Documents, 1917-1972

File — Box: 58, Folder: 4-5

Identifier: IV

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

From the Sub-Series: Grant Groesbeck Cannon was the third child of Joseph J. Cannon and Florence Groesbeck Cannon. He was born in 1911 in Salt Lake City, Utah. The early correspondence in this folder is between Grant and his father during his father's extensive business trips. These letters offer Grant advice about school and his relationships with his family. In one letter, Joseph J. Cannon even tells Grant that if he can play five songs on the piano by the time he comes home, Grant will get ten dollars. Grant attended the University of Utah and studied anthropology. In 1934, Grant worked as an archaeologist in Zions National Park. After working in Zions, Grant moves to Berkley, California in search of work. Numerous letters from this period mention the Depression and its effects on finding a job. From 1937-1942, Grant worked as a field examiner for the National Labor Relations Board in St, Louis, Missouri. During this time, Grant was sent a letter from J. Edgar Hoover that questions his anthropological work, suggesting that he has "radical tendencies leading towards Communism". Grant writes home that government spies were spying on the National Labor Relations Board. In this same letter, Grant writes that he is sending his father boxes of mail and other documents to protect him further interrogations. From 1941-1942, there are several letters discussing the high probability that Grant will be drafted. Grant joins the army and from 1942-1946, he was apart of the US Air Force Intelligence Division. After the war, Grant writes and edits for Farm Quarterly for 22 years. Folders four and five contain many of the articles Grant wrote for Farm Quarterly.

In 1942, Grant married Pulitzer Prize winning author, Josephine Johnson. Folders four and five have several documents about Josephine's 1935 Pulitzer Prize winning book, Now in November, her 1963 book, The Dark Traveler, and other aspects of her writing career. During their marriage, Josephine and Grant were active Quakers. They had two children, Jane Ann Cannon and Terry Cannon. Grant died of cancer in 1969. Josephine continued corresponding with the Cannon family after Grant's death. Many of the folders contain materials pertaining to Josephine's life and career after 1969.

Dates

1917-1972

Conditions Governing Access

Twenty-four hour advanced notice encouraged. Materials must be used on-site. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.