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Willard and Celia Luce magazines, 1929-2008

 Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 6784 Series 3

Scope and Contents note

Contains magazines that include the Luce's writings and photography.

Dates

  • 1929-2008

Creator

Conditions Governing Access note

Open for public research.

Conditions Governing Use note

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

Biographical History

From the Collection:

Willard Ray Luce, Jr. (1914-1990) was an educator, writer, and photographer.

Willard Ray Luce, Jr., educator, writer, and photographer, was born September 18, 1914, in Price, Utah. Willard was the son of Willard Ray Luce, Sr., and Rachel Olsen Luce. He married Celia Geneva Larsen on June 3, 1940, in Salt Lake City, Utah. Willard wrote numerous stories and articles that were published in various magazines and newspapers, as well as several text books. He was also a prolific photographer, illustrating many of his text books and magazine articles with his own photographs. His interest in education and nature photography combined when he wrote and illustrated fifteen film strips for children. He died October 7, 1990.

Biographical History

From the Collection:

Celia Geneva Larsen Luce (1914-2008) was an educator and writer.

Celia Geneva Larsen Luce was born December 3, 1914 in Provo, Utah. She was the daugher of Bent Franklin Larsen and Martha Geneva Day Larsen. She married Willard Ray Luce Jr., on June 3, 1940 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Willard and Celia were the parents of four children, Willard Ray Luce III, Ralph Luce, Loretta Luce Evans, and Eric Luce. Ralph and Eric died as babies. Celia earned a Normal Degree from BYU in 1936 and a BS in 1938. She taught elementary school in Bear River City, Utah from 1936-37. From 1938-40 she taught in Spring Lake, Utah. During World War II she taught in the Alpine School District. She returned in 1954 and taught until 1977. Celia's poems were published in "Voice of the Campus", the "Improvement Era", and "The Greek Letter". She wrote short spiritual thoughts that appeared in the "Relief Society Magazine" from 1954 through 1965. One of those thoughts was later published by the "Reader's Digest". Celia wrote a children's book on insect life named "Stranger than Fairies". It was illustrated with Willard's photographs and was serialized in the "Children's Friend" magazine in 1945. In addition she wrote other magazine articles, and she co-authored several children's books with her husband. She and Willard wrote two text books that were adopted by the Utah State Board of Education to teach Utah history and geography in the fourth grade. In later years, Celia wrote five family history biographies which she published herself. Celia was a member of the League of Utah Writers, and held several local offices. In 1978 Willard and Celia's book, William Henry Jackson: Pioneer Artist and Photographer, was awarded first prize for the best unpublished juvenile biography by the Utah Institute of Fine Arts. Celia died Jan 13, 2008, in Idaho Falls, Idaho.

Extent

3 cartons

Language of Materials

English