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D.H. Christensen papers

 Collection
Identifier: MS 0627

Scope and Contents

The D. H. Christensen papers (1853-1956) consist of papers and other materials that document the activities of D. H. Christensen. Box 1 contains personal and family materials, including biographical sketches of family members, family correspondence, mission journals, and personal the correspondence and writings of Christensen. Box 2 contains materials relating to Christensen's service as superintendent of Salt Lake City Schools 1901 through 1916. papers in this box consist almost entirely of correspondence, most of which relates to a survey of Salt Lake City schools that was completed in 1915. Box 3 contains business and political papers, including materials from Christensen Construction Company and from Christensen's 1936 candidacy for Governor of Utah. Of particular interest is a folder of correspondence between Christensen and Upton Sinclair. Box 4 holds items regarding a wide variety of subjects including personal and family matters, political interests, and educational involvements. Materials include a mission journal, a news clipping scrapbook, and correspondence regarding Christensen's involvements with the University of Utah and with local and national politics.

Dates

  • 1853-1956

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

David Henry Christensen (1869-1956) was born in Manti, Utah. He attended the Presbyterian Mission School at Manti for five years. In 1881, his family moved to Ephraim, Colorado, and Christensen traveled most of the distance on horseback, driving a herd of cattle. In 1887, Christensen returned to Utah to enter the University of Deseret. He graduated from the Normal Course in 1890, and was elected principal of Payson Schools, where he served until 1897. In 1893 he was also appointed Superintendent of Utah County Schools. In 1894 he married Catherine Dean, a Salt Lake City teacher and former Salt Lake County principal. In 1897, Christensen resigned from all of his education positions including his position on the first State Board of Education, in order to serve a mission of president of the Berlin conference of the German mission, a position he held for two years. During his third year in Germany, he was transferred to the presidency of the Frankfurt conference. After his release, Christensen spent one year studying at the University of Goettingen, Germany. In 1901, Christensen returned to the United States with the intent of entering a Ph.D. program at the University of Chicago. Prior to starting at Chicago, he received an offer from the Board of Education of Salt Lake City for the job of superintendent of Salt Lake City Schools. Christensen accepted the appointment, and served in that capacity for fifteen years. In 1916, following his resignation from the Salt Lake City schools, Christensen pursued business interests as president of Christensen Construction Company. During his lifetime he held several positions in the community, including member of the Board of Regents of the University of Utah. He received an honorary Ph.D. from the University of Utah, and was active in local and national politics and local education until his death in 1956.

Extent

6.5 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

The D. H. Christensen papers (1853-1956) consist of correspondence, family materials, mission journals, essays, news clippings, articles, and scrapbooks. David Henry Christensen (1869-1956) was an educator in Utah, a superintendent of Salt Lake City Schools, he served on the Board of Regents, was the president of Christensen Construction Company, and went on a mission and became a mission president for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS Church).

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Dean K. Christensen and Kathleen C. Hall in 1991.

Separated Materials

Photographs were transferred to the Multimedia Section of the Manuscripts Division (P0369).

Processing Information

Processed by Christie Pugh in 1994.
Title
Inventory of the D. H. Christensen papers
Author
Finding aid created by Christie Pugh.
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