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Larsen, A. Dean, 1930-2002

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 1930 - 2002

Biography

A. Dean Larsen (1930-2002) was a library administrator in Utah.

Aral Dean Larsen was born August 23, 1930 in Vineyard, Utah. He was the third of five children born to Vera Alice Austin and Ariel Ellis Larsen. He attended Lincoln High School in Orem where he was a member of the debate team, associate editor of the yearbook, president of Future Farmers of America (FFA) and a student assistant for the school library. After graduating from high school, he entered Brigham Young University (BYU), focusing his study on history and geography. After serving as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints he returned to his studies at BYU and obtained student employment in the University Library. From that time on, books and the library became an integral part of his life. When he graduated from the university with a major in history, the Korean War was under way and he was drafted to serve in the army. After basic and specialized training, he was assigned to the Central Intelligence Corp in Stuttgart, Germany. This assignment and location provided extensive opportunities during weekends and short leaves to experience travel throughout Europe. This opportunity imbued him with a lasting appreciation for the arts, museums, libraries, book shops, rare book dealers, etc. Dean returned home from his tour of duty with the army in the fall of 1956 and was hired full-time at the BYU library with an agreement that he would be given summers off to pursue a Master of Library Science degree, at the University of Michigan. In 1958, he married Jean Maycock and they had four children. He completed his degree in August of 1960. The next year he was appointed Director for Collection Development, in which position he acted until his retirement in 1993. He fully retired in 1995. Dean was largely the architect for the Harold B. Lee Library's collection growth during the years from 1960 to 1990. Even when the library's holdings reached three million volumes, Dean could tell a book dealer if a title was in the library's holdings. His deep understanding of book culture was evident in his finding, networking, and negotiating with the leading book dealers and collectors of the day, both nationally and internationally. His devotion to his international contacts allowed Dean to acquire collections that would otherwise have been unattainable by the library. Due to his love of rare books, he also contributed significantly to the development of Brigham Young University's special collections. The A. Dean Larsen Book Collecting Conference was created to honor him and is held every year. He died on May 29, 2002.

Citation:
A. Dean Larsen Book Collecting Conference 2007 website, via WWW, May 4, 2011 (A. Dean Larsen; b. Aug. 23, 1930 in Vineyard, Utah; parents, Vera Alice Austin and Ariel Ellis Larsen; attended Lincoln High School in Orem; member of the debate team, associate editor of the year book, president of FFA and a student assistant for a very inadequate school library; studied history and geography at Brigham Young University; served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; obtained student employment in the University Library; drafted into the Korean War, assigned to the Central Intelligence Corps in Stuttgart, Germany; returned home from his tour of duty with the army in the fall of 1956; hired full-time at the BYU library; earned Masters of Library Science at the University of Michigan, 1960; married Jean Maycock in 1958; had four children; appointed Director for Collection Development, 1961-1993; retired in 1995; largely the architect for the Harold B. Lee Library's tremendous collection growth during the years from 1960 to 1990; the A. Dean Larsen Book Collecting Conference was created to honor him and is held every year; d. May 29, 2002)

Familysearch, via WWW, Nov. 26, 2014 (Aral Dean Larsen; b. Aug. 23, 1930 in Vineyard, Utah)

Found in 11 Collections and/or Records:

A. Dean Larsen collection of catalogs and book cards, approximately 1960-1990

 Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 5572 Series 4
Scope and Contents

Contains catalogs and book cards from booksellers that contain many title pages from books, and catalogs and book cards for both the development of collections and for collections that have been acquired by the Harold B. Lee Library.

Dates: approximately 1960-1990

An interview with Jean Larsen

 Item — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197239115600]
Identifier: MSS 9268
Scope and Contents

DVD of unedited footage in which Jean Larsen discusses her husband's work in Special Collections at Brigham Young University. Her husband is Dean Larsen, who became University Librarian in the Harold B. Lee Library on Brigham Young University campus and contributed significantly to the development of Brigham Young University's special collections. She tells stories having to do with her family and her husband's dealings with book dealers. Dated February 20, 2013.

Dates: 2013 February 20

Harold B. Lee Library administrative correspondence, 1960-1992

 Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 5572 Series 1
Scope and Contents

Contains correspondence concerning booksellers, library acquisitions, and other business by A. Dean Larsen in his professional capacity in the Harold B. Lee Library, 1960-1992.

Dates: 1960-1992

Harold B. Lee Library administrative records, 1961-1993

 Series
Identifier: UA 5572 Series 5
Scope and Contents

Contains auction and book fair records, business cards, collection and contest descriptions, correspondence, European travel records, faculty purchases, missing books records, personnel records, and tax evaluations records, that were created by A. Dean Larsen in his capacity as the Director of Collection Development as he was acquiring and developing the Harold B. Lee Library holdings, 1961-1993.

Dates: 1961-1993

Harold B. Lee Library administrative records

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 2207
Scope and Contents

Contains files dealing with collection acquisitions for Brigham Young University Special Collections. Contains records for collection development; integrated library system; Alice Louise Reynolds and other collections; different library departments' papers; library annual reports, 1955-1985; budgeting requests and records; insurance values reports; library policy and procedure manuals; and other miscellaneous papers.

Dates: approximately 1955-1993

Harold B. Lee Library records on booksellers, 1952-1998

 Series
Identifier: UA 5572 Series 2
Scope and Contents

Contains records of collections acquired for the Harold B. Lee library from booksellers.

Dates: 1952-1998

Harold B. Lee Library records on collection development

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 5572
Scope and Contents

Contains the professional correspondence and office files of A. Dean Larsen. The majority of the materials comes from his term as the Director for Collection Development at the Harold B. Lee Library. The collection includes bookseller records, BYU off-campus libraries records, catalogs and book cards, and administrative records for the Harold B. Lee Library, 1930-2002.

Dates: 1930-2002

Harold B. Lee Library records on off-campus libraries, 1960-1990

 Series
Identifier: UA 5572 Series 3
Scope and Contents

Contains records concerning the Jerusalem Center, Law Library, the Bean Museum, and the Tanner Library.

Dates: 1960-1990

Harold B. Lee Library retirement video recordings

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 1269
Scope and Contents

Contains two video recordings honoring retirees from the Harold B. Lee Library. The first video features A. Dean Larsen, Chad J. Flake, and Gloria D. Jenson. The second video features Sterling J. Albrecht.

Dates: 1992; 2002

A. Dean Larsen Yellowstone bibliography files

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 9397
Scope and Contents

Collection contains files and records used in the creation of the Yellowstone bibliography. Most of these files are citations and reference lists found by A. Dean Larsen during his research. Much of the research focused on the history of Yellowstone, its wildlife and forest preservation, and personal accounts of the park. Materials dated 1998 to 2005.

Dates: 1998-2005