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Royal Lovell Garff photograph collection

 Collection
Identifier: P0829

Scope and Contents

The Royal Lovell Garff photograph collection contains 3 parts. The first, Box 1, contains personal photographs of Garff and his family members and images of Garff speaking at various events. The second, Box 2 and Box 3, contains photographs of Garff's travels, including his mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints among the Maori of New Zealand between 1922 and 1924. The third part, Box 4, contains oversized portraits of Garff and associates.

Dates

  • 1914-1996

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

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

Permission to publish material from the Royal Lovell Garff photograph collection must be obtained from the Special Collections Manuscript Curator.

Biographical Note

Royal Lovell Garff was born June 22, 1904 in Draper, Utah, to Royal Brigham and Rachel Day Garff. He was one of six children. Garff's paternal grandparents were from Denmark, while his maternal grandparents had immigrated from England. Both sets immigrated to the United States largely due to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). Garff grew up in a strong LDS family, and he served a two-year mission to New Zealand from 1922 to 1924. As an active member of the LDS Church, he served many positions of leadership, including member of the General Board of Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association (YMMIA), Sunday School Teacher, and as a member of a Bishopric.

Garff married Marba Stewart in the Salt Lake Temple on November 27, 1931. Stewart (1907-1947) was born in Nevada to cattle ranchers W. T. and Artimesia Seegmiller Stewart. She had filled a two-year mission for the LDS Church in the eastern United States. Royal and Marba had four children: Donna Rae, Joanne, Linda, and Dennis. From April of 1945, Stewart was under medical care in new treatments for cancer. She passed away on August 11, 1947 in the Adelphi Hospital in Brooklyn, New York.

On June 2, 1948, Garff married Maxine Rice in Salt Lake City, Utah. Rice grew up in Parker, Idaho, as one of five children to Chloe and Clem Rice. Rice had been married previously to Don Hall, who enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1941 and was posted in Victorville, California. He was then sent to Europe and was killed five months later. Rice then served an LDS mission in the East Central States: Kentucky, Virginia, Tennessee, and North Carolina. Rice and Garff were grandparents to seventeen grandchildren.

Garff earned his A.B. degree in Speech from the University of Utah in 1930. He pursued graduate studies at the School of Speech and Drama at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, where he studied under Ralph Dennis and Clarion Hardy. In 1932, Garff earned his Masters of Arts and in 1939, he earned his Doctorate of Philosophy in Speech. During his time at Northwestern University, he taught speech classes and was the director of retail training for the Montgomery Ward Company.

Garff was a board member of the American Cancer Society for twenty-five years and served with the National Foundation for two years as its president. He spoke at conventions and published articles to raise awareness of cancer. Garff was given an award of recognition from the March of Dimes, where he also served as president. He also served as Chairman of the Red Cross and assisted with the Utah Opera Company. Garff was also a committed teacher. He taught for thirty-two years as a member of the University of Utah faculty. In 1972, Garff earned the standing of Professor Emeritus. Royal Lovell Garff passed away in his home in Salt Lake City, Utah on On October 17, 1994.

Extent

443 Items (4 boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Royal Lovell Garff was a Utah speaker, author, businessman, and teacher. The Royal Lovell Garff photograph collection contains photographs of Garff's life, travels, mission, and events from 1914 to 1996.

Arrangement

Arranged by subject

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Donated by Maxine Garff in 2000.

Separated Materials

See also the Royal Lovell Garff papers (MS0682) in the Manuscripts Division of Special Collections.

Processing Information

Processed by Claire A. Kempa in 2021.
Title
Guide to the Royal Lovell Garff photograph collection
Author
Finding aid created by Claire A. Kempa.
Date
2021
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