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Myrtle K. Aiu personal history

 Collection — Folder: 1
Identifier: MSS SC 1102

Scope and Contents

Contains a 10-page typed autobiography of Myrtle K. Aiu detailing her conversion to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and some of her memorable spiritual experiences, including a trip to Hong Kong in 1969. Includes a typed postscript and envelope. Myrtle refers to this work as her "personal history." Materials dated 1978.

Dates

  • 1978

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 use material from this collection must be obtained from the Reference Services at specialcollections@byu.edu.

Biographical / Historical

Myrtle Ngit Ung Kwock Aiu was born on October 12, 1916, in Honolulu, Hawaii, the first of eight children of Chinese parents Chong Kai Kwock and Alice Lo Chee Chang. Her birth name was Ngit Ung, but one of the nurses suggested they call her Myrtle to make it easier for English-speakers. At age two, the family moved to Hanapepe, Kauai, where Myrtle attended the Eleele Grammar School through the eighth grade; at this point, she decided to stay home to help out in the family's dry goods store, while teaching herself to type.

On June 28, 1937, she married William Aiu in the Lihue Union Church. The couple welcomed twin girls, Jean Kalei and Joan Kulei, on May 3, 1941. In 1947, Myrtle bought her first Bible and began began a search for a church to join. Within a few months, a senior missionary couple from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints came to Myrtle's door and introduced her to their church. Myrtle was baptized on March 25, 1948, at Kapaa Beach by Elder Oather Roper. Her daughter Jean was baptized on April 6, 1956.

Myrtle served in many Latter-day Saint church callings through the years, including Primary president, Sunday School and Young Women's teachers, Relief Society president, and Stake Relief Society counselor. She also ran a two-room motel connected to her home for 14 years, from 1961 to 1975, and volunteered extensively in the community (making flower arrangements for the library, working in the museum, helping with cancer and medical testing drives, sewing cushions for a community foster home, fundraisers, office work, etc.)

Myrtle died on November 25, 2010, in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Extent

1 folder (0.08 linear ft.)

Language of Materials

English

Custodial History

Materials were created by Myrtle K. Aiu and donated to the BYU Library in March 1978.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Donated; Myrtle K. Aiu; March 1978.

Appraisal

LDS, Utah, and Western American women (Section II.B.5.V, 20th Century Mormon and Western Manuscripts Collection Development policy).

Processing Information

Processed; Amanda Crandall; 2023.

Title
Register of Myrtle K. Aiu personal history
Status
In Progress
Author
Amanda Crandall, manuscripts specialist
Date
2023 August 17
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

Contact:
1130 HBLL
Brigham Young University
Provo Utah 84602 United States