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Gustav Lorenz Becker photograph collection

 Collection
Identifier: UUS_P0361

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of twelve boxes and includes twelve scrapbooks that center around the life of Gustav Lorenz Becker (GLB) including shooting tournaments, hunting, his friendship with gun inventory John M. Browning, family outings, and his participation in local and national events such as parades, county fairs, American Legion ceremonies, and the United States Brewers Association (U.S.B.A.). Also included are photographs of the Becker Brewing and Malting Company factory including employees, displays, parades, and factory machinery. There are approximately 1,173 photographs in the collection.

Several of the scrapbooks consist almost entirely of newspaper articles and personal correspondence. The newspaper articles mainly feature the results of the various shooting and hunting tournaments that GLB participated in. Other articles focus on prohibition and Becker's various world-wide exploits. The personal correspondence highlight GLB's role as a well-known Utah personality, featuring correspondence to and from LDS Church leadership, state governors, supreme court justices, and United States presidents.

One scrapbook (box seven) details Albert Becker, brother to GLB and Vice President of Becker Brewing, and his political campaigns for state senator of district 18 in Ogden, Utah and the 1927 Ogden mayoral race.

Dates

  • Creation: 1889-1947

Language of Materials

Material in English.

Restrictions

No restrictions on use except: not available through interlibrary loan.

Copyright

It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances.

Permission to publish material from the Gustav Lorenz Becker Photograph Collection must be obtained from the Special Collections Photograph Curator and/or the Special Collections Department Head.

The scrapbooks in boxes 2 and 10 are too fragile and bulky to be photocopied, but instead patrons can use a digital camera.

Biographical Note

Gustav Lorenz Becker (GLB) was born in Winona Minnesota on April 7, 1868 to John S. and Katherine Becker. GLB was educated in Winona graduating with honors from Lambert College. In 1890 he moved to Ogden, Utah where he was placed in charge of the office of his father's brewery. In 1891 he and his brother took control of the Schellhas Brewing Company changing the name to Becker Brewing and Malting Company.

Because of his success in beer brewing and his stature within the community, GLB held a number of business positions. By the end of his life he had served as President of Becker Brewing, Vice President of the Ogden State Bank, Vice President of the Bear River Club Company, Vice President of the Lion Coal Company, Vice President of the Hotel Bigelow Company, Director of the Utah Idaho Railroad Company, Director of the Superior Rock Springs Coal Company, Director of the Amalgamated Sugar Company, Director of the Tintic Standard Mining Company, Director of the Rock Springs Coal Company, and Director of the Ogden Morning Examiner. GLB also served as a trustee of the United States Brewers Association and the National Brewers' Association.

Outside of business, GLB served in a variety of positions relating to hunting and shooting including the President of the Ogden Gun Club (for over thirty years), and Vice President for the Bear River Club Company, the American Trap Shooting Association, and the Western Trap Shooting Association. He was national renowned for his shooting ability and won several tournaments and exhibitions including the "famous Globe Trophy" and the trapshooting handicap championship of America. Most notable were his abilities to mimic melodies using his gun using a special musical board created for him by John M. Browning as well as his accuracy shooting targets while traveling in a motorboat.

At age twenty-five he joined the Utah National Guard and when World War I broke out he joined the Utah Home Guard and offered to tender his factory and services to the United States. He was active with the American Legion and he was honored by several patriotic groups. He is one of only a handful to have received the American Legion Medal for Distinguished Service.

Gustav Lorenz Becker died at the age of seventy-eight on 12 January 1947. He married Thekla Bohn on August 12, 1892. The couple had two daughters, Thekla Katharine and Helen.

Extent

12 Boxes (10.25 linear ft.)

Abstract

Twelve boxes of black and white photographs and twelve scrapbooks that center around the life of Gustav Lorenz Becker, including shooting tournaments, hunting, his friendship with gun inventor John M. Browning, family outings, and his participation in local and national events such as parades, county fairs, American Legion ceremonies, and the United States Brewers Association (U.S.B.A.).

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The bulk of the collection consists of scrapbooks donated by Karen Becker Edson. Some of the photographs were purchased from Ralph Taylor. Items in box 12 were donated by John A. Becker, Jr. in 2017.

Existence and Location of Originals

Certain select materials related to the history of the Becker Brewing & Malting Company and Becker Family have been digitized and are available in the Becker Brewing and Malting Company Records Digital Collection.

Related Materials

See also Becker Brewing and Malting Company Records, 1893-1954 (CAINE COLL MSS 31, Utah State University); Utah Since Statehood Vol. 4, Becker, Gustav Lorenz, (979.2 W259/p. 286 Utah State University); Utah, the Storied Domain Vol. 2, Becker, Albert E., (979.2 AL79u/p. 258, Utah State University); and Beer in the beehive: a history of brewing in Utah, Becker Brewing, (979.28 V277, Utah State University).

Processing Information

Processed in 2007. Additional material (box 12) added in 2024.

Title
Guide to the Gustav Lorenz Becker photograph collection, 1889-1947
Author
Finding aid/Register created by Trevor Alvord
Date
©2007
Description rules
Finding Aid Based On Dacs (Describing Archives: A Content Standard, 2nd Edition)
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid encoded in English.
Sponsor
donated by Karen Becker Edson

Revision Statements

  • 2009: Template information was updated to reflect Archives West best practice guidelines.
  • 2024: Updated to include additional material (box 12)

Repository Details

Part of the Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections & Archives Repository

Contact:
Merrill-Cazier Library
Utah State University
3000 Old Main Hill
Logan Utah 84322-3000 United States
435 797-8248
435 797-2880 (Fax)