Leland H. Creer was born on April 19, 1895 in Spanish Fork, Utah. He graduated from the University of Utah with a bachelor's degree in 1916, and received his master's degree from the same school in 1920. He received a Doctorate in History from the University of California in 1926. He taught at Spanish Fork High School from 1916-1917, Granite High School from 1917-1920, and was President of Gila College in Thatcher, Arizona, from 1920-1924. While teaching at Granite High School, Creer married Ruth Ridd, who died in 1930. He married Verona Morrison in 1931, and they had three children. He was a faculty member of the University of Washington from 1926-1935. In 1931 he was a visiting professor at the University of Hawaii. From 1935-1937 he served as president of Weber College. During his tenure he improved the administrative structure, improved the college library, and sought to improve faculty and staff salaries. From 1937-1963 he was part of the History Department at the University of Utah. He served as chair of the History Department from 1942-1963. Creer was an active member of many professional, civic, and educational organizations. He was a member of the board of the Utah State Historical Society from 1949-1965, serving as president from 1957-1961. He died in Salt Lake City on March 25, 1968.