Robert John Evans letters to Robert James Evans and Alice Hazel Stallings Evans, 1939-1977

Sub-Series — Multiple Containers

Identifier: MSS 8244 Series 8 Sub-Series 2

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Letters sent by Robert John Evans to his parents Robert James Evans and Alice Hazel Stallings Evans between 1939 to 1977. Letters discuss everyday occurrences, family happenings, and school and work opportunities. Majority of letters sent from Pullman, Washington and East Lansing, Michigan by Robert John Evans to his parents in Utah.

Dates

Creation: 1939-1977

Creator

Evans, Robert John, 1909-1997 (creator, Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Open for public research. Photographic slides are kept in cold storage; access requires 24 hours advance notice.

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

Robert John Evans was born on March 18, 1909 in Logan, Utah to Robert James and Alice Hazel Stallings Evans. He attended schools in Logan, and then moved with his family to Lehi, Utah during high school. After graduating he attended Brigham Young University, where he ran for the track team. A member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he served a mission to South Africa between 1929 and 1932. After his return he attended Utah State Agricultural College, where he earned his bachelor's degree in chemistry and mathematics, and a master's in poultry science. He continued his studies at the University of Wisconsin, earning his Ph.D. in the field in 1939. He returned to the West, working at Carbon College in Price, Utah and at the State College of Washington in Pullman. In 1941 he married Alice Pugmire, and they had two children.

In 1947, Evans took a position on the faculty of the Poultry Department of Michigan State University. He completed some advanced studies at Cambridge, England and Edinburgh, Scotland, but remained at Michigan until his retirement in 1977. He was internationally recognized as an expert in protein biochemistry, doing extensive work with eggs and beans.

He and his wife then moved back to Utah and settled in Ogden. During this time, he participated in travel study programs offered by Brigham Young University. Evans died on December 6, 1997, in Idaho Falls, Idaho.