Skip to main content

Franklin Stewart and Estelle Spilsbury Harris certificates, drawings, and pillow case, 1908-1983

 Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 1106 Series 7

Scope and Contents

Materials include certificates to Franklin S. and Estelle Harris, as well as drawings by Estelle Harris. Dated 1908-1983.

Dates

  • 1908-1983

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 the Janet Jenson collection on Franklin Stewart Harris must be obtained from the Supervisor of Reference Services and/or the L. Tom Perry Special Collections Board of Curators.

Biographical History

Estelle Spilsbury Ellis (1884-1973) was the wife of Franklin S. Harris, and served as First Lady of Brigham Young University while her husband acted as president.

"Frankie" Estelle Spilsbury Ellis was born in Toquerville, Utah on February 17, 1884 to George Moroni and Roselia Haight Spilsbury. She grew up on a pioneer ranch with eleven siblings, participating in family chores and activities each day. She began school in Toquerville and was allowed to live with her sister in Sandy, Utah to attend seventh grade. She graduated as valedictorian of her eighth grade class.

After graduating from primary school, she attended Branch Normal School in Cedar City, which is now the Colege of Southern Utah. After recovering from typhoid fever and the death of two siblings from the same disease, she began attending Brigham Young University. She graduated in 1907 with a Kindergarten Normal Diploma, and began teaching in Price, Utah.

On June 18, 1908, she married Franklin Stewart Harris in the Salt Lake Temple. They had six children, two sons and four daughters. Each child graduated from Brigham Young University.

Ellis was highly involved in academics throughout her life, along with traveling with her husband for his work and supporting her children in their education. From 1921-1945, she helped alongside her husband in his duties as president of Brigham Young University.

Ellis was president of the Utah State University Faculty Women’s League, Brigham Young University Faculty Women, A.C. Woman’s Club, and the A.L.R. Friendly Circle. She was a member of Cleofan, Bryan S. Hinckley History Group. In addition, she had a number of Church callings, including serving as a member of the Stake Board of Relief Society and the Young Women's Mutual Improvement Association. She served as an officer in the Primary and the Relief Society.

She died on December 2, 1973 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Extent

1 box

Language of Materials

English

Other Finding Aids

A more detailed finding aid may be found in the repository.

Other Finding Aids

File-level inventory available online. http://files.lib.byu.edu/ead/XML/UA1106.xml

Repository Details

Part of the L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives Repository

Contact:
1130 HBLL
Brigham Young University
Provo UT 84602 US