John Hafen papers
Scope and Contents
John Hafen papers consists of family correspondence (1819-1910) describing travels, family, religion, the art world, and about business. Also included correspondence to First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Also included are patriarchal blessings; certificates, receipts and mementoes; family history and genealogy; news clippings; a notebook; notes; diaries; buisness ledgers; and financial accounts.
Dates
- Creation: 1879-1918
Creator
- Hafen, John, 1856-1910 (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
Open for public research. Use photocopies of the correspondence unless permission to use the originals is obtained from the Board of Curators.
Conditions Governing Use
It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances. Permission to publish material from John Hafen Collection must be obtained from the Supervisor of Reference Services and/or the L. Tom Perry Special Collections Board of Curators.
Biographical History
Hafen was a Utah artist, Brigham Young Academy instructor of art (1892-1894), and one of the founders of the Springville Art Museum in Springville, Utah. John Hafen was born March 22, 1856, in Canton Thurgan, Switzerland. When he was six years old his family emigrated to Utah. In 1879 he married Thora Twede and to their union were born ten children. Much of their married life was spent apart as John traveled around the country trying to find a market for his paintings. In 1890, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints sponsored John's art training at the Julian Academy in Paris. After his return he painted wall murals in the Salt Lake Temple. During this time period he also won several awards. In 1900 he was awarded the State Prize by the Utah Art Institute. In 1902 he won the medal of honor from the Utah Art Institute and first prize for both the best work of art and the best landscape from the Utah State Fair. Hafen concentrated primarily on landscapes, however, he later became a successful portrait painter in Indiana. He died June 10, 1910 at the age of fifty-four.
Extent
2 boxes (1 linear ft.)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
This collection consists of correspondence, a diary of John's wife, Thora Hafen (January 1901-May 1901), a notebook, certificates, family genealogies, mementos, illustrated programs of Hafen's art exhibits, and newspaper clippings which laud Hafen's art. Part of the collection was represented in a catalog entitled
A Step Beyond: Artist's Archives and Creative Process
,
presented by the Special Collections and Archives and Manuscripts of Brigham Young University, 1987.
Other Finding Aids
File-level inventory available online. http://files.lib.byu.edu/ead/XML/MSS356.xml
Custodial History
Program of the art exhibit featuring Hafen's illustrations of Eliza R. Snow's poem. "Oh, My Father," were donated to the Harold B. Lee library by Joseph Hafen and Rachel Hafen Stewart.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Program of the art exhibit featuring Hafen's illustrations of Eliza R. Snow's poem. "Oh, My Father," were donated to the Harold B. Lee library by Joseph Hafen and Rachel Hafen Stewart. Mss 356 was cataloged about 1960. In Feb. 1985, two accessions of new material, numbers A84-111 and A84-113, were added the collection.
Appraisal
Arts and Communications.
Separated Materials
Four photographs (snapshots) were transferred to Photo Archives. One of them appears to be a view of the setting for Hafen's painting entitled
A Landmark by the Roadside.
Processing Information
Processed; Dennis Rowley; 1997.
Subject
- Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. First Presidency -- Correspondence (Organization)
- Council of the Twelve Apostles (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) -- Correspondence (Organization)
- Springville Museum of Art (Organization)
- Hafen, John, 1856-1910 -- Archives (Person)
- Brigham Young University. Department of Art -- Faculty (Organization)
- Title
- Register of John Hafen papers
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Andrea Wyss
- Date
- 2011 March 18
- 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
1130 HBLL
Brigham Young University
Provo Utah 84602 United States