ELDEN B. SOUTHAM PAPERS

Collection

Identifier: TMD72

Staff Only

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

The collection spans 1930-1976. Letters written by Elden Southam to his wife, Betty, during World War II comprise the bulk of the material with limited pre-war correspondence and memorabilia completing the collection.

SERIES 1 CORRESPONDENCE 1934-1945 BOX 1

Letters written by Elden Southam to his wife, Betty, during World War II comprise the bulk of the series. Limited pre-war correspondence is also included.

SERIES 2 MEMORABILIA 1930-1976 BOX 1

The series contains limited memorabilia belonging to Elden Southam and to his wife, Betty. Elden Southam's memorabilia includes primarily certificates and souvenirs related to his military service and his post-war skiing. Betty Southam's memorabilia includes numerous greeting cards, her high school diploma and a work-related certificate.

Dates

1930-1976

Language of Materials

Materials are in English.

ACCESS:

The collection is open for research.

PUBLICATION RIGHTS:

All requests for permission to publish, reproduce, or quote from material in the collection should be discussed with the appropriate librarian or archivist. Permission for publication may be given on behalf of the Denver Public Library as the owner of the physical item. It is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which also must be obtained by the customer. The Library does not assume any responsibility for infringement of copyright or publication rights of the manuscript held by the writer, heirs, donors, or executors. Reproduction restrictions are decided on a case-by-case basis.

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

Elden B. Southam was born September 15, 1917 in Salt Lake City, Utah to Afton Jane Livingston and Edward Bernard Southam. On February 23, 1937, Southam married his high school sweetheart, Ruth Elizabeth Deakin "Betty" Davis. Their marriage was later solemnized in the Salt Lake Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The couple had three sons. Southam enlisted in the Army August 6, 1943 at Salt Lake City, Utah. At the time of his enlistment, he had completed three years of high school and he was working as a mechanic. He joined the 10th Mountain Division at Camp Hale, Colorado, where he was assigned to the 85th Infantry Regiment, Company B. He remained with this company throughout World War II. Later, Southam served at Camp Swift, Texas and in Italy. Southam was wounded in action February 20, 1945, during the battle for Monte Gorgolesco.

Southam retired from Mountain Bell after 27 years as a salesman for the Yellow Pages Division in the states of Utah and Idaho. He served as a high priest, elder and home teacher in the Morningside 5th LDS Ward, St. George, Utah. He was a fisherman and golfer. As an avid skier, he dedicated 25 years to the Park City Ski Patrol. Southam passed away June 26, 1997 in St. George, Utah at the age of 79.

His wife, Ruth E. "Betty" (Davis) Southam, was born March 30, 1918 in Salt Lake City, Utah to Ruth Elizabeth and Joe Deakin Davis. Ruth, also known as Betty, worked for many years as a secretary for AT & T Phone Company. She later worked for the Salt Lake Health Department, from which she retired in 1985. She died May 3, 2002.

Extent

1 box

Additional Description

Other Finding Aids

For location information, refer to the Denver Public Library Catalog.

PROVENANCE:

Gift, Betty Southam (wife), donated the papers in this collection to the Denver Public Library August 2, 2000.

SELECTION OF RELATED MATERIAL

The Western History/Genealogy Department has additional collections with material related to Elden B. Southam including:

10th Mountain Division Records

TMD1 10th Mountain Division Database Records

TMD2 National Association of the 10th Mountain Division Records

TMD40