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Show Valuable Historical Gift Received by College Of Southern Utah from Caroline Parry Wooley A most valuable gift of historical his-torical documents was received by the library of the College of Southern Utah recently from Caroline Keturah Parry Woolley of Salt Lake City. Mrs. Woolley is a natice of Cedar Ced-ar City and a daughter of John Parry who was representative from Iron County to Utah's first Legislature in 1896. It was he who was instrumental in getting the Branch Normal School, forerunner fore-runner of the College of Southern Utah, established here in Cedar City and who worked unceasingly unceasing-ly both in the Legislature and on the Building Committee to found this institution of higher I learning The gift from Mrs. Woolley consists con-sists of the private papers of her father: letters, telegrams contracts, con-tracts, bills, statements accounts, and other primary documents that illuminate the founding of the Branch Normal School. These documents tell the story of the work done by Mr. Parry and the other leaders of the community in getting the school here and in building Old Main, the first building. The papers established the identity of the men who sacri- ficed time and money and who put their personal property as security to keep the school going the first year and to construct the first building. These documents docu-ments establish some formerly unknown facts, corroborate others that have been told, augment and round out the story and clear up some misconceptions and puzzles puz-zles regarding the founding of the school Also of great value in her father's fa-ther's manuscript collection are his missionary diaries and letters to and from his wife that illuminate illumi-nate the conditions and events in pioneer Cedar City In addition to giving the library her father's papers, Mrs. Woolley has deposited with it for safekeeping safe-keeping her own manuscript of the founding of the Branch Normal Norm-al School and other of her own personal papers and notes on research which she has done, with permission for restricted use, subiect to her approval. She has also volunteered to assist in any way possible in locating other materials that might be of historical histor-ical value, especially those concerned con-cerned with the founding of the college. Mrs. Woolley's entire collection has been microfilmed for study by historical researchers in order to fully protect and preserve the originals which are fragil by reason rea-son of their age. Mrs. Woolley graduated from the Branch Normal School.return-ing School.return-ing after study at the University of Utah to teach art. While at the Branch Agriculturral College, as it was called when she taught here, Mrs. Woolley was the first to catalouge the books in the library. li-brary. She subsequently taught in the Art Department of the University of Utah and studied and taught in several other schools. The list of her accomplishments accom-plishments is extensive. President Royden C. Braith-wainte, Braith-wainte, Librarian-Historian A. T. Challis and Assistant Historian Inez S. Cooper are most happy to receive this important and invaluable gift. They express the profound gratitude of the college and the community for Mrs. Woolley's generosity and cooperation. |