Howard R. Driggs Collection

Howard R. Driggs was born August 8, 1873, in Pleasant Grove, Utah. He graduated from the University of Utah in 1897. In 1908 he received a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Utah and a master of arts degree in 1918. He began a 27 year teaching career in Utah in 1897 as an instructor at the Branch Normal School in Cedar City, Utah; then professor of English at the University of Utah Normal Training School until he resigned in 1923 to teach at New York University. At NYU he became professor and head of the English Department. He retired in 1942. His hobby became his life's work gathering and publishing stories of American pioneers and the West. He wrote 20 books and co-authored 12 others. In 1957 his "This Is the West" won him the Spier Award from the League of Western Writers. As president of the American Pioneer Trails Association he spent many years perpetuating the ideals and traditions of the Pony Express. While Dr. Driggs was a prolific and scholarly writer, it was in the teaching art that he gave most generously of his talents. He was a beloved teacher, not only to the thousands of his students, but to fellow faculty members, patrons, and all who came to know him. The impressive personality of Dr. Driggs, his eloquence, his flashes of humor, his warm humanity, his directness of thought and sincerity of motive these are qualities that will linger long in the memories of his myriads of friends, admirers, and loved ones.