Guide to the Emil Nyman Westminster College Library Archivist's subject files

Emil Nyman, 1892-1982: Emil Nyman was born May 17, 1892 in Ramsey, Montana to Charles Nyman and Emma Christina Nielson (Nilsdotter) Nyman. Nyman was graduated from the Salt Lake Collegiate Institute, a forerunner of Westminster College, and later from the University of Utah in 1914 with a degree in sociology and philosophy. He later received a master’s degree in psychology.

In 1917, he married Helen Van Pelt in Salt Lake City; she was the daughter of Henry V. Van Pelt, a trustee and treasurer of Westminster College from 1899-1936. The Nymans' son Van and daughter Marion were both graduated from Westminster Junior College in 1938. It was in this connection that Emil became acquainted with Westminster's President H.W. Reherd, and as a trustee of Third Presbyterian Church, with President Robert D. Steele. Nyman and Steele worked together in 1946 to consolidate Third Church and the Westminster Church on the west side to form the Wasatch Presbyterian Church.

Nyman taught various subjects for 14 years in Utah high schools; he was then elected an elementary school principal in the Salt Lake School System, a position he held for 23 years. In his final year as principal, he was President of the Utah Elementary School Principals Association. He was president and treasurer of the Utah Retired Teachers Association, president of the University of Utah Emeritus Club, and served on the Utah Mental Health Board and Services for the Aging.

After retiring as a high school principal in 1957, Emil Nyman first came to Westminster College as a part-time instructor in the Department of Education, under the administration of President Frank E. Duddy, Jr.

In 1969, Dr. Manford Shaw named Nyman Westminster College archivist, a position he held until his death in May, 1982. During the administrations of President Shaw and President Helmut Hofmann, Emil Nyman closed the monthly council meetings by reading a paragraph on college history or a bit of philosophy.

In 1973, Emil Nyman was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Humanities degree. As Westminster College's archivist, he wrote many college biographies, compiled in a scrapbook entitled "I remember" and a history of the college's first 100 years. The Salt Lake Tribune published a feature article on May 20, 1982, written just days before his death, stating he wasn't thinking of retirement soon from the college with which he had been associated since 1905, an association that earned him the nickname "Mr. Westminster".

Sources for Nyman biographical note:

• Ancestry.com website viewed August 29, 2012
• Nyman, Emil. "I remember" bound scrapbook, autobiography written by Emil Nyman (in Collection ACC-085B)
• Salt Lake Tribune article, May 20, 1982 by Anne Wilson entitled "'Mr. Westminster' enjoys 90th birthday".
• Salt Lake Tribune obituary, May 28, 1982.

This collection consists of materials dating 1970-1982 collected by Emil Nyman, College Archivist at Westminster College, Salt Lake City, Utah. The materials document general administrative activities at Westminster College and special events, such as correspondence from Obert C. Tanner donating funding for a fountain on campus, the dedication of the Freedom Shrine, and placement of the historical marker on the original site of the First Presbyterian Church (at Second South and Second East in front of the Mountain Bell building). The type of materials include correspondence, brochures, diagrams and drawings, flyers, memoranda, minutes, music, programs, reports, and speeches.

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:

Emil Nyman Westminster College Library Archivist's subject files, 1970-1982, ACC-085A, Giovale Library Archives, Westminster College, Salt Lake City, Utah.

Arrangement:

Arranged alphabetically by subject category.

Processing Note:

Minimally processed May 2007 by Patricia Lyn Scott.

Creator:

Nyman, Emil, 1892-1982

Language:

Collection materials are in English.

Quantity:

0.3 linear feet

Language of the Finding Aid:

English.

Author of the Finding Aid:

Finding aid written May 2007 by Patricia Lyn Scott; expanded with biographical note written September 2012 by Sarah J. Shaw.

EAD Creation Date:

2013 April 11 by Sarah Shaw

Standard:

Describing Archives : A Content Standard (DACS)

Subarea:

Related Material:

Related collections and photographs in Giovale Library Archives:

• Emil Nyman Westminster College Library Archivist's biographical files, 1909-1981 (ACC-057)
• Emil Nyman Westminster College Library Archivist's writings, circa 1965-1995 (ACC-085B)
• Emil Nyman Westminster College Library Archivist's 1915-1978 graduation cardfile, probably 1975-1978 (ACC-085C)
• Photograph of Westminster College Commencement, May 1979 (with Emil Nyman pictured)
• Photograph of First Presbyterian Church and Salt Lake Collegiate Institute
• Photograph of Helmut P. Hofmann
• Photograph of O.C. Tanner Fountain and Student Union Center Plaza

Related photographs from other institutions:

• Photograph of Obert C. Tanner, from the Utah State Historical Society Classified Photo Collection

Corporate Names:

Westminster College (Salt Lake City, Utah : 1902-1983)--Archives
Westminster College (Salt Lake City, Utah : 1902-1983)--History--Sources
Westminster College (Salt Lake City, Utah : 1902-1983)--Songs and music

Subject Terms:

Historical markers--Utah--Salt Lake City
Presbyterian Church buildings--Utah--Salt Lake City

Form or Genre Terms:

Brochures
Clippings (information artifacts)
Correspondence
Fliers (printed matter)
Memorandums
Plans (maps)
Publications
Schedules (time plans)
Songs (document genre)
Speeches

Personal Names:

Hofmann, Helmut P. (Helmut Phillip), 1926-
Nyman, Emil, 1892-1982--Archives
Reherd, Herbert Ware, 1869-1952
Steeples, Douglas W.
Tanner, Obert C. (Obert Clark), 1904-1993

Geographical Names:

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