364 black & white and color photographs that
document the lives of Culmsee and his wife Edna Ball Culmsee from adolescence to old
age. Included are photographs of both the Ball and Culmsee families, the Brigham Young
University Campus, camping images, photos of missionaries from the Northern States
Mission, and a few snapshots of Utah State University. Additionally, there are subject
file photographs Culmsee collected for various articles, particularly on mining and the
Walker War.
Repository:
Utah State University. Special Collections and Archives Photograph Collection
Merrill-Cazier Library Utah State University 3000 Old Main Hill Logan, UT 84322-3000 Phone: 435 797-2663 Fax: 435 797-2880 Email: scweb@usu.edu
Languages:
Collection materials are in English.
Sponsor:
Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant,
2007-2008
Biographical Note
Carlton Fordis Culmsee was born in Iowa September 18, 1904 to Dr. Ludwing Alfred Culmsee
and Clara Belia Hansen Culmsee. After graduating from high school in Cedar City, Utah in
1922, he taught for three years in various one-room schools. He graduated as
valedictorian with a double major in Geology and English from Brigham Young University
on June 5, 1932. Edna Ball (the valedictorian two years previous) became his wife the
same day. Culmsee taught journalism and was the secretary of the extension division at
BYU after his graduation. He received his M.A. in English in 1936 from BYU, and his PhD
from the University of Iowa in American Civilization. Upon returning to BYU, Culmsee
became the head of the Journalism department and the Director of the Extension Division.
During WWII Culmsee served as an officer in the U.S. Navy, advancing to the rank of
Lieutenant Commander before he was honorably discharged in 1945. Upon his return he was
appointed Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences (known later as the College of
Humanities and Arts) and a professor of American Civilization at Utah State University.
He served on many committees and held a myriad of offices including two terms as
president of the League of Utah Writers and one term as president of the Utah Academy of
Sciences, Arts, and Letters. He was chairman of the Land-Grant University Centennial-USU
Diamond Jubilee, chairman of the Campus Planning committee, director of Publications,
and supervisor of the USU News Bureau. In 1955 he and his wife were invited to Taiwan to
reestablish the National Chengchi University. In 1970, after serving as Dean for 25
years, Carlton Culmsee retired. That same year he was awarded the USU Distinguished
Service Award. In 1971, he and Edna were elected to the Old Main Society. He taught
part-time for five years after retiring as dean, and in 1975 Carlton Culmsee retired
completely and received Emeritus status. On July 11, 1976, Edna Ball Culmsee died of a
heart attack. On February 24, 1978, Carlton Culmsee married Aileen Swift Barker (born in
Wellsville, Utah, August 25, 1910). Aileen and Carlton were married for fifteen years
until his death in May of 1993.
Content Description
The Carleton Culmsee Photograph Collection consists of 364 photographs that document the
lives of Culmsee and his wife Edna Ball Culmsee from adolescense to old age. Included
are photographs of both the Ball and Culmsee families, the Brigham Young University
Campus, camping images, photos of missionaries from the Northern States Mission, and a
few snapshots of Utah State University. Additionally, there are subject file photographs
Culmsee collected for various articles, particularly on mining and the Walker War.
Use of the Collection
Restrictions on Access : Restrictions
Open to public research. Nitrate negatives have been removed from
this collection and placed in Cold Storage Box 5. Patrons must request to view
these negatives 3 hours in advance.
Restrictions on Use : Copyright
It is the responsibility of the user to obtain permission to publish from the owner of
the copyright (the institution, the creator of the record, the author or his/her
transferees, heirs, legates, or literary executors). The user agrees to indemnify and
hold harmless the Utah State University Libraries, its officers, employees, and agents
from and against all claims made by any person asserting that he or she is an owner of
copyright.
Permission to publish material from the Carlton Fordis Culmsee photograph collection must
be obtained from the Special Collections Photograph Curator and/or the Special Collections
Department Head.
1:06:01: Plaque commemorating John Gutzon de la Mothe Borglum (1867-1941), painter and sculptor of Mt. Rushmore, born in St. Charles, Idaho; church appears in background
1:10:09: Group photo w/Elder Frank Ojurka at the center front and Leo O. Hanson second from right on front row
1:10:10: Elder Leo. O. Hanson
September 22, 1917
1:10:11: Elder Leo O. Hanson
ca. 1917
1:10:12: LaVerne Larsen
November 30, 1916
1:10:13: Elder Frank Ojurka
September 16, 1916
1:10:14: Margaret Meldrum
ca. 1915
1:10:15: Elder Cleon B. Stott
October 13, 1918
1:10:16: Group mission picture, Top Row; Earl Cluff, Arthur E. Kesler, unknown, John H. Fronk, unknown. Middle Row; 3 unknown, Margaret Meldrum, Olive Owen, unknown. Bottom Row; unknown, Lucy Baker, W. E. Reece, unknown, M. K. Hurd, Alta M. Craig, unkown
1:10:17: Katherine Wursten and Alecta Ottley
August 10, 1918
1:10:18: Alta M. Craig
December 4, 1915
1:10:19: William N. Blummel
May 5, 1917
1:10:20: Elder Irven Christensen
March, 21, 1920
1:10:21: Elder Earl Cluff
ca. 1916
1:10:22: Group photo of Young Ladies Mutual Improvement Association (YLMIA). Top Row; 2 unknown, F. Louise Capson, unknown, Mildred Baugh, unknown. Middle Row; Lucy Baker, 2 unknown, Margaret Meldrum, unknown. Bottom Row; Alta M. Craig, unknown, Belva Cox
1:10:23: Nellie Davies
March 16, 1919
1:10:24: A. Walters Bradshaw
December 23, 1922
1:10:25: O. Hendricks
August 21, 1917
1:10:26: Elder Moroni Larson
October 1918
1:10:27: Group Missionary photo. Top Row; M. K. Hurd, 2 unknown, Alta M. Craig, unknown, S. H. Zwahlen, 2 unknown. Bottom Row; 2 unknown, John H. Fronk, Margaret Meldrum, James M. Clarke, Arhur E. Kesler, Lawrence Barclay, unknown
ca. 1915
1:10:28: Elder Owen Rommy
1:10:29: Unknown woman
ca. 1914
1:10:30: Unknown woman
ca. 1920
1:10:31: Group photo, mission home? Top Row; Owen Rommy, unknown, Jessie Stowell, Herbert Halls, Elmer Packer. Middle Row; S. H. Zwahlen, Frank Ojurka, Emma Anderson, Lawrence Barclay, Margaret Meldrum, Samuel G. Clawson, James M. Clarke. Bottom Row; Alta M. Craig, David S. Welchman, 3 unknown, Fern Harrison
ca. 1915
1:10:32: Group photo. Top Row; Moroni Larson 4th from right, all others unknown. Second Row; W. E. Reece, Lucy Baker in center, all others unknown. Third Row; Olive Owen, unknown, Mary Parker, unknown, Margaret Meldrum, unknown
1:11:11: George and Mildred Baugh with their children Lyle, Vern, LaPriel, and Lucy
ca. 1910
1:11:12: 5 pictures of an unknown little girl
ca. 1915
1:11:13: Elders David S. Welchman, Herbert Halls, Charles H. Nielson, Sister Jessie Stowell, Pres. F. B. Matheson, Sister Margaret Meldrum
1:11:14: Lucy Baker and Olive Owen
September 12, 1914
1:11:15: F. Louise Capson
1916
1:11:16: Elder John H. Fronk
1:11:17: Elder R. S. Papworth
March 18, 1919
1:11:18: Group Photo. Branch? Lawrence Barclay in center of back row
1:11:19: Sunday School Group photo. Heber F. Willis at the left end of the row
October 1913
1:11:20: YLMIA group photo. Top Row; Margaret Meldrum, unknown, Mildred Baugh, unknown. Bottom Row; unknown, Alta M. Craig, 2 unknown, Lucy Baker, 2 unknown
