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Malcolm O. Sillars photograph collection

 Collection
Identifier: P1242

Scope and Contents

The Malcolm O. Sillars photograph collection 48 black-and-white and color photographs and negatives. The collection primarily contains images relating to Sillars' research into the history of American speeches and public addresses and public signs and road signs in the United States between approximately 1980 and 2000. The collection also contains 17 color photographs sent to Sillars by S.J. Sackett of a production of a play in Hays, Kansas around 1975.

Dates

  • 1970-1999

Creator

Language of Materials

Collection materials are in English.

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

It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances.

Permission to publish material from the Malcolm O. Sillars photograph collection must be obtained from the Special Collections Manuscript Curator.

Biographical Note

Malcolm Osgood Sillars (1928-2018) was born February 12, 1928 in Union City, New Jersey, to Malcolm Sr. and Dorothy Edna Sillars. The family moved to Los Angeles, California, where Malcolm was primarily raised. Sillars married Charlotte Jane Grimm in June 1948; together, the couple had three children. He received his B.A. in 1948 and his M.A. in 1949 from the University of Redlands. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Iowa in 1955.

Between 1954 and 1974, Sillars taught at Iowa State University, California State University in both Los Angles and Northridge, and the University of Massachusetts. Between 1969 and 1970, Sillars left a sabbatical to serve as acting president of Valley State after three presidents resigned in response to anti-war and civil rights protests among the students. Starting in 1974, Sillars accepted a position teaching at the University of Utah. While at the University of Utah, he was the Dean of the College of Humanities (1974-1981) and Chair of the Department of Communication (1986-1989).

Sillars received numerous special academic positions and awards over the course of his career, including: Distinguished Service Award from the American Forensic Association (1985, Winans-Sichelns Award for The Rhetoric of Protest and Reform (1981), and the Distinguished Scholar Award (2005). He also held many other professional activities such as Chairman of the Awards Committee and Speech Communication Association (1972), Chairman of the President's Task Force on Libraries at the University of Utah, and Chairman of the Search Committee for Library Director at the University of Utah. He served as editor-in-chief of the Quarterly Journal of Speech and authored or co-authored numerous books and articles on public speaking and rhetoric. Sillars died on November 12, 2018.

Extent

1 Box

Abstract

Malcolm Osgood Sillars (1928-2018) was a professor of communication and administrator at the University of Utah. The Malcolm O. Sillars photograph collection contains photographs related to Sillars' research into public speech and signs, as well as photographs of a play from about 1975.

Arrangement

Arranged by subject

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Donated by Malcolm O. Sillars in 2006.

Separated Materials

See also the Malcolm O. Sillars papers (ACCN 1997) in the Manuscripts Division of Special Collections.

Processing Information

Processed by Special Collections staff.
Title
Guide to the Malcolm O. Sillars photograph collection, 1970-1999
Author
Finding aid created by Claire A. Kempa
Date
2022
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid encoded in English in Latin script.

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