Guide to the Douglas S. Wright Westminster College faculty member's sketchbooks and drawings

Douglas Stefan (Doug) Wright was born in Santa Monica, California on October 29, 1952. He received a B.A. from California State University, Fullerton in 1978, and an M.S. from University of Utah in 1994.

Having previously taught at the University of Utah and Salt Lake Community College, Doug Wright first arrived at Westminster College in Fall 1995 where he taught until his death in 2009. As an Honors professor he taught classes in the English, history, philosophy of science, eco art, and the arts in performance. He was also the founding director of Westminster's film studies program. His profound influence on his students was described as "legendary". He participated annually in the Honors student/faculty softball game, and gave drum lessons to an Honors student in exchange for help with his computer skills.

He was a volunteer coordinator for the Make-A-Wish foundation, a reader for the blind, and a hospice volunteer; he also volunteered at the local library and the Brolly Arts Association. Wright was active with the One Campaign, an international organization advocating against world poverty and hunger.

Continuing to teach at Westminster College in his final months, Doug Wright's friend Paul Babin (filmmaker) made a documentary (filmed July-September 2009) entitled The place beneath about Wright's struggles with lung cancer. The film became an advocacy piece during the Health Care Debate in 2009.

Doug Wright died at home on November 29, 2009 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Per his wishes, there was no funeral service, but he asked that his ashes be scattered in Mill Creek Canyon. In his lengthy Salt Lake Tribune obituary, Wright was described as a teacher, poet, musician, and artist.

Sources of information for this biographical note (viewed online September 30, 2014):

• Babin, Paul. LinkedIn webpage.
• Badenhausen, Richard. "Goodbye to a dear friend : Douglas Stefan Wright (1952-2009)", Honorable mention, Spring 2010 issue.
• Salt Lake Tribune obituary, published December 2, 2009.
• Thomas, Kaitlyn. "Faculty profile : Doug Wright", Honorable mention, Spring 2007.
• Westminster College faculty directory website.

This collection consists primarily of the sketchbooks (1972-2007 and undated) and single-sheet drawings (undated) created by Douglas S. Wright, a faculty member at Westminster College, Salt Lake City, Utah. A few of the sketchbooks are dated (1972-2007). Others have titles. The remainder are neither titled or dated. The books are bound or spiral-bound, and in a few cases are drawing paper flip-pads. The drawings they contain are predominantly artwork in the same genres as the loose drawings. However, there are occasional bits of poetry or text, many attributed to other authors/poets, and a few notes about upcoming meetings or student assignments. It would appear likely that Wright carried his current sketchbook with him during much of the day, as a creative outlet, and to record bits of poetry, thoughts, and reminders.

Multiple copies of 1 single-sheet item are filed in Box 7 at the end of the collection: a free-verse poem entitled "Olive tree" by Doug Wright at top of the sheet, with a 1-line chant at the bottom of the sheet entitled "The hymn" (first line: In anima et spiritu); Latin and English text. The theme of the poem and hymn are youth versus old age and corporal decay versus spiritual life and vitality.

Series 1. The drawings consist of gouaches and watercolors (13 sheets), ink and pencil drawings (45 sheets), and black and white transparencies (15 items in Box 1, Folders 1-3).

Series 2. Sketchbooks, 1972-2007 (6 items in Box 1, Folders 4-9)

Series 3. Sketchbooks by title, undated (8 items in Box 2, Folders 1-5 and Box 3, Folders 1-3).

Series 4. Sketchbooks untitled, undated (11 regular-sized items in Boxes 4-5; 9 over-sized rectangular items in Box 6; 6 over-sized square items in Box 7).

Restrictions on Access:

Open to public research.

Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.

Twenty-four hours advance notice is encouraged.

Restrictions on Use:

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

Permission to publish material must be obtained from the director of the Giovale Library.

Preferred Citation:

Douglas S. Wright Westminster College faculty member's sketchbooks and drawings, 1972-2007, ACC-186, Giovale Library Archives, Westminster College, Salt Lake City, Utah.

Arrangement:

Arranged in four series:

• Series 1. Drawings, undated
• Series 2. Sketchbooks, 1972-2007
• Series 3. Sketchbooks by title, undated
• Series 4. Sketchbooks untitled, undated

Processing Note:

Processed 2009 by Giovale Library staff.

Creator:

Wright, Douglas S. (Douglas Stefan), 1952-2009

Language:

Collection materials are in English.

Quantity:

2.0 linear feet

Language of the Finding Aid:

English.

Author of the Finding Aid:

Finding aid written September 2014 by Sarah Shaw.

EAD Creation Date:

2014 September 23 by Sarah Shaw

Standard:

Describing Archives : A Content Standard (DACS)

Subarea:

Related Material:

Related photograph in Salt Lake Tribune archives (courtesy of Westminster College):

• Photograph of Doug Wright

Corporate Names:

Westminster College of Salt Lake City--Faculty
Westminster College (Salt Lake City, Utah : 1998- )--Faculty

Subject Terms:

College professors--Utah--Salt Lake City--Archives
Cancer in art
Cancer in literature

Form or Genre Terms:

Drawings (visual works)
Gouaches (paintings)
Prose poems
Sketchbooks
Transparencies
Watercolors (paintings)

Personal Names:

Wright, Doug (Douglas Stefan), 1952-2009--Archives

Geographical Names:

Salt Lake City (Utah)--History--Sources