Maud May Babcock papers

Collection

Identifier: MS 0083

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Maud May Babcock papers (1885-1981) contain materials dealing with the personal life and professional activities of Maud May Babcock (1867-1954). Materials related mainly to her personal life are: a book, Babcock Genealogy; Valentine and Christmas cards; news clippings; and a contract for building her residence. Most of the correspondence is from family members and deals with personal matters, but also included are letters of introduction and commissions related to her professional affairs. Some of the personal correspondence touches on professional topics, particularly her Utah School of Physical Culture and Elocution. Materials related to her role as founder and head of the University of Utah Speech Department and to her involvement with theater include: class registers, scrapbooks, professional expense accounts, plays, poetry and recitations, programs, and honors and awards. Babcock was an author as well as an educator. This aspect is represented by two books on interpretation of the printed page and the manuscript of a third which she co-authored. The tours of the Orient she conducted are represented by travel brochures and news clippings note her service as a member of the State Senate and Trustee of the Utah School for the Deaf and Blind. Other materials in the collection include miscellaneous correspondence, biographies, theater programs, lists of plays, and scrapbooks. Also included is a copy of her final address before the Speech Association of America and various memorabilia items.

Dates

1885-1981

Creator

Babcock, Maud May, 1867-1954 (Person)

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

Born in East Worchester, New York, on 2 May 1867, Maud May Babcock (1867-1954) was graduated from the National School of Oratory of Philadelphia and the Lyceum School of Acting, now the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City. She also studied at Chicago University and for two years, in London and Paris. She received a B.A. degree from Wells College in New York. Babcock was an instructor for three summer sessions at Harvard University and taught at Engleside School for Girls in the Berkshires, Rutgers College, and in the public schools of New York before coming to the University of Utah.

She came to Salt Lake City in 1892 as a professor of oratory and speech at the old Social Hall. On the occasion of her birthday in 1947, she said that Mrs. Susa Young Gates, a daughter of Brigham Young, was responsible for her coming West. Mrs. Gates was in one of her Harvard summer classes. Babcock organized the physical culture and speech departments at the University and trained thousands of students, some of whom went on to make names for themselves on the legitimate stage, in movies, and in radio. She wrote numerous books relating to the fields of speech and elocution, including Handbook for Teachers of Interpretation, Interpretive Selections for High Schools, and Interpretive Selections for College.

She was former president of the national Association fo the Teachers of Speech, served on the board of Utah School for the Deaf and Blind for twenty years and later in life was made an honorary member of the National League of American Pen Women. She was chaplain of the Utah State Senate, probably the first woman in the country to hold such a position. Miss Babcock made a number of trips to East Asia, as well as to Europe, sometimes conducting parties of students. In 1938, after making a personal contribution for the aid of Chinese victims fo the Sino-Japanese war, she received a letter from Madame Chiang Kai-shek thanking her for her interest in the Chinese people.

Miss Babcock retired from the University of Utah in 1938. She was the pioneer of the college Little Theater movement and organized the first little theater west of the Mississippi. Maud May Babcock died on 31 December 1954 after a long illness. (This biography was taken from an article in the Utah Alumnus, May 1955.)

Extent

9.75 Linear Feet (10 boxes, 2 oversize boxes, and 3 oversize folders)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

The Maud May Babcock papers consists of personal and professional correspondence, biographical and genealogical material, class registers and teaching notebooks from the University of Utah, honors and tributes, books, speeches and articles by Miss Babcock, theater and speech programs, and travel memorabilia and photographs. Babcock was and actress and instructor in speech at the University of Utah.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Boxes 1-10 were donated in 1973 and 1981 (7 linear feet).

Box 11 was donated in 1990 (2.5 linear feet).

Box 12 was donated in 2005 (0.25 linear feet).

Related Materials

Forms part of the Aileen H. Clyde 20th Century Women's Legacy Archives.

Separated Materials

See also the Maud May Babcock photograph collection (P0883) and audio-visual materials (A0083) in the Multimedia Division of Special Collections.

Processing Information

Processed by Linda Herrick and Della Dye in 1977.

Processed by Lisa DeMille in 2005.

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