Bitton, Davis, 1930-2007

Historian.

Davis Bitton (b. 1930) taught history at the University of Utah from 1966 to 1995, the oral histories and autobiographies are the assignments turned in to him, by his students.

Historian and teacher. Born in Idaho in 1930, employed by the University of Utah and the LDS Church Historical Department.

Davis Bitton (1930-2007) was a Mormon historian who lived in Utah.

Davis Bitton was born in Blackfoot, Idaho, on February 22, 1930 to Ronald Wayne Bitton and Lola Davis Bitton. He served a Mormon mission to France from 1950-1953. After serving in the United States Army during the Korean War, he graduated with a BA in History from Brigham Young University. He then received an MA in 1958 and a PhD in French History in 1961 from Princeton University. Dr. Bitton taught history at the University of Texas in Austin, Texas until 1964 when he went to the University of California in Santa Barbara. Finally, he was a professor of history at the University of Utah from 1966 until his retirement in 1995. In addition to French history, Dr. Bitton also made important contributions to Latter-day Saint history. He served as Assistant LDS Church Historian under Leonard Arrington from 1972-1982. He also served as a guide on temple square with his wife, JoAnn. Davis Bitton died April 13, 2007, in Salt Lake City, Utah.