Irma Grainger Gottfredson personal papers, 1904-1988
Scope and Contents
Includes Irma Grainger Gottfredson's daily journals, calendars, scrapbooks, funeral papers, and record books.
Materials dated 1904-1988.
Dates
- Creation: 1904-1988
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 Gottfredson family papers must be obtained from the Supervisor of Reference Services and/or the L. Tom Perry Special Collections Board of Curators.
Biographical History
Irma Grainger Gottfredson (1904-1988) was married to David Booth Gottfredson and raised five children in Richfield and Salt Lake City, Utah.
Irma Grainger Gottfredson was born on April 5, 1904 in Toquerville, Utah, to Benjamin Christopher Grainger and Eleanor Campbell Bringhurst, but spent much of her childhood and adolescence in American Fork, Utah. She was baptized a member of the LDS church on September 1, 1913. She attended West Junior High School and LDS High School, but left school before her senior year to start working. She married David Booth Gottfredson in the Salt Lake LDS temple on September 13, 1922, and after living in Salt Lake until David received his B.S. from the University of Utah, the couple moved to St. Louis, Missouri, for medical school. After moving back to Salt Lake in 1926, Irma began taking U. of U. extension classes. The family then moved to Richfield in 1928, and Irma was very involved in school and community. She finished her high school education at Richfield High School in 1936, was the president of the Lady Lions and of the Sanpete-Sevier Federated Womens' Club, and was active in the Red Cross and the Richfield Study Club.
Irma and David had five children together. Marjorie was born in 1923, Joyce in 1925, David Booth in 1930, Susan in 1936, and Peter Shelton in 1949. Peter Shelton died seven days after he was born, and David Booth passed away in 1954 at age 24 after a long struggle with muscular dystrophy.
When the National Guard was called to service in 1941, David was stationed in San Luis Obispo, California, Irma and her children became "camp followers" and before David was shipped overseas, she had followed him to Los Angeles, California; Ft. Lewis, Washington; Camp Pickett, Virginia; and Camp Meade, Maryland. Irma moved the family back to Salt Lake and enrolled in classes at the University of Utah. David was sent home to recuperate from injuries and was eventually discharged in 1944.
David and Irma bought a home in Salt Lake for their 22nd anniversary, where they lived until both of their deaths. Irma died on December 30, 1988, eleven years after the death of her husband.
Extent
16 folders
1 oversize box (1.66 linear ft.)
Language of Materials
English
Other Finding Aids
An additional finding aid is available in the repository upon request.
Subject
- Gottfredson, David Booth, 1898-1977 (Person)
Repository Details
Part of the L. Tom Perry Special Collections Repository
1130 HBLL
Brigham Young University
Provo Utah 84602 United States