Donald Wilford Robinson papers

Collection — Multiple Containers

Identifier: MSS 6802

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Collection contains a certificate for the Karl G. Maeser award and sixteen (16) volumes of journals, documenting Donald Wilford Robinson’s mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to the southern United States from 1948 to 1950. Donald records each day of his mission in great detail. He relates teaching appointments, street meetings, tracting experiences, scriptures he studied and his own testimony of the gospel. The journals begin with his account of graduation and preparation for his mission, and end with his report on the homecoming talk he gave on October 29, 1950. Also contains Robinson's personal and professional papers, including family history materials, family correspondence, personal histories, and correspondence maintained during his mission. Professional papers include part of Robinson's doctoral thesis, mathematics booklets, seminar programs and notes, materials relating to his tenure as a professor of mathematics at Brigham Young University, and correspondence. Materials dated 1948-1992.

Dates

Creation: 1948-1992

Creator

Robinson, Donald Wilford (author, Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Donor restricted until 2025.

Conditions Governing Use

It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances. Permission to publish material from the Donald Wilford Robinson papers must be obtained from the Supervisor of Reference Services and/or the L. Tom Perry Special Collections Board of Curators.

Biographical History

Donald Wilford Robinson was born on February 29, 1928 in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Wilford Allen and Thirza Cornick Robinson. He served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Eastern States Mission from 1948 to 1950. He married Helen Ruth Sorenson on August 27, 1952, in the Salt Lake Temple. They later had seven children. Robinson earned both his bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Utah, in 1948 and 1952, respectively. After receiving a doctorate from the Case Institute of Technology in 1956, Robinson was hired as a professor of mathematics at Brigham Young University, where he stayed for 43 years. Robinson remained active in the Latter-day Saint faith, serving as a bishopric counselor, a bishop, a stake missionary, temple ordinance worker, and on three high councils.

Robinson passed away on November 10, 2014, at his home in Utah.

Extent

2 boxes (1 linear ft.)

3 cartons (3 linear ft.)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Custodial History

Donated by Donald Robinson in 2004 and 2015.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Donated; Donald Wilford Robinson; 2004. Donated; Donald Wilford Robinson; 2015.

Appraisal

LDS cultural, social, and religious history (Collection development policy for 20th Century Western and Mormon Manuscripts, August 2007).

Processing Information

Processed; Karen Glenn, student manuscript processor, and John M. Murphy, curator; 2009. Processed; Caitlyn Towne, student manuscript processor, and John M. Murphy, curator; 2017.