Milton R. Merrill dissertation materials for Reed Smoot: Apostle in politics

COLL MS 80

Scope & Content Note

Materials accumulated while writing a dissertation of Reed Smoot, including correspondence, clippings, and excerpts from published information. Also includes drafts and a finished copy of the dissertation.

Biographical Sketch of Dr. Milton R. Merrill

Milton Reese Merrill was born 3 Apr. 1901 in Richmond, Utah, the son of Loren A. and Laura Merrill. In 1926 he married Bessie while he was teaching at the LDS Seminary of the high school in Logan. He obtained his BS from Utah State Agricultural College then his MA and PhD from Columbia University. In 1969 he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humanities from USU, a honor he proudly accepted.

In the spring of 1927 Milton was asked to take over the Utah State University publicity from a faculty member who was retiring. At the start of fall quarter he was hired on full-time since a replacement had not been found. So started a long career at USU. From 1927 to his retirement in 1971, Dr. Merrill served as Director of Public Relations (1927-1931) Instructor in History; Assistant, Associate, and Professor of Political Science (1932-65) Director of the College for Army Air Force Training Program (1942-44) ; Assistant to the President (1938-42); Director of Correspondence and Extension Classes (1940-45); Assistant Director, Director, and Dean of Suer School (1939-50); Dean School of Commerce later the College of Business and Social Sciences (1950-59). From 1959-1965 he also served as USU's first Vice President under Daryl Chase.

Dr Merrill was very popular at USU both with students and faculty. He was both a Phi Kappa Phi and a Pi Sigma Alpha. All were saddened by his passing in 1971 at age 70.

Biographical Sketch of Reed Smoot

Reed Smoot, apostle of the LDS Church and U.S. Senator from Utah, was one of the most controversial figures in turn of the century politics. In his doctoral dissertation for Columbia University, Milton R. Merrill discusses the Senate investigation that eventually seated Smoot, and Smoot's career in politics that lasted 30 years. Information from congressional records, people who knew the apostle-senator, and personal records of Smoot's own, make up the bulk of notes in the collection. Almost 800 pages of handwritten notes along with questionnaires references from books, a few newspaper clippings and other items, are included.

Inventory

Box 1: 1 Binder of typed notes

Folder 1 Items dealing with Smoot hearings (6 items, 1 piece)

Folder 2 Stories about Reed Smoot (2 items)

Folder 3 References and quotes from resource books (9 items 125 pieces)

Folder 4 Correspondence to/from Reed Smoot (18 items 6 pieces)

Folder 5 Correspondence to/from Milton Merrill (8 items, 42 pieces)

Folder 6 Newspaper clippings & articles (5 pieces, 10 pieces)

Folder 7 Questionnaires (19 items, 1 piece)

Folder 8 Miscellaneous papers (9 items)

Folder 9 Rough draft copies of dissertation (10 items)

Folder 10 Rough draft copies of dissertation; ch. 2 (Mormon Apostle US Senator) (107 pieces)

Folder 11 Rough draft copies of dissertation; ch 3 (Reed Smoot. Utah Politician) (106 pieces)

Box 2

Folders 1-15 Notes on dissertation

Box 3

Folder 1 Bibliography, Preface, Biography (35 pieces)

Folder 2 The Investigation (131 pieces)

Folder 3 Mormon Apostle, US Senator (98 pieces)

Folder 4 Reed Smoot Utah Politician (89 pieces)

Folder 5 Reed Smoot American (62 pieces)

Folder 6 Apostle of Protection (96 pieces)

Folder 7 Apostle of Economy; Apostle-Senator, Mission Completed (85 pieces)

Folder 8 Comments from the review committee (l item)

For more information: 435/797-2663; Manuscript Librarian.
Special Collections & Archives, Merrill Library, Utah State University Libraries, Utah State University 84322-3000

Last modified on: Thursday, 1 November, 2001.