Howard R. Driggs
Encyclopedia
Howard Roscoe Driggs was an English professor at the University of Utah
and New York University
. He also was the author or editor of over fifty books, including at least seven novels.
Driggs was born in Pleasant Grove, Utah
. His parents had both come to Utah with the Mormon pioneers. Driggs studied at Brigham Young Academy, the University of Utah
, where he received bachelor's and master's degrees, the University of Chicago
, and New York University
where he received his Ph.D. in 1926.
Driggs first began teaching in a small school in Pleasant Grove just after graduating from Brigham Young Academy. He later was on the faculty of what is now Southern Utah University
when it opened in 1897. From 1907 to 1923 he was a member of the University of Utah faculty, serving for part of that time as the principal of the University's teacher training school. From 1927 until his retirement in 1942 Driggs was an English professor at New York University. He made his home, for many decades, in Bayside, New York.
In 1897 Driggs married Eva Frampton in the Salt Lake Temple
. They had two sons, H. Wayne Driggs
(1902–1951) and H. Perry Driggs. Wayne studied at the University of Utah and New York University as his father had. He was serving as president of what is now Southern Utah University at the time of his death. Perry was an artist and advertising executive, he illustrated at least one of his father's books.
Driggs was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). He was heavily involved with the church's Sunday School
, serving as a member of the organization's general board from 1910 to 1930. He was also involved in starting the first LDS Church Sunday Schools in New York City
and Washington, D.C.
. Also in New York City, Driggs served for a time as the branch president
. When the New York Stake was organized in 1934, Driggs was made a member of the stake high council.
From 1908 to 1911 Driggs was the president of the Utah Library and Gymnasium Association. In 1919 he served as vice president of the National Education Association. In 1928 he was the president of the Oregon Trail Memorial Association.
In 1948, Driggs married Margaret Brazier Quarrier, who had three children from a previous marriage. She died in 2008.
Among the novels Driggs wrote were Ben the Wagon Boy based on the story of his father, Benjamin Driggs. He also wrote George, the Handcart Pioneer. He wrote a history of Pleasant Grove, Utah and also co-edited with Ezra Meeker
Ox-Team days on the Oregon Trail. He also wrote many English text books.
He is revered by historians for his work in collecting the memories of the Oregon Trail and the Pony Express, while there were still surviving people to give first-hand accounts. His book The Old West Speaks came out in the 1950s, just as television popularized Westerns for a whole new generation. He spent many years collecting information about and promoting preservation of the pioneer trails in the west, and worked closely with artist and photographer William Henry Jackson
(1843-1942). There is a public school in Utah named in his honor.
University of Utah
The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest...
and New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
. He also was the author or editor of over fifty books, including at least seven novels.
Driggs was born in Pleasant Grove, Utah
Pleasant Grove, Utah
Pleasant Grove, also known as "Utah's City of Trees", is a city in Utah County, Utah, United States. It is part of the Provo–Orem, Utah Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 33,798 at the 2008 census estimates.-History:...
. His parents had both come to Utah with the Mormon pioneers. Driggs studied at Brigham Young Academy, the University of Utah
University of Utah
The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest...
, where he received bachelor's and master's degrees, the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
, and New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
where he received his Ph.D. in 1926.
Driggs first began teaching in a small school in Pleasant Grove just after graduating from Brigham Young Academy. He later was on the faculty of what is now Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University, or SUU, is located in Cedar City, Utah. It was founded in 1897 as an extension of the Agricultural College of Utah, by the citizens of Cedar City.During its history, the school has been known as:...
when it opened in 1897. From 1907 to 1923 he was a member of the University of Utah faculty, serving for part of that time as the principal of the University's teacher training school. From 1927 until his retirement in 1942 Driggs was an English professor at New York University. He made his home, for many decades, in Bayside, New York.
In 1897 Driggs married Eva Frampton in the Salt Lake Temple
Salt Lake Temple
The Salt Lake Temple is the largest and best-known of more than 130 temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is the sixth temple built by the church, requiring 40 years to complete, and the fourth operating temple built since the Mormon exodus from Nauvoo,...
. They had two sons, H. Wayne Driggs
H. Wayne Driggs
H. Wayne Driggs was the son of Howard R. Driggs and his wife Eva F. Driggs.Driggs studied at the University of Utah and New York University. He wrote the script used in the 1937 Hill Cumorah Pageant, which was the first year the pageant was produced. He was a professor at NYU at that time...
(1902–1951) and H. Perry Driggs. Wayne studied at the University of Utah and New York University as his father had. He was serving as president of what is now Southern Utah University at the time of his death. Perry was an artist and advertising executive, he illustrated at least one of his father's books.
Driggs was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). He was heavily involved with the church's Sunday School
Sunday School (LDS Church)
Sunday School is an official auxiliary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . All members of the church and any interested nonmembers, age 12 and older, are encouraged to participate in Sunday School.-Purpose:...
, serving as a member of the organization's general board from 1910 to 1930. He was also involved in starting the first LDS Church Sunday Schools in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
. Also in New York City, Driggs served for a time as the branch president
Branch President
A branch president is a leader of a "branch" congregation of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.The calling of branch president is very similar to the calling of bishop, except that instead of presiding over a ward, the branch president presides over a branch...
. When the New York Stake was organized in 1934, Driggs was made a member of the stake high council.
From 1908 to 1911 Driggs was the president of the Utah Library and Gymnasium Association. In 1919 he served as vice president of the National Education Association. In 1928 he was the president of the Oregon Trail Memorial Association.
In 1948, Driggs married Margaret Brazier Quarrier, who had three children from a previous marriage. She died in 2008.
Among the novels Driggs wrote were Ben the Wagon Boy based on the story of his father, Benjamin Driggs. He also wrote George, the Handcart Pioneer. He wrote a history of Pleasant Grove, Utah and also co-edited with Ezra Meeker
Ezra Meeker
Ezra Meeker was an early pioneer who traveled the Oregon Trail by ox cart as a young man. Beginning in his 70s, he worked tirelessly to memorialize the trail, repeatedly retracing the trip of his youth...
Ox-Team days on the Oregon Trail. He also wrote many English text books.
He is revered by historians for his work in collecting the memories of the Oregon Trail and the Pony Express, while there were still surviving people to give first-hand accounts. His book The Old West Speaks came out in the 1950s, just as television popularized Westerns for a whole new generation. He spent many years collecting information about and promoting preservation of the pioneer trails in the west, and worked closely with artist and photographer William Henry Jackson
William Henry Jackson
William Henry Jackson was an American painter, Civil War, geological survey photographer and an explorer famous for his images of the American West...
(1843-1942). There is a public school in Utah named in his honor.
External Links
- biography connected with the Driggs collection at SUU
- Andrew Jenson. Latter-day Saints Biographical Encyclopedia. vol. 4, p. 210.
- World Cat listing