes in Provo. One of his homes was selected by Better Homes and Gardens to represent contemporary homes in the mountain states area. He also did remodeling work during this time. After doing some remodeling for a BYU employee he was hired by BYU to work in the building and planning office. He helped plan several buildings on campus during the building frenzy of the Wilkinson years. He helped create buildings that could be used not only for school but also for church services on Sunday. He also helped to maximize usage of space. He also did work on Ricks College. He worked planning for BYU until he retired in 1982.

Extent

3 folders (0.20 linear ft.)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

An oral history acquired through interviews given by Brad Westwood during 2008. Pictures were added by Ephraim Hatch.

Custodial History note

Interviews given by Brad Westwood during 2008. The recordings were transcribed and given to Ephraim Hatch to proofread. He then created a book with photographs included.

Immediate Source of Acquisition note

Donated; Ephraim Hatch; 2008.

Appraisal note

This oral history is important because it is the history of a man that lived in Utah County most of his life and contributed greatly to the community and also to BYU through his employment with the school during times of intense expansion.

Utah and the American West and LDS cultural, social, and religious history (21st century Western & Mormon Manuscripts collection development policy, 5.VII, 2007).

Related Archival Materials note

Memoir, circa 1998; Eph and Verena: a Hatch family history, vols 1-6, 1920-2000.

Processing Information note

Processed; Whitney Parry, student assistant; 2009.

Title
Register of Oral history interview with Ephraim Hatch
Status
Completed
Author
Whitney Parry, student assistant
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