Knowlton, Clark S.

Knowlton was a professor at the University of Utah and a researcher of Spanish Americans and the Southwest.

From the description of Clark S. Knowlton papers, 1961-1979 (bulk, 1954-1977). (Santa Fe Public Library). WorldCat record id: 37896310

Clark S. Knowlton (1919-1991) was a professor of sociology, with a research interest in the Indians of the American Southwest.

From the description of Clark S. Knowlton family photographs, circa 1880s-1953. (Brigham Young University). WorldCat record id: 213457761

Clark Shumway Knowlton (1919-1991) was a professor of sociology. He did extensive research on minorities (especially Hispanic Americans) and ethnic studies, immigration issues, and land-grant issues.

Clark Shumway Knowlton was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, on 31 December 1919 to Ezra C. Knowlton and Mary Albrea Shumway Knowlton. He served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Argentina from 1939-1942. He then served in the US Army from 1942-1946, where he spent several years in Europe. He received his B.A. in Sociology from BYU in 1947 and then his M.A. in Sociology from BYU in 1948. He then studied from 1950-1951 at Escola Livre de Sociologia y Ciencias Socias, Sao Paulo Brazil, while working on his doctoral dissertation. He received his Ph.D. in sociology from Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennesse, in 1955.

He married Ruth Marion Deyoung on 30 August 1948 in Salt Lake City, Utah. He was an Associate Professor at Georgia Southern College from 1952-1958 and New Mexico Highlands University from 1958-1962. He then became a full professor at Texas Western College in 1962. In 1968 he joined the faculty of the University of Utah where he stayed for the rest of his career. While there he was the director for Center for the Study of Social Problems and the director of the Social Research Development Division, American West Center. He also served in the Salt Lake City community in many ways as he participated in groups including: the Central City Multipurpose Center, Committee on Desert and Arid Zones Research American Sociological Society, Rural Sociological Society, National Council on Family Relations, University Archaeology Society, the Rocky Mountain Council for Latin American Studies, and many others. Clark S. Knowlton died 20 January 1991.

From the guide to the Clark S. Knowlton papers, 1916-1990, (L. Tom Perry Special Collections)

Mary Albrea Shumway Knowlton (1888-1967) was a wife, mother, nurse, artist, and genealogist.

Mary Albrea Shumway Knowlton was born on 8 December 1888 in Kanab, Utah, to Anna Pixley Johnson and Hyrum Smith Shumway. She grew up in Big Horn Basin in Wyoming. She graduated from the nursing program at the LDS hospital in Salt Lake City. When World War I broke out she joined the Red Cross Nurses’ program in New York City to prepare to go overseas. Before she made it to France though, she fell in love with a red-headed missionary from Farmington, Utah. After his mission they were married 26 March 1919 in the Salt Lake Temple. They had seven children together. Known as a compassionate woman, she tried to help her neighbors during the depression by providing medical assistance to those who could not afford it. She also helped in the development of recreational facilities for children in her community. She acquired the necessary funds for a playground, swimming pool and a library even during the depression when funds for such things were scarce. For her own family she became a bee keeper, butcher and meat preserver, canner, seamstress, cook, storyteller, and dance sponsor.

She was a member of the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers, wrote an unpublished novel about family experiences, and traveled to Latin America, Europe, the Middle East and throughout the United States. She died in Salt Lake City at the age of 79 on 11 December 1967.

From the guide to the Clark S. Knowlton collection of Mary Albrea Shumway Knowlton papers, 1913-1967, (L. Tom Perry Special Collections)

Clark S. Knowlton was born in Salt Lake City, Utah on December 31, 1919. He married Ruth Marion DeYoung on August 31, 1947. Dr. Knowlton received his BA and MA Degrees in Sociology from Brigham Young University and his Ph.D. from Vanderbilt University in 1955. Dr. Knowlton, a professor of sociology, taught at the following colleges and universities; Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee (1948-1949); Georgia Southern College, Statesboro, Georgia (1952-1958); Highlands University, Las Vegas, New Mexico (1958-1962); Texas Western College, El Paso, Texas (1960-1966); University of Texas-El Paso, El Paso, Texas (1966-1968); and the University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah (1968-1991).

Dr. Knowlton is known for his research on the Spanish-Americans and Mexican-Americans of the Southwest. Professor Knowlton wrote numerous articles on Spanish/Mexican Americans, especially on the cultural impact caused by the loss of ancestral lands and access to natural resources. His work was published in numerous professional journals. As a result of his studies Professor Knowlton became immersed in the activities of Reies Lopez Tijerina and the land rights organization Alianza Federal de las Mercedes.

Dr. Knowlton was also interested in the economic problems of rural Native American communities of the Southwest. He was instrumental in the development of several professional associations involved in the study of rural lands. Dr. Knowlton helped to organize the Association for Arid Land Studies at the University of Texas-Lubbock. Dr. Knowlton sought to stimulate, and promote interdisciplinary research in Spanish/Mexican American history and culture in New Mexico. Professor Knowlton served as President of the Rocky Mountain Social Science Association and the Association for Arid Land Studies. He also served as the Director of the Center For Land Grant Studies. Dr. Knowlton endeavored to maintain communication and exchange of information among social scientists. Dr. Knowlton died on January 15, 1991.

From the guide to the Clark S. Knowlton Collection, 1912-1989, (New Mexico State Records Center and Archives)