Nels Anderson Papers (Ms 122)
The Nels Anderson Papers (1964-1977) documents Anderson's prolific
writing, lecturing, teaching, publishing, and public service career,
primarily in the field of sociology. Included are personal papers and an
autobiographical essay; family correspondence; general correspondence from
colleagues, publishers, former students, and friends; articles, lectures,
book reviews, and verse. Included also is a manuscript copy of his study,
Desert Saints: The Mormon Frontier in Utah (1942); books written or
edited by Anderson, two books of German songs, and personal photographs.
Nels Anderson was born in Chicago in 1889. He spent his youth living in
various places in the Intermountain West. He served in World War I,
received his B. A. degree from Brigham Young University in 1920, his M. A.
from the University of Chicago in 1925, and his Ph.D. from New York
University in 1930. From 1934 to 1942 he served with the Works Progress
Administration as head of labor relations; from 1943 to 1946 he served
with the War Shipping Administration overseas; from 1946 to 1953 he served
with the U. S. High Commission in Germany in the division of labor and
management affairs; and from 1953 to 1962 was head of UNESCO's Institute
for Social Sciences in Germany. During the years 1965 to 1977 he served
as professor of Sociology at the University of New Brunswick, Canada. An
indexed register is available.