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Maud May Babcock photograph collection

 Collection
Identifier: P0083

Scope and Contents

The photographs of Maud May Babcock document her long life and career as a teacher, actress, and figure in early Utah history, especially in the area of women's issues. Included are portraits of Maud May Babcock, family photographs including daguerreotypes and tintypes, photos of plays she was in or directed, cruises and other travel, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, various L.D.S. historical sites, and physical culture classes.

Dates

  • 1852-1949

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 / Historical

Maud May Babcock (May 2, 1867 – December 31, 1954) was born in East Worcester, New York to William Wayne Babcock and Sarah Jane Butler. She was educated in the public schools of Binghamton, New York then received a Bachelor of Arts from Wells College in New York and a Bachelor of Education from the National School of Elocution and Oratory in Philadelphia. In 1890, she graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts with a diploma.



While studying and teaching at Harvard University, Babcock taught Susa Young Gates, daughter of Brigham Young. Gates convinced her to move to Salt Lake City where Babcock became a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and became the first female member of the University of Utah's faculty. Babcock founded two departments, the Department of Speech and the Department of Physical Education. She taught in both departments, and became the first female chair of a department at the University of Utah. She worked at the University for 47 years. Babcock loved physical activity, and she made valuable contributions to the Deseret Gym. She also established University of Utah's first physical training curriculum, which for several years included speech and dramatics. She established the University Theater, originated the first college dramatic club in the United States, led the production of the first university stage play, directed over 300 plays and taught.

She wrote five books on speech and elocution and was a renowned traveler and lecturer in the region. In addition to her professional interests in drama and elocution, she also favored women's suffrage and opposed corsets.



She served as president of the National Association of Teachers of Speech, and was a trustee for the Utah State School for Deaf and Blind for 20 years. In 1907, she was elected to be president of the board of trustees for the school. Along with all of her work in physical education and theater, Babcock was the first woman to serve as chaplain in the Utah senate, becoming the first woman chaplain in any state senate in the United States.

Extent

9.2 Linear Feet (13 archives boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

The Maud May Babcock photograph collection contains portraits of Maud May Babcock, family photographs including daguerreotypes and tintypes, photos of plays she was in or directed, cruises and other travel, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, various L.D.S. historical sites, and physical culture classes.

Arrangement

Collection is arranged topcially. Includes one Addendum.

Separated Materials

Audio-visual materials were transferred to the Maud May Babcock audio-visual collection (A0083).

Manuscript materials were transferred to the Maud May Babcock papers (MS 0083).

Processing Information

Processed by Mark Evans in 1987 and by Ashley Arave in 2003.
Title
Guide to the Maud May Babcock photograph collection
Author
Finding aid prepared by Mark Evans.
Date
1987
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid written in English.

Revision Statements

  • 2016: Finding aid revised and re-encoded by Margaret Benson.
  • 2019: Finding aid revised and re-encoded using Adobe Dreamweaver by Sara Davis.

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