Roy Gibson papers
Collection
Identifier: ACCN 1132
Scope and Contents
The bulk of the collection consists of Gibson's personal research files of clippings and articles on state and national issues. Included are speeches as well as instructional materials used in the teaching of journalism at the University of Utah. Although newspaper and magazine articles constitute the larger part of section one, also to be found are booklets and pamphlets, studies and surveys, and news reports.
Dates
- 1960-1989
Creator
- Gibson, Roy, 1924-1989 (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
Roy B. Gibson, who died at 65, was a media giant. A genuine pioneer in Utah television broadcasting, he joined the first TV station in the Mountain West when K6XIS went on the air in Salt Lake City in 1948. By 1949, when it became KDYL-TV, he was a free-lance commercial announcer displaying the hazards of live demonstrations of everything from sewing machines to kitchen blenders.
He became a full-time commercial announcer in 1954, By 1957, he was a full-time newsman, becoming one of Utah's first news anchors, reporting, writing and filming the stories himself. He was the news anchor of a historic Utah team that also included Paul James on sports and Bob Welti on weather. Welti and James eventually left to join competing Channel 5, but Gibson stayed to become Channel 4's news director. Once he said, "If we can keep looking for ways to adapt television to the way we live rather than letting it dictate the way we live, I think we can make it into a useful tool."
In 1972, he embarked on a teaching career at the University of Utah, where this year he was granted a full professorship in the department of communications. He excelled as a teacher, saying that his most valuable experiences came from being pushed beyond what he had thought he could do. He similarly tried to challenge his students, making so many corrections in red ink that their assignments were often returned looking as if they were "bathed in blood."
Initially, Gibson was headed for a career in drama and indeed received his degree in theater. Over the years, he performed in local dramas. But he was not unfulfilled. "I like teaching better than being an actor, which is a diversion, or a full-time newscaster, which is too confining."
He became a full-time commercial announcer in 1954, By 1957, he was a full-time newsman, becoming one of Utah's first news anchors, reporting, writing and filming the stories himself. He was the news anchor of a historic Utah team that also included Paul James on sports and Bob Welti on weather. Welti and James eventually left to join competing Channel 5, but Gibson stayed to become Channel 4's news director. Once he said, "If we can keep looking for ways to adapt television to the way we live rather than letting it dictate the way we live, I think we can make it into a useful tool."
In 1972, he embarked on a teaching career at the University of Utah, where this year he was granted a full professorship in the department of communications. He excelled as a teacher, saying that his most valuable experiences came from being pushed beyond what he had thought he could do. He similarly tried to challenge his students, making so many corrections in red ink that their assignments were often returned looking as if they were "bathed in blood."
Initially, Gibson was headed for a career in drama and indeed received his degree in theater. Over the years, he performed in local dramas. But he was not unfulfilled. "I like teaching better than being an actor, which is a diversion, or a full-time newscaster, which is too confining."
Extent
26 Linear Feet
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The Roy Gibson papers (1960-1989) contain speeches, class materials, subject files, articles, and published items. Gibson was a professor of journalism at the University of Utah.
Arrangement
Organized in three series: I. General, arranged alphabetically; II. Speeches and commentary; III. Classroom Materials and Periodicals.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donated by Robert Gibson in 1989.
Separated Materials
Photographs (P0358) and audio-visual materials (A0369) were transferred to the Multimedia Division of Special Collections.
Processing Information
Processed by Ian Craig Breaden in 1990.
Click here to read a statement on harmful language in library records.
Click here to read a statement on harmful language in library records.
Creator
- Gibson, Roy, 1924-1989 (Person)
- Title
- Inventory of the Roy Gibson papers
- Author
- Finding aid prepared by Ian Craig Breaden.
- Date
- 1990 (last modified: 2020)
- 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
special@library.utah.edu
295 South 1500 East
Salt Lake City Utah 84112 United States
801-581-8863
special@library.utah.edu