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L. Tom Perry papers

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 6774

Scope and Contents

Contains a scrapbook, photographs, letter, and ephemera from Perry. Loose photographs are of Elder Perry and his family and were probably removed from the scrapbook. Also included is a letter from Elder Perry to Mr. and Mrs. Sam Skaggs acknowledging their generosity to Brigham Young University and the Harold B. Lee Library Special Collections, and a framed portrait photograph of Elder Perry.

Dates

  • approximately 1922-2011

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Privacy restricted. Permission to use materials must be obtained from the Supervisor of Reference Services for access to the collection.

Conditions Governing Use

It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances. Permission to use material from this collection must be obtained from the Reference Services at specialcollections@byu.edu.

Biographical History

Lowell Tom Perry, a senior member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, was born August 5, 1922, in Logan, Utah, to Leslie Perry and Elsie Nora Sonne Perry. From 1942 to 1944, L. Tom Perry served a mission for the Church to the Northern States Mission. Following his mission, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. After his discharge from the Marine Corps, he enrolled in Utah State University in Logan, Utah. He married Virginia Lee in 1947, and two years later, in 1949, he graduated from USU with a degree in finance. Elder Perry and his wife Virginia had three children: Barbara, Linda Gay, and Lee Thomas.

From 1951 to 1953, L. Tom Perry worked as an auditor in Boise, Idaho, for the C.C. Anderson Company. From 1953 to 1962, he worked in Sacramento, California, as a controller for Broadway-Hale, Inc. From 1962 to 1966, he worked in New York as a controller for Associated Merchandising Corporation, and as vice president and secretary-treasurer of Aimcee Wholesale Corporation; and from 1966 to 1972, he worked in Boston, Massachusetts, as vice president of finance for the Lechmere Sales Corporation. While living in the Boston area, he also served as president of the Latter-day Saints Boston Stake.

In 1972, L. Tom Perry was asked to serve as Assistant to the Council of Twelve Apostles in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and in the spring of 1974, he was ordained to the office of Apostle in the Church. That same year, Elder Perry’s wife, Virginia Perry, died. In 1976, Elder Perry married Barbara Dayton. Most recently, in 2004, Elder Perry was asked by Church President, Gordon B. Hinckley, to serve as Area President of the Europe Central Area.

L. Tom Perry passed away on May 30, 2015 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Extent

3 boxes (1.5 linear ft.)

1 oversize folder (0.3 linear ft.)

Language of Materials

English

Custodial History

Donated by L. Tom Perry, approximately 2009.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Donated; L. Tom Perry; approximately 2009.

Appraisal

Utah and the American West and LDS cultural, social, and religious history (20th Century Western and Mormon Manuscripts collection development polity 5.VI, 2007).

Separated Materials

Exhibit captions used in the small case exhibit are located in the case file.

Processing Information

Processed; John Murphy; 2015.

Title
Register of the L. Tom Perry papers
Status
Completed
Author
John M. Murphy, curator, 20th Century Mormon Manuscripts
Date
2009
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid written in English in Latin script.

Repository Details

Part of the L. Tom Perry Special Collections Repository

Contact:
1130 HBLL
Brigham Young University
Provo Utah 84602 United States