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Davis Bitton oral histories and autobiographies collection

 Collection
Identifier: MS 0039

Scope and Contents

The Davis Bitton oral histories and autobiographies collection (1966-2005) contains oral histories assigned to the students from Bitton's 110 history class. The subjects are broad, ranging from family reminiscences of the late nineteenth century to the bombing of Manchester, England, in World War II in box 1. Interviews that include Depression experiences in the West as well as several University of Utah provessors discussing their respective departments are included in box 2. Issues such as the advent of the council form of government in Salt Lake City to a woman who speaks of her near-death experience are in box 3. Box 4 contains interviews that run the gamut of private detective work, to war experiences, to raising a child with AIDS. Box 5 contains a bound collection of student autobiographies as well as family histories. Each history is identified with a brief summary of the content of the interview. If a collection is identified as "Life Experiences," that is because the subject is not concentrating on one event, but is giving a broad painting of life. Essentially, the collection is a microcosim of life in Utah, over almost 100 years. Examples of virtually every walk of life have been included and each box in arranged alphabetically and according to surname.

Dates

  • 1966-2005

Creator

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.

Conditions Governing Use

The library does not claim to control copyright for all materials in the collection. An individual depicted in a reproduction has privacy rights as outlined in Title 45 CFR, part 46 (Protection of Human Subjects). For further information, please review the J. Willard Marriott Library’s Use Agreement and Reproduction Request forms.

Biographical Sketch

Davis Bitton (b. 1930) taught history at the University of Utah from 1966 to 1995, the oral histories and autobiographies are the assignments turned in to him, by his students.

Extent

4.25 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

The Davis Bitton oral histories and autobiographies collection (1966-2005) contains transcripts of oral histories conducted as an assignment for History 110 at the University of Utah. The interviews cover a wide range of Utah history, politics, government, and every day life. Bitton taught history at the University of Utah from 1966 to 1995.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Boxes 1-4 were donated in 1997-2001.

Box 5 was donated in 2005.

Processing Information

Processed by Elizabeth Rogers in 2002 and Lindsey Moore in 2006.
Title
Inventory of the Davis Bitton oral histories and autobiographies collection
Author
Finding aid created by Elizabeth Rogers and Lindsey Moore.
Date
2006 (last modified: 2019)
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid written in English.

Repository Details

Part of the J. Willard Marriott Library Special Collections Repository

Contact:
295 South 1500 East
Salt Lake City Utah 84112 United States
801-581-8863