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James E. Lindsay Jr. Missionary Letters

 Collection
Identifier: MS-186

Abstract

A collection of correspondence from James E. Lindsay, Jr.

Dates

  • Creation: 1939 - 2000

Biographical / Historical

James E. Lindsay, Jr. was born in Ogden, Utah on 11 March 1921. He was the youngest of three children and the only son of James E. Lindsay, Sir. and Iretta Elizabeth (Fife). James had two older sisters, Ruth, who was 8 years older than him and Verna, who was 23 months older. His family briefly lived in New Orleans, Louisiana where he started his schooling. By the third grade he was back in Ogden and graduated from Ogden High in 1939. He then attended Weber College (on 25 th and Adams) for one year. James transferred to University of Utah for a degree in Zoology. While at the University of Utah he was pledged to the Beta Theta Pi fraternity, his number was "579." In the summer of 1941, James Jr. went to Los Angeles to work. He ended up staying there for the Fall. On 28 January 1942, he was called on the Houston-Louisiana mission. He received his endowments on 2 February and left for the field on 4 February, arriving in Houston, Texas on the seventh. James spent six months in Houston. The rest of his mission was spent in various places in Louisiana. While on his mission, his sister, Ruth, received a divorce from her husband, Colin Edwards, and returned home, with her three sons, to live with her parents. Verna was married to Sheldon Winkler on 11 October 1942. James returned from his mission in the Spring of 1944. A few weeks after his arrival, on 13 April 1944, he received a call from the Navy Department stating that Verna and her husband, Sheldon (who was in the Navy), had been run over and killed by a drunken soldier in Wickford, Rhode Island, where they had just moved. Because of his sister's death the government granted him a few months before he would be required to sign up in the army. During that summer he met, dated and became engaged to Elsa Romane McKell. Upon finishing his basic training he was granted a 30 day furlough, during which, he married Elsa on 31 October 1944. After his wedding he was reassigned to Camp Swift, Texas, where he remained until he was discharged on 20 December 1944. Having served in the army, James returned to the University of Utah. Shortly after he transferred to Utah State, where they offered classes that would qualify him for dentist school. After receiving his Bachelors degree, he went to University of Southern California in Los Angeles to receive his degree in dentistry. Elsa had remained in Utah because of her pregnancy. Their first child was born on 27 October 1946. He was named Steven but since James Jr.'s mother demanded it be spelled Stephen, they renamed him, James Edward Lindsay III, within 24 hours of his birth. Elsa and James III joined James Jr. in Los Angeles two months after James' was born. Julia Lindsay was born on 15 February 1950, during James' senior year of dentist school. After graduation he decided to set up practice in Los Angeles. He worked for another dentist for a couple of years and then worked for himself. He kept his practice for 25 years, moving a number of times but only within the Los Angeles area. Patrice Lindsay was born on 26 August 1952, Annette Lindsay was born on 15 August 1954, Lisa Lindsay was born on 18 August 1957, and Verna Lindsay was born in 1960. After Verna was born James Jr.'s mother died. Iretta passed away on 13 December 1960 in New Orleans, while visiting her brother, Walter. James Sir. had previously had a stroke and needed care after Iretta's death. He lived with James Jr. and Elsa for awhile and then went back to Utah to live with Ruth. Ruth put him in a nursing home, where he later died on 6 December 1964. James III married Marlene, Julia married Wayne Belleau, Patrice married Tim Barrett, Annette married Spencer Call, Lisa married Bruce Newbold, and Verna married Dan Turner. All the children, except James III, eventually moved back to Utah, as did James Jr. and Elsa, after they had retired. In his last years James Jr. had a number of medical problems. He spent most of his time recording his family's genealogy as well as Elsa's. He also transcribed Elsa's mother, Romania's, missionary diary and the letters she sent home to her family while on her mission in New England in the early 20 th century. James Edward Lindsay, Jr. died on 10 September 2000, at age 79. Elsa survived him.

Extent

3 Boxes

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Arrangement

BOX 1





Fd 1 Christmas card, to James Jr., from Mrs. Ethel V. Anderson: December 22,

1942



Fd 2 Christmas card from Mrs. A. Baker (not addressed to anyone): no date



Fd 3 Christmas card, to Elder Lindsay, from Mrs. Brena Baker: no date



Fd 4 Postcard, to James Jr., from Winston L. Benson: December 21, 1942



Fd 5 Christmas card, to James Jr., from the Bowman Family: December 19, 1942



Fd 6 Christmas card, to James Jr., from Marie Browning: December 17, 1942



Fd 7 Christmas card, to James Jr., from Sloan and Paula Bryout: December 22,

1942



Fd 8 Christmas card, to James Jr., from Elder Glen Calmer: December 19,

1942





Fd 9 Letter, to James Jr., from Stan Darger (fellow missionary and fraternity

brother): January 24, 1942



Fd 10 Letter, to James Jr., from Great Aunt Nettie (Mrs. J. F. Edison): April 23,

1942



Fd 11 Letter (no envelope), to Iretta (James Jr.’s mother), from Aunt Nettie

(Mrs. J. F. Edison): August 12, 1942



Fd 12 Christmas letter and blank card, to James Jr., from Great Aunt Nettie (Mrs.

J. F. Edison): December 21, 1942



Fd 13 Telegram, to James Jr., from Ruth (Lindsay) Edward (sister) regarding

graduation (1939, high school graduation): no date (1939)





Fd 14 Birthday card/letter, to James Jr., from his sister, Ruth, the birthday date

on the card is set at March 11 th : March 10, 1942



Fd 15 Letter (no envelope), to James Jr., from his sister, Ruth: November 1,

1942



Fd 16 Christmas card, to James Jr., from his sister, Ruth: December 24, 1942



Fd 17 Letter, to James Jr., from Ireta and Lawrence Evans: January 24, 1942



Fd 18 Christmas card, to James Jr., from Elder Clyde M. Fife (cousin):

December 23, 1942



Fd 19 Christmas card, to James Jr., from Aunt Eliza (Great Uncle John Fife’s

wife): December 21, 1942



Fd 20 Letter (no envelope), to Ruth (James Jr.’s sister), from Aunt Helen (uncle

Walter Fife’s wife): November 16, 1942



Fd 21 Christmas letter, to James Jr., from Isaac D. Fife (uncle and father of

Clyde Fife): December 25, 1942



Fd 22 Christmas card, to James Jr., from Randolph W. Fife (uncle): December

11, 1942



Fd 23 Letter, to James Jr., from Randy Fife (cousin): March 4, 1942



Fd 24 Letter (no envelope), to Iretta, James Sir., and Ruth (James Jr.’s mother,

father and sister), from Walter Fife (James Jr.’s uncle): November 17,

1942





Fd 25 Christmas card/letter (no envelope), to James Jr., from Will and Dorothy

Fife (uncle and aunt): December 18, 1942



Fd 26 Christmas card, to James Jr., from Norman R. Fletcher (fellow

missionary): December 10, 1942



Fd 27 Wedding announcement, to James Jr., regarding Norman R. Fletcher:

January 11, 1943



Fd 28 Best Wishes card, to James Jr., from Ray Gealta: no date



Fd 29 Souvenir postcards of San Antonio TX, to James Jr., from the Gilbert

family (Sis. Gilbert): August 10, 1942



Fd 30 Letter, to James Jr., from Sis. Gilbert: September 18, 1942





Fd 31 Letter, to James Jr., from Sis. Gilbert: November 30, 1942



Fd 32 Christmas card, to James Jr., from Gwen (no last name given): December

18, 1942



Fd 33 Letter, to James Jr., from Myron Hatch: August 3, 1942



Fd 34 Postcard, to James Jr., from Elder Glendon Heaton: October 6, 1942



Fd 35 Letter, to James Jr., from Elder Glendon Heaton: October 12, 1942



Fd 36 Christmas card, to James Jr., from Elder Glendon Heaton: December 2, 1942



Fd 37 Letter (no envelope and on scrap paper), to “Elder,” from Elder Hellewell:

no date



Fd 38 Christmas card, to Edward C. Lindsay, from Sgt. George Hughes:

December 17, 1942



Fd 39 Christmas card, to “Elder Lindsay,” from Sgt. George Hughes: December

18, 1942



Fd 40 Christmas card, to James Jr., from Helen Ja . . . (last name

indecipherable): December 15, 1942



Fd 41 Christmas card, to James Jr., form Jack, Iva and Bumpie: December 19,

1942





Fd 42 Christmas card, to James Jr., from Joe and Lucile: December 22, 1942



Fd 43 Letter, to James Jr., from Mrs. Noel E. Johns: October 11, 1942



Fd 44 Christmas card with enclosed letter, to James Jr., from Mrs. Noel E. Johns:

December 11, 1942



Fd 45 Letter, to James Jr., from Mrs. Noel E. Johns: January 2, 1943



Fd 46 Christmas card, to James Jr., from the Larkin family: December 22, 1942



Fd 47 Christmas card/letter, to James Jr., from Ezra Lindsay (uncle): December

19, 1942



Fd 48 Letter, to James Jr., from James Lindsay Sir. (father): April 23, 1942



Fd 49 Letter, to James Jr., from Iretta Lindsay (mother): July 7, 1942





Fd 50 Letter, to James Jr., from his father: July 17, 1942



Fd 51 Letter, to James Jr., from his mother with note from his father: July 22,

1942





Fd 52 Letter, to James Jr., from his mother with newspaper clippings: July 26,

1942





Fd 53 Letter, to James Jr., from his mother: August 1, 1942



Fd 54 Letter, to James Jr., from his mother and father: August 9, 1942



Fd 55 Letter, to James Jr., from his father: August 14, 1942



Fd 56 Letter, to James Jr., from his father with note from his mother, enclosed

are two letters from Ruth (James Jr.’s sister) to the family and one letter,

to “Uncle James and Aunt Iretta,” from Dave and Bernice (James Jr.’s

cousins): August 17, 1942



Fd 57 Letter, to James Jr., from his father, enclosed is the face of an envelope

from James Jr. to his parents: August 18, 1942



Fd 58 Letter, to James Jr., from his father and mother, enclosed is a newspaper

clipping: August 28, 1942



Fd 59 Letter, to James Jr., from his father: September 9, 1942



Fd 60 Letter, to James Jr., from his father with note from his mother (letter dated

August 15 but written after Verna’s [James Jr.’s sister’s] wedding on

September 11), enclosed is a newspaper clipping: September 14, 1942



Fd 61 Letter, to James Jr., from his father: September 19, 1942



Fd 62 Wedding announcement, to James Jr., from his parents regarding his

sister, Verna: September 19, 1942



Fd 63 Letter, to James Jr., from his mother: September 27, 1942



Fd 64 Letter, to James Jr., from his father: October 5, 1942



Fd 65 Letter, to James Jr., from his mother: October 5, 1942



Fd 66 Letter, to James Jr., from his mother: October 9, 1942





Fd 67 Letter, to James Jr., from his mother, enclosed is a letter, to the family,

from Verna (James Jr.’s sister) with a note to James Jr., and a letter, to the

family, from Oliver (James Sir.’s brother): October 11, 1942



Fd 68 Letter, to James Jr., from his father: October 15, 1942



Fd 69 Letter, to James Jr., from his father, enclosed is a letter, to the family, from

Verna and Sheldon (James Jr.’s sister and brother-in- law): October 20,

1942



Fd 70 Letters forwarded, to James Jr., from his parents, enclosed are three letters,

to the family, from his sister Verna (one dated October 17, 1942 with a

note from Sheldon, to the family, one dated October 20, 1942 with a note

from Sheldon, to the family, and another dated October 23, 1942 with a

note, to James Jr., from his mother and a program for the play “The

Pirate”) also there is a letter, to “Brother and Sister” (James Sir. And

Iretta), from Iretta’s brother, Isaac: October 23, 1942



BOX 2



Fd 1 Letter, to James Jr., from his mother, enclosed are newspaper clippings:

October 26, 1942



Fd 2 Letter, to James Jr., form his mother, enclosed are newspaper clippings:

November 2, 1942



Fd 3 Letter, to James Jr., from his mother with a note form his father, enclosed

is a letter, to the family, from Verna (James Jr.’s sister): November 5,

1942



Fd 4 Letter, to James Jr., from his mother, enclosed is a letter, to the family,

from his sister Verna and newspaper clippings: November 7, 1942



Fd 5 Letter, to the family, from Verna (James Jr.’s sister) with a note to James

Jr.: November 10, 1942



Fd 6 Letter (no envelope), to James Jr., from his father: November 17, 1942



Fd 7 Letter, to James Jr., from his mother: November 19, 1942



Fd 8 Letter, to James Jr., form his mother: November 23, 1942



Fd 9 Letter, to James Jr., from his mother with a note from his father, enclosed

are newspaper clippings and a Relief Society of Mount Ogden Stake

pamphlet (dated November 1942): November 30, 1942





Fd 10 Letter, to James Jr., from his mother, enclosed is a typing lesson of Ruth’s

(James Jr.’s sister), which is not mentioned in the letter: December 3,

1942



Fd 11 Letter, to James Jr., from his father with a note from his mother (a blank

piece of paper was with the letter): December 7, 1942



Fd 12 Letter, to James Jr., from his mother: December 12, 1942



Fd 13 Letter, to James Jr., from his mother: December 15, 1942



Fd 14 Letter, to James Jr., form his father (a blank piece of paper was with the

letter): December 16, 1942



Fd 15 Letter, to James Jr., from his father and mother, enclosed is a Christmas

card, to Iretta (James Jr.’s mother), from Mr. and Mrs. Leland T. Fife

(Iretta’s brother): December 22, 1942



Fd 16 Letter, to James Jr., from his mother, enclosed is a letter, to the family,

from Verna (James Jr.’s sister) with a note added, to James Jr., from his

sister, Ruth: December 26, 1942



Fd 17 Letter, to the family, from Vern (James Jr.’s sister) with a note, to James

Jr., from his mother: December 26, 1942



Fd 18 Christmas card, to James Jr., from his mother, father, sister Ruth, and

Jimmie, Mac and Walter (Ruth’s sons, James Jr.’s nephews) and his sister

Verna: December 29, 1942



Fd 19 Letter, to James Jr., from his mother: January 4, 1943



Fd 20 Letter, to James Jr., from his mother, enclosed are two letters, to Mom and

Dad, from Verna (James Jr.’s sister): January 8, 1943



Fd 21 Christmas card, to James Jr., from Elder L. Ronald Lindsay: December 9,

1942



Fd 22 Christmas card, to James Jr., from Leola Mae Little: no date



Fd 23 Christmas card, to James Jr., from Marguerite (no last name given):

December 21, 1942



Fd 24 Christmas card, to James Jr., from Steve, Billie and Thomas Merrill:

December 21, 1942



Fd 25 Letter, to James Jr., from Sis. Munselle: September 9, 1942





Fd 26 Letter, to James Jr., from Sis. Munselle: December 1, 1942



Fd 27 Christmas card, to James Jr., from Sis. Munselle: December 22, 1942



Fd 28 Letter, to James Jr., from Elder L. Keith Nelson, enclosed is Keith’s

missionary/Temple card: March 14, 1942



Fd 29 Letter, to James Jr., from Elder L. Keith Nelson: May 22, 1942



Fd 30 Letter, to James Jr., from Elder L. Keith Nelson: October 3, 1942



Fd 31 Christmas card, to James Jr., from Elder L. Keith Nelson: December 13,

1942





Fd 32 Christmas card, to James Jr., from Grace N. Nicol: December 17, 1942



Fd 33 Christmas card (no envelope), to James Jr., from Bro. and Sis. Joseph F.

Nope: no date



Fd 34 Wedding invitation, to James Jr., from Mrs. Irene Patella regarding Mary

Anna Recore and Lawrence Duffield Weiler: October 21, 1942



Fd 35 Christmas card, to James Jr., from Bro. and Sis. Perkins (and Pamela): no

date



Fd 36 Christmas card, to James Jr., from Jena Lou Plum: December 18, 1942



Fd 37 Postcard, to James Jr., from John R. Poulton: April 6, 1942



Fd 38 Postcard, to James Jr., from Edna Pugsley: December 2, 1942



Fd 39 Christmas card, to James Jr., from Francis E. Rains: December 23, 1942



Fd 40 Christmas card, to James Jr., from Croft Smith: December 22, 1942



Fd 41 Letter, to James Jr., from Donald G. Stenquist: February 14, 1942



Fd 42 Letter, to James Jr., from C. Ray Varley (#555, fraternity brother): April

1, 1942



Fd 43 Letter, to James Jr., from “Bro. Secretary” (Ray Varley, #555): May 27,

1942





Fd 44 Letter, to James Jr., from Ray Varley (#555): July 18, 1942





Fd 45 Postcard, to James Jr. (Edward Lindsay), from Vernie (last name

indecipherable): November 24, 1942



Fd 46 Postcard, to James Jr., from Sis. Ethel Wilde: February 19, 1942



Fd 47 Christmas card, to James Jr., from Sis. Ethel Wilde: December 9, 1942



Fd 48 Postcard, to James Jr., from Mrs. Carrie Williams (Vernie’s mother): November 28, 1942



Fd 49 Letter, to James Jr., from Verna (Lindsay) Winkler (James Jr.’s sister,

signed “Peach”): June 24, 1942



Fd 50 Postcard, to James Jr., from his sister Verna: June 26, 1942



Fd 51 Postcard, to James Jr., from his sister Verna: June 29, 1942



Fd 52 Letter, to James Jr., from his sister Verna with notes from his mother

(signed Iretta) and father: July 11, 1942



Fd 53 Letter (no envelope), to James Jr., from his sister Verna: August 9, 1942



Fd 54 Letter (no envelope), to James Jr. (“Sweety Pie”), from his sister Verna

(signed Peaches): August 11, 1942



Fd 55 Letter (typed), to James Jr., from his sister Verna with a note from his

father, enclosed is a letter, to mother, from Ruth (James Jr.’s sister):

September 5, 1942



Fd 56 Postcard, to James Jr., from his sister Verna and brother-in- law, Sheldon,

on their honeymoon: September 14, 1942



Fd 57 Postcard, to James Jr., from his sister Verna and Sheldon (Mr. and Mrs. S.

W. W., written by Sheldon): September 15, 1942



Fd 58 Postcard, to James Jr., form his sister Verna and Sheldon (written by

Sheldon): September 24, 1942



Fd 59 Letter (no envelope), to mother, from Verna (James Jr.’s sister) with note

from Sheldon: September 26, 1942



Fd 60 Postcard, to James Jr., from his sister Verna (Peachy): September 28,

1942





Fd 61 Letter, to mother and father, from Verna (James Jr.’s sister) with a note

from Sheldon: October 2, 1942





Fd 62 Letter, to James Jr., from his sister Verna, enclosed is a second letter, to

James Jr., from his sister Verna dated October 16, 1942: October 27, 1942



Fd 63 Letter, to James Jr., from his sister Verna: November 1, 1942



Fd 64 Letter (no envelope), to mother, from Verna (James Jr.’s sister):

November 14, 1942



Fd 65 Letter, to James Jr., from his sister Verna (Peachy): November 21, 1942



Fd 66 Letter, to James Jr., from his sister Verna: December 1, 1942



Fd 67 Letter (no envelope), to the family, from Verna (James Jr.’s sister):

December 9, 1942



Fd 68 Letter, to James Jr., from his sister Verna: December 14, 1942



Fd 69 Letter, to the family, from Verna (James Jr.’s sister): December 27, 1942



Fd 70 Postcard, to James Jr., sender unknown: September 14, 1942



BOX 3



Fd 1 Autobiography of James E. Lindsay Jr.: Last entry date, August 23, 2000



Fd 2 Christmas gift tag to “Elder Lindsay” (not stated who gave it to him): no

date



Fd 3 Cunard White Star Baggage Insurance agreement/policy: February 3,

1942



Fd 4 Cunard White Star Baggage Insurance pamphlet: no date



Fd 5 Drawing of Donald Duck: no date



Fd 6 Drawing of a woman’s face: no date



Fd 7 James E. Lindsay Jr.’s High School Diploma with cover: June 1, 1939



Fd 8 James E. Lindsay Jr.’s High School Graduation program: June 1, 1939



Fd 9 IRTC “I am a Doughboy” booklet: June 23, 1944



Fd 10 Miscellaneous “U of U” towel tag: no date



Fd 11 Miscellaneous watch chain: no date





Fd 12 Missionary Photograph, James Jr. in 4 th row: February 24, 1942



Fd 13 Missionary Salt Lake Temple card: no date



Fd 14 Missionary Schedule (before his actual mission): January 26, 1942 – February 4, 1942



Fd 15 Missionary Scripture notes: no date



Fd 16 Missionary “Some Suggestions for LDS Missionaries” pamphlet: no date



Fd 17 Missionary song lyrics: no date



Fd 18 Missionary Time Book of James Jr.: February 7, 1942



Fd 19 News clipping from magazine, regarding Mormon art: no date



Fd 20 News clipping from newspaper, cartoon regarding army: May 26, 1942



Fd 21 News clipping from newspaper, regarding Beta Theta Pi (James Jr.’s

fraternity): November 8, 1942



Fd 22 News clipping from newspaper, regarding Mormon art: no date



Fd 23 News clipping from newspaper, photograph (no label): no date



Fd 24 Newsletter from Navy, addressed to Mrs. Laura Frager Davis (envelope

dated May 15, 1942): December 29, 1941



Fd 25 Railroad certificates/passes: 1942



Fd 26 Un-addressed envelope to James E. Lindsay Jr. from Ogden UT:

December 22, 1942



Fd 27 Unopened envelope to James E. Lindsay Jr. from Cleburne TX:

December 22, 1942



Fd 28 Unused postcard picturing the Mormon Welfare building: no date



Addendum added May 2004 by Elsa Lindsay



Fd 29 Bank Books- First Security Bank: 1945-1946



Fd 30 Boy Scouts of America (Application and Morse Code)





Fd 31 Christmas Cards



Fd 32 Correspondence from Beth Engle to Lindsays: 1963



Fd 33 Correspondence from nephew Jim to Lindsays: 1960



Fd 34 Correspondence from Elsa to Jim



Fd 35 Correspondence from Rio Hondo 1 st Grade to Dr. Lindsay



Fd 36 Delta Phi Fraternity



Fd 37 Hewlett, Lester- Mormon Tabernacle Choir Card



Fd 38 Identification Card: 12-20- 44



Fd 39 Missionary Home Card



Fd 40 Program- Kiwanis Club of Lynwood: December 15, 1963



Fd 41 Receipts



Fd 42 Veterans Administration



Fd 43 Lindsay Family Photographs



Fd 44 James Lindsay Obituary and Funeral



Fd 45 Autobiography of James Edward Lindsay, Jr. (2 nd copy)



Fd 46 Lindsay Pedigree Charts

Subjects

Finding Aid & Administrative Information

Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Repository Details

Part of the WSU Stewart Library Special Collections Repository

Contact:
3921 Central Campus Drive Dept 2901
Ogden UT 84408

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