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Douglas O. Woodruff photograph collection

 Collection
Identifier: P2136

Scope and Contents

The Douglas O. Woodruff photograph collection consists of 2 boxes containing 619 black-and-white and color photograph prints depicting Woodruff's career at the University of Utah and his involvement in various groups and committees; meetings with politicians; and events. The collection includes some photographs of members of the Woodruff family and their friends, as well as images related to Woodruff's membership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. The collection dates from approximately 1923 to 1970.

Dates

  • 1923-1977

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 Douglas O. Woodruff photograph collection must be obtained from the Special Collections Manuscript Curator.

Biographical Note

Douglas Owen Woodruff was born in Salt Lake City, Utah on July 10, 1895 to Naomi Abbott Butterworth and Asahel Hart Woodruff. He was the grandson of Wilford Woodruff, the fourth president of the Church of Christ of Latter-day Saints. Graduating from Granite High School in 1916, Douglas commenced his undergraduate studies that fall at the Agricultural College of Utah. The following year he embarked on a three-year mission to the Northern States Mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. After completing his mission, Woodruff entered the University of Utah, where he majored in business administration and received a B.S. degree in 1922. On September 6, 1923, Douglas Woodruff married Alta Olivia Crawford (1895-1986); together, they had three children.

From the mid-1920s and through the mid-1930s, Douglas was involved in a variety of business ventures, including a land and livestock partnership and a popcorn confection company. The bulk of his professional career was centered upon his employment at the University of Utah where, between 1931 and 1964, Woodruff managed the U of U's student union. While at the University of Utah, Douglas served as the executive director of the alumni's development fund and acted as the managing director of the publication Utah Alumnus.

Woodruff joined several professional, sport, and social organizations, the most prominent of which were the Association of College Unions, the American Alumni Council (AAC), the United States Figure Skating Association, and the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP). Woodruff served a committee and board member and as an officer in all these groups. He was president of the Association of College Unions (1947-1948), the Utah Figure Skating Club (1950-1958), the Salt Lake City chapter of the AARP (1964-1966), and the American Association of Retired Persons (1974-1976). As an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Woodruff was a member of Salt Lake City's Ensign Third ward, held the position of stake superintendent in charge of the Sunday School program from the mid-1930s through the mid-1960s, and served as a member of the 316th Quorum of the Seventies. Douglas O. Woodruff died on May 14, 1989.

Extent

619 Items (2 boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Douglas O. Woodruff (1895-1989) worked for the University of Utah from 1931 to 1964, managing the student union, serving as executive director of the alumni development fund, and directing the the publication Utah Alumnus. He also served as board member of officer of numerous groups, including: the Association of College Unions, the American Association of Retired Persons, and the American Alumni Council. This collection contains photographps of Woodruff's career, including photographs of the University of Utah campus, and photographs of politicians and events.

Arrangement

Arranged by subject

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Purchased from Benchmark Books in 2017.

Separated Materials

See also the Douglas O. Woodruff papers (ACCN 2982) in the Manuscripts Division of Special Collections.

Processing Information

Processed by Special Collections staff.
Title
Guide to the Douglas O. Woodruff photograph collection
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 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