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Conway B. Sonne Papers

 Collection
Identifier: UUS_LJAHA MSS 8

Scope and Contents

The majority of the Sonne collection is research on ships, steamboats, and sailing ships. Sonne collected a vast amount of research on individual sailing vessels, ship crews, and the passengers aboard the ships. The research in the collection form the basis of Sonne's maritime history books, Saints on the Sea and Ships, Saints, and Mariners: A Maritime Encyclopedia of Mormon Migration. Boxes 1-13 contain files on individual ships, steamships, and steamboats. Included in the files are Mormon migration information, passenger lists, and even some journals. These ship files would be valuable for anyone interested in maritime history, Mormon migration, or even family history. Boxes 14-16 give more information on maritime history, including detailed information on the ship Brooklyn, the ship that carried the Mormon immigrants to California. Also in the collection are two boxes of Sonne's correspondence concerning his books. Boxes 25-29 contain drafts of his books, including the publishers and author's drafts and also an alphabetized master copy of the maritime encyclopedia in box 29. Other boxes contain research on other topics, including Native Americans (box 21), and prominent Mormon pioneers and frontiersmen (box 20). The Conway Sonne collection is a valuable source of information about maritime history, Mormon history, and Western American history, as well as a fascinating illustration of how an author organizes and develops a maritime history book. Photographs from the collection were removed to be processed separately.

Dates

  • Creation: 1830-1987
  • Creation: Majority of material found in 1830-1890

Language of Materials

Material in English

Conditions Governing Access

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

Conditions Governing Use

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

Permission to publish material from the Conway B. Sonne Papers must be obtained from the Special Collections Manuscript Curator and/or the Special Collections Department Head.

Biographical Note

Conway B. Sonne was born in Logan, Utah on December 28, 1917. He graduated form Utah State University, the Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration, and an advanced financial management program at Stanford University. Sonne was resident of Palo Alto, California, and worded as a financial officer of the Standard Oil Company of California from 1949 to 1981. He served in the U.S. Army Quartermaster Corps as a financial analyst and liaison officer between 1943 and 1946. He served as an officer and director of many civic and business organizations, including a trustee of the National Maritime Museum Association, member of the Advisory Council, Utah State University, Director of the Nation Association of Credit Management, Director of the American Petroleum Credit Association, President of Credit Managers Association of North and Central California, and Director of the Palo Alto Little League. He served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the New England States Mission and served in many church positions, including 1st councilor in the Palo Alto Ward Bishopric and as a member of the Palo Alto Stake High Council. Sonne authored six books and numerous articles on finance, history, and religion. His book include Knight of the Kingdom (1949); What Would You Write (1956), World of Wakara (1962); Saints on the Sea, a Maritime History of Mormon Migration (1983); Ships, Saints, and Mariners: A Maritime Encyclopedia of Mormon Migration (1987); and A Man Named Alma (1988). Sonne married the former Elaine Wintch of Manti, Utah, and the couple have four sons, two physicians and two lawyers.

Extent

30 boxes (23 linear feet)

Abstract

The majority of the Sonne collection is research on ships, steamboats, and sailing ships.

Arrangement

Arranged alphabetically and topically.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Donated by Elaine W. Sonne in 1996

Related Materials

Conway Sonne photograph collection, P0118

Title
Guide to the Conway B. Sonne Papers, 1830-1987 bulk 1830-1890
Author
Finding aid/Register created by Special Collections & Archives
Date
©2012
Description rules
Finding Aid Based On Dacs (Describing Archives: A Content Standard)
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid encoded in English.

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)