This collection contains the papers of LaGrande and Helen Peterson, Mrs. Peterson's mother Clara Bean, and their families
Repository:
Utah State University. Special Collections and Archives Manuscript 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:
Material in English
Biographical Note
LaGrande Peterson was born July 20, 1904 in Brigham City, Utah the son of Silas Frank Thompson and Bolette Hansen Peterson. LaGrande served in the U.S. Army Signal corps during World War II. He was inducted June 23, 1942, and was trained in principles of electricity, messaging, radio and telephone schools and as a teletype operator. He was stationed in Camp Crowder, Missouri; Omaha, Nebraska; Camp Edwards, Massachusetts; and North Africa. While in Rabat, Morocco LaGrande received his release order due to being over 38 years old and was then sent to Casablanca to await his shipment home. He arrived in New York August 3, 1943, but did not return to Utah until October 1943. (For an autobiography of his Army services see Box 2 Folder 6). LaGrande attended school in Box Elder County, the Business College in Long Beach, California, and completed correspondence graduate courses in high accountancy, architecture, sign painting and showcard writing with LaSalle Extension University and International Correspondence schools. LaGrande was employed in Salt Lake City as a tax clerk and later as a cashier and tax clerk in Ogden with the Utah State Tax commission for a number of years. LaGrande served as Box Elder county treasurer for eight years before retiring in 1967. In Bear River City LaGrande served as clerk for his LDS (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) ward, town clerk and secretary of the Bear River Democratic Party. He was also the secretary-treasurer and director of the Acme Water Company, secretary of the Box Elder County Democratic party and was a charter member and treasurer of the Box Elder chapter of the American Association of Retired Persons. LaGrande passed away on August 22, 1990 in Brigham City. (Note to Researcher: In some instances Mr. Peterson's first name is listed as LeGrand or Le Grande rather than LaGrande).
Helen (Billie) V. Bean Peterson was born on February 11, 1908 in Payson, Utah to Roy Verdell Bean and Clara Eva Barnett Bean. Helen graduated from Provo Junior High School in 1923 (attended to Moapa Valley High School in 1923-24) and Payson High School in 1926. She also attended college off and on at Brigham Young University, Utah State Agricultural College (USU) and the University of Utah during the years of 1926 to 1943. She received her normal diploma (two year) in 1928 and a Bachelor of Science in 1933 from BYU. Billie was a teacher for 37 years, mainly teaching at the elementary school level. She began teaching in 1928 in Moroni, North Sanpete District, and then moved to Box Elder County; teaching in Fielding and Bear River City. A few years later Billie moved to Heber City and taught school there for six years. While living in Heber, Billie married LaGrande Peterson on May 24th of 1942. Shortly after their marriage LaGrande was drafted for World War II. After LaGrande returned from the war they moved to Bear River City. Billie was a teacher there until 1966 when she retired. After retiring she became an active member in the Bear River camp of the Daughters of Utah Pioneers. Billie was also an active member of the Brigham City branch of the American Association of University Women; she served in all offices except president. Billie passed away on February 21, 1990 in Brigham City, Utah and was buried in Bear River City, Utah.
Clara Eva Barnett Bean was born July 24, 1882 in Payson, Utah the daughter of Henry Westlake Barnett and Elizabeth (Eliza) Mitchell Barnett. Clara attended Brigham Young University, Utah State Agricultural College (USU) and the University of Utah. Clara attended BYU from 1910-1915, 1922-1923, 1930-1932, 1935 and in 1943. She attended classes at the University of Utah in the years 1913, 1917-1920, and 1942 summer and in 1947-1948. Clara took courses in spring 1946 and the summer of 1948 at USAC. Clara was a teacher in Payson and principal of the Central School until 1921. Clara also taught in Overton, Nevada at the Moapa Valley high school in 1932 and the Box Elder School District. Clara was married to Roy Verdell Bean on April 25th of 1907 in Salt Lake City, but they later divorced. They had only one child, Helen (Billie) Bean, with whom Clara remained very close all her life. Clara lived with her daughter in her later years due to illness. Clara was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Clara passed away on July 19, 1964.
Content Description
This ten-box collection contains the papers of LaGrande and Helen Peterson, Mrs. Peterson's mother Clara Bean, and their families, with the bulk of the collection consisting of the papers of Mr. and Mrs. Peterson. LaGrande's papers include his World War II correspondence to his wife, military papers and professional and personal papers. Helen's papers consist of correspondence, her college papers, professional papers and an autobiography. Clara Bean's papers consist of her college and personal writings (1920s and 30s) expressing feminist and religious views, correspondence, personal and professional papers. The remaining material includes Box Elder County legal and financial papers, family genealogical papers, and papers pertaining to the business of the Border Development Company and the Hotel Cazador in Mexico. This collection spans the time period 1901 to 1980.
Box One of the collection contains the World War II correspondence of LaGrande Peterson. Boxes Two and Three contain LaGrande's professional and personal papers, and box Three also contains the personal and professional papers of Helen Peterson. Box Four consists of papers concerning LaGrande's employer, Box Elder County and Bear River City papers. Box Five has the papers concerning Clara Bean's death. Box Six has the writings, college papers and correspondence of Clara Bean. Box Seven contains various family member's papers, genealogical papers and miscellaneous family correspondence. Box Eight includes the Border Development Co. and Hotel Cazador correspondence and legal papers. Box Nine is miscellaneous legal sized documents and Box Ten is oversized college diplomas, certificates and a check book.
Use of the Collection
Restrictions on Access :
No restrictions on use, except: not available through interlibrary loan.
Restrictions on Use :
It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances.
Permission to publish material from the LaGrande Peterson Family Papers must
be obtained from the Special Collections Manuscript Curator and/or the Special Collections
Department Head.
Preferred Citation :
Initial Citation:
LaGrande Peterson Family Papers USU_COLL MSS 313,
Box [ ]. Special Collections and Archives. Utah State University Merrill-Cazier Library. Logan, Utah.
Following Citations:USU_COLL MSS 313,
USUSCA.
Administrative Information
Arrangement :
Arranged by subject matter and then chronologically.
Processing Note :
Processed in November of 2006
Acquisition Information :
The materials in this collection were donated to USU Special Collections in 1993 by John P. and Janice Holmgren.
Separated Materials :
Photographs have been removed from this collection to form The LaGrande Peterson Family Photographc Collection P0110. USU Special Collections also contains a scrapbook of military veterans, which includes LaGrande's military background and picture, catalogued as MSS Coll 183: The Larene Braeger Scrapbook of Military Veterans of Box Elder County, Utah (LaGrande is the 6th entry in the scrapbook).
Bibliography : Sources: Obituaries
Box Elder News Journal, Brigham City, Utah. August 26, 1990.
Box Elder News Journal, Brigham City, Utah. February 28, 1990.
Box Elder News Journal, Brigham City, Utah. July 21, 1964, page 10.
Detailed Description of the Collection
LaGrande Peterson's WWII correspondence to his wife (Helen "Billie" Bean Peterson), 1936-1944
(8 folders)
Container(s)
Description
Dates
Box
Folder
1
1
Outgoing Correspondence
LaGrande (Pete) Peterson's letters to his future wife
1936-1937
1
2
Outgoing Correspondence
LaGrande (Pete) Peterson's letters to his future wife
1940-1942
1
3
Outgoing Correspondence
(Stationed at Camp Crowder)
1942 July
1
4
Outgoing Correspondence
(Camp Crowder and Omaha, Nebraska)
1942 August
1
5
Outgoing Correspondence
(Army Radio School in Omaha and Camp Edwards, Massachusetts)
LaGrande and Helen Peterson papers; legal documents, financial records and ephemera. Papers of Helen (Billie) Bean Peterson: school papers, correspondence, teaching documents and her autobiography, 1904-1966
(15 folders)
Container(s)
Description
Dates
Box
Folder
3
1
LaGrande and Helen Peterson's birth certificates; LaGrande Peterson's family legal documents
1904, 1908, 1949, 1964
3
2
LaGrande and Helen's marriage announcement
1942 May 24
3
3
LaGrande and Helen's financial income ledger
1946-1964
3
4
Incoming correspondence: Mr. and Mrs. LaGrande Peterson
1940, 1965
3
5
Ephemera: LaGrande and Helen Peterson
Undated
3
6
LaGrande: Scrap booked magazine with miscellaneous newspaper clippings
1981
3
7
Diplomas of Helen Peterson, Jr. High School – College
(See also Box 10 Items 10-12 for diplomas and teaching licenses)
1923-1933
3
8
Helen Peterson's High School, College (BYU, USAC, U of U) and seminary transcripts and credits
1923- 1960s
3
9
Incoming Correspondence: Billie (Helen) B. Peterson from the War Dept.; various
1942-1943; 1944-73
3
10
Helen's Shakespearean year book
1943-1944
3
11
Helen's pay stubs
1943-1944
3
12
Helen's teaching contract and salaries from Wasatch County; Box Elder County and miscellaneous
1943; 1946-1966
3
13
Living Will of Helen B. Peterson concerning Clara Bean (her mother)
1959
3
14
Helen's Geopolitics school notes, assignments, test, etc.
LaGrande Peterson miscellaneous Idaho Sugar Co. payroll books and papers. Box Elder LDS church handouts. Box Elder County and Bear River City tracts, handouts and papers, 1918-1971
Mr. and Mrs. Peterson's papers concerning the death of Clara B. Bean. Correspondence concerning the financial state of Clara and sympathy letters after her death, 1963-1964
(12 folders)
Container(s)
Description
Dates
Box
Folder
5
1
Incoming Correspondence: Helen Peterson concerning Clara's finances and property
1963
5
2
Paper about Clara's health issues, "Questions about Clara Bean."
ca. 1963-1964
5
3
Paper "Copied from Mom's Life Insurance Policy," includes Clara's families death dates and her medical record
ca. 1964
5
4
Clara's funeral book. Includes her time of death, parents death dates, lists or relatives and friends
1964 July 19
5
5
Funeral program and obituary of Clara Eva Barnett Bean
1964 July
5
6
Clara's Death Certificate (several copies)
1964 September
5
7
Helen's incoming/outgoing correspondence: legal and financial letters concerning Clara's death
1964
5
8
Incoming correspondence: Mr. and Mrs. Peterson; sympathy letters for Clara's death
1964 July 20-31
5
9
Incoming correspondence: Mr. and Mrs. Peterson; sympathy letters for Clara's death
1964 August-1965 January
5
10
Outgoing correspondence: Helen/Billie Peterson
Concerning Clara's death
1964-1965
5
11
Financial papers of Helen Peterson and Clara Bean
1964 September
5
12
Helen/Billie's writing on Clara's death, "About Mother's Death"
Various or miscellaneous family papers. Including papers of: LaGrande Peterson's mother and brother, Clara Bean's mother, and the Barnett family, 1904-1976
(18 folders
Container(s)
Description
Dates
Box
Folder
7
1
"Family's Births and Deaths" of the Barnett family, sketch of cemetery
1943
7
2
Inger Kirsten Bolette Peterson Thompson (LaGrande's mother): letters, cards, tithing slips, water rights, etc.
1904-1937
7
3
Last Will and Testament of Bolette Peterson (LaGrande's mother)
1931 December
7
4
Roland P. Peterson's (LaGrande's brother) WWI soldier pay record
1918
7
5
Elizabeth Mitchell (Clara Bean's mother) genealogy, mentions LeeAnne, author unknown
Undated
7
6
Family History letter on Elizabeth Mitchell's family, their conversion, immigration, marriages, etc.
Undated
7
7
Cards from the Ekins family and Estella Ekins (LaGrande's sister)
Contains organ music and either Stella Peterson Ekins (LaGrande's sister) or Clara Bean speaking; she is thanking LaGrande and Billie for taking her to the organ concert.
Undated
7
9
Note/letter to Aunt Sette
Undated
7
10
Check stubs to Cavite Barnett for rent and Herbert Molenaar for lessons
1952-1956
7
11
Cards from family friends
Undated
7
12
Family and friend lists of names and addresses
ca. late 1940s
7
13
Small address book containing: addresses, poetry, notes and journal entries
Potential/probable author: Clara B. Bean
ca. 1915
7
14
Family newspaper clippings (Bean, Barnett and Peterson)
1926, 1948, 1959, 1969
7
15
Family and potential family obituaries and announcements (newspaper clippings)
Border Development and Hotel Cazador, Mexico papers, 1954-1970
(12 folders)
(LaGrande was a member of the Border Development Co) Business documents of Border Development Co. Correspondence concerning finances of Hotel Cazador; involving Paul Anderson, Maxwell Bentley and Mr. and Mrs. Harry Poulsen.
Container(s)
Description
Dates
Box
Folder
8
1
Minutes of Membership Meeting for Border Development Co. Concerning the Hotel Cazador
Members attending: LaGrande Peterson, Paul Anderson, Dewey Nielson and Leon Halgren.
1960-1970
8
2
Hotel Cazador and Border Development Co. financial papers; Harry Poulsen
1954-1966
8
3
Incoming Correspondence: Mr. and Mrs. Harry Poulsen from Paul Anderson and Max Bentley concerning Hotel Cazador
1954-1964
8
4
Outgoing Correspondence: Mr. and Mrs. Harry Poulsen to Paul Anderson, concerning Hotel Cazador
1956-1958
8
5
Outgoing Correspondence: Mr. and Mrs. Harry Poulsen, concerning Hotel Cazador
(Letter to Max Bentley, 1964)
1956
8
6
Outgoing Correspondence: Paul Anderson, secretary of Border Development Co.
1955-1964
8
7
Incoming Correspondence: Paul Anderson, from Dan Tellechea and B.O. Rhodes
1958, 1965-1966
8
8
Incoming Correspondence: Paul Anderson/Border Development Co., State Taxes and airline tickets
1960-1965
8
9
Incoming Correspondence: Maxwell Bentley, concerning Hotel Cazador
1963-1966
8
10
Correspondence between: Maxwell Bentley, Benjamin Soto and Paul Anderson, concerning Hotel Cazador
1963-1969
8
11
Check book with stubs made to Benjamin Soto, concerns Hotel Cazador
1966-1969
8
12
Letter apparently written by Harry Poulsen, unknown recipient
See also Box 9 Fd 2 for legal documents of Border Development Co.; See also Box 10 Item 13 for checks concerning Border Development Co.
Diplomas of LaGrande and Helen Peterson and the Border Development Co.'s check book and Box Elder County Tax information, 1919-1970
(14 items
Container(s)
Description
Dates
Box
item
10
1
LaGrande Peterson's Certificate of Promotion for completing Elementary School studies. Brigham City, Utah
1919 May 16
10
2
LaGrande Peterson's Diploma for completing a Two Year Course in the Guitar Department of the National Academy of Music. Chicago, Illinois
1924 February 25
10
3-4
LaGrande Peterson's certificate from "The United States of America Department of the Interior Bureau of Mines Certificate of First-Aid Training." Rolapp, Utah
Also a corresponding letter from the Director explaining why the certificate had been sent
1925 April 27
10
5
LaGrande Peterson's Diploma for completing a Course in Show Card Writing. The Menhenitt Co Limited, Toronto, Ontario
1929 September 3
10
6
LaGrande Peterson's Diploma of Higher Accountancy, from LaSalle Extension University, Chicago, Illinois
1937 February 16
10
7
LaGrande Peterson's certificate for completing: "Telephony consisting of Telephone Circuit Operations, Installation and Repairs"
Completed while serving in the U.S. Army Signal Corps in Omaha, Nebraska
1942 October 2
10
8
LaGrande Peterson's Certificate from International Correspondence Schools, Scranton, Pennsylvania
1950 April 14
10
9
LaGrande Peterson's Certificate from International Correspondence School, Scranton, Pennsylvania
1956 January 20
10
10
Helen Bean's "First Class Certificate," a license to teach in the grammar and primary department of the public schools of the State of Utah until June 30, 1933
1928 Issued September 1
10
11
Helen Bean's "Professional High School Certificate" license to teach in any department of the public schools of the State of Utah until June 30, 1938
1933 June 30 Issued
10
12
Helen B. Peterson's Certificate; designated an active member for life of the National Education Association of the United States"
1954 November
10
13
Large check book and stubs from the Border Development Company
concerning Hotel Cazador, stubs written to: Dewey Nielson, Paul E. Anderson, Leon A. Halgren, Harry E. Poulsen, Mary Poulsen, Rafael Juarez, Maxwell Bentley, LaGrande Peterson and many others. See Box 8.
1943 January, 1953-1970
10
14
Box Elder County Property Tax information and Treasurer's Relief
