Baltzar Hans Jacobson papers

Collection

Identifier: ACCN 0716

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Collection contains materials related to the personal and professional activities of Baltzar Hans Jacobson, a Rhodes Scholar and professor at the L.D.S. College. Includes correspondence, souvenirs, academic papers, and memorabilia spanning Jacobson's undergraduate education at the University of Utah, his graduate education at Exeter College at Oxford University, and his teaching career. Correspondence is primarily between Jacobsen and his wife, Rebecca. The souvenirs include prints and publications from Jacobson's travels through Europe and Algeria. Academic materials include Jacobson's written assignments which he completed for his coursework in foreign languages, as well as lecture notes and a yearbook from the L.D.S. College. Memorabilia includes a dish set and his cap and gown from Oxford University.

Materials also include the papers of Sarah Rebecca Stay Jacobson, which includes correspondence, biographical materials, and legal documents related to her life.

Dates

1883-1996

Creator

Jacobson, Baltzar Hans, 1879-1930 (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 Note

Baltzar Hans (B.H.) Jacobson (1879-1930) was born as Philo John Smith in Harrisville, Wisconsin on 17 December 1879. When his mother died in 1884, young Baltzar was sent to live with his grandparents, who changed his name. The family eventually settled on a small farm in Millcreek, Utah. Until the age of 13 when he first entered public school, B.H. was educated at home in Danish, his first language. He entered the University of Utah, Normal School in 1894 and graduated in 1897. From this point until recieving his B.A. in 1901, he studied intermittently while working as a teacher and administrator in the towns of Woodruff and Snowflake, Arizona. After his graduation, he proceeded to teach an additional two years in Moab, Utah before returning once more the the University of Utah to prepare for Rhodes Scholar candidacy.

In 1904, he became the first Rhodes Scholar from Utah and studied foreign languages at Oxford University from 1904-1907. Upon graduating, he returned to Utah and married Sarah Rebecca Stay on 28 November 1907. He was a Seventy and an active participant in the teacher training program in his Latter-day Saint congregation. He taught foreign language classes and religion classes at the L.D.S. College from 1907 to 1930. Jacobson was a prolific language learner, and when he died on 17 October 1930, he spoke sixteen languages fluently.

Extent

11.5 Linear Feet (14 Boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

The Baltzar Hans Jacobson papers (1883-1996) contain correspondence, journals, clippings and a substantial scrapbook documenting his life as student, educator and father. The collection also includes a small selection of documents of his wife, Sarah Rebecca Stay Jacobson.