Lowell M. Durham papers on Latter-day Saint music, 1920-1993

Series — Multiple Containers

Identifier: MSS 8150 Series 3

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Contains Durham's files on Mormon music and musicians. Many of these materials relate to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, including correspondence on replacing the conductor of the choir and clippings of reviews of their performances. Includes mentions on the careers of Jay Welch and Richard Condie. Also includes several pieces of research on Mormon musicians with Ph.D.s in music. Research on hymnody in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is included as well, such as published articles and books. Materials date from between 1920 and 1993.

Dates

Creation: 1920-1993

Creator

Durham, Lowell M. (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 History

From the Series:

Lowell M. Durham (1917-1992) was an Mormon composer and author in Utah, and professor at the University of Utah.

Lowell Marsden Durham was born on March 4, 1917 to George H. Durham and Nellie Marsden in Utah. In 1941, he received his Bachelor's degree from the University of Utah. He also married Betty Dee Divers that year, on April 26, 1941. He then received a Master's degree from the University of Iowa in 1942, and a Ph.D. from there in 1945. His post-doctoral work was completed at Columbia University and New York University. He returned to the University of Utah in 1946 as a faculty member. He served in executive positions on the Music Critics Association and the American Musicological Society, was a music critic for the Salt Lake Tribune, the musical director of KSL, and then Dean of the College of Fine Arts at the University of Utah in 1955. He retired in 1964. He and his wife Betty had three children: Lowell M., Jr., Susan, and Thomas L. Durham died on November 10, 1992 in Salt Lake City.