Eldon John Gardner was born June 5, 1909, in Logan, Utah, the eldest child of John William and Cynthia Eveline Hill Gardner. He spent the first year of his life in Salt lake City, where his father was a graduate student at the University of Utah. From 1910-1913, the Gardner family resided in Palo Alto and Berkeley, California, where John Gardner studied law at Stanford and the University of California at Berkeley. In 1913, John Gardner accepted a teaching position at the Brigham Young College, and the Gardner family settled in Logan, Utah.

In 1929, Eldon Gardner left Logan to serve a mission in California for the L.D.S. church. Returning in 1931, he enrolled at Utah State University where he received both his bachelor of science (1934) and master of science (1935) degrees in zoology. In 1939 he received a doctorate in zoology from the University of California at Berkeley, where he became the first graduate student in America to study under the distinguished German geneticist, Dr. Richard Goldschmidt. While in Berkeley, Gardner became acquainted with fellow classmate, Helen Richards. Eldon and Helen were married in August of 1939 and had six children: Patricia, Donald, Betty, Cynthia, Alice, and Mary Jane.

From 1939-1946, Gardner taught biology at Salinas Junior College in California. During the summers, he was employed as assistant, and later associate geneticist, for the Guayule Rubber Plant Industry, an effort to produce a domestic rubber supply during World War Two.

Gardner returned to Utah in 1946 as assistant professor of biology at the University of Utah. There he began his research into the genetics of abnormal head growths in drosophila melanogaster, and became involved in breast cancer research at the Laboratory of Human Genetics. He was promoted to associate professor in 1947.

Gardner left the university in 1949 to accept an appointment as professor of zoology at Utah State University. After serving in that capacity for many years, he was appointed dean of the newly created College of Science in 1962. The same year, he was named program director of Utah State University's Genetics Training Program, funded by the National Institutes of Health. In 1967, Gardner was named dean of the college of graduate studies at Utah State University, and seven years later, upon his mandatory retirement at age 65, he was named professor of biology emeritus.

Dr. Gardner's academic activities extended beyond the classroom and the laboratory. His first textbook. Genetics Laboratory Investigations, was published in 1952. An eighth edition was released in 1984, with plans for a ninth. In 1960, Principles of Genetics was first published, followed by History of Biology in 1965. General Zoology in 1967, and Human Heredity in 1983.

In addition to his work as an educator, Eldon Gardner was deeply involved in research. He began studying the genetics of cancer in humans in 1948 with a grant from the United States Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. In 1958, as a result of this research, Dr. William G. Smith of the Mayo Clinic named the syndrome described in the Utah family under study the "Gardner Syndrome." Furthermore, Gardner is regarded as an authority in the study of the genetics and cytology of the tumerous head syndrome in drosophila melanogaster, and for his studies into the genetic basis of colorectal cancer in Utah families.

Dr. Gardner's interests and activities were restricted to the field of genetics. He joined the Boy Scouts of America as a child, eventually gaining the rank of senior scout. As an adult, he served as a member of the Logan City School Board (1962-1963), the Logan chapter of the Rotary Club, and as a director of the Cache County Chamber of Commerce (1972-1975).

Always active in religious affairs, Gardner served in numerous positions of leadership in the L.D.S. church. Sunday school superintendent and stake board member, branch president, high council member, high priest group leader, and bishop are among the many offices he has held. Well known for his involvement in the controversy between the theory of evolution and the biblical account of creation, Gardner wrote many articles and became a popular speaker on the subject at religious gatherings. In 1960 he published Organic Evolution and the Bible, followed by a sequel in 1962, Mechanics of Organic Evolution.

The Eldon J. Gardner papers (1936-1986) contain the personal and professional papers of Eldon John Gardner. The collection has been organized into nine sections. The first of these sections contains items of a personal nature. Biographical and autobiographical writings located in box one provide detailed information regarding Gardner and his family. Other materials include personal correspondence, information on prizes and awards Gardner received, and materials related to Gardner's education. The correspondence section of the collection consists of general correspondence beginning in 1949 and continuing through 1986. The majority of letters in this section are between Gardner and his colleagues regarding their professional activities. Boxes ten through twelve comprise the third section of the Gardner collection, and contain materials that pertain to the many conferences, seminars, and symposiums Gardner participated in throughout his career. Materials range from schedules, lecture notes, and programs, to correspondence regarding arrangements for the various gatherings. As evidenced by materials in the fourth section of this collection, Gardner was affiliated with numerous professional organizations throughout his career. His participation is reflected in the form of membership directories, correspondence, annual reports, and newsletters. A gifted instructor, Gardner taught classes at Salinas College in California, the University of Utah, and Utah State University. Boxes 14 through 17 contain instructional materials Gardner used in his classes including lecture notes, references, and examinations. The sixth section of the collection consists of articles and addresses Gardner published and presented over the years. The dominant topics of his articles and addresses are cancer and genetics. The seventh section of the collection contains research articles published in numerous professional journals, and research and training proposals made to various government agencies and research institutions. Box 23 contains material relating to Gardner's study of Utah colorectal cancer families, and materials in box 24 reflect his research on tumerous head disease. The final box in this section, box 25, consists of contracts, subcontracts, and other miscellaneous items. An avid writer, Gardner published several books in areas of scientific inquiry including zoology, genetics, biology, human heredity, and evolution. The eighth and largest section of the collection contains chapter drafts, galley proofs, advertising materials, notes and outlines, and reviews pertaining to Gardner's books. Additionally, boxes 41 through 43 contain correspondence between Gardner, his co-authors, and publishers regarding the preparation and publications of his books. The final section of the Eldon J. Gardner collection encompasses a wide variety of materials and has therefore been labeled miscellaneous. Included in this section are materials reflecting Gardner's travel for personal and professional purposes, miscellaneous financial records from Utah State University, term papers from Garnder's zoology students, and subject files containing information on individuals Gardner was acquainted with and subjects he had an interest in. Also included are materials pertaining to the conflict between the theory of evolution and the biblical account of creation. Gardner wrote several articles on the subject, and collected articles written by others. These are located in box 44, along with additional materials on the evolution versus creation controversy.

In 1987, the medical research records that accompanied the collection were transferred to the Howard Hughes Institute at the University of Utah Medical Center.

Restrictions on Access:

Twenty-four hour advanced notice encouraged. Materials must be used on-site. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.

Restrictions on Use:

It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances.

Permission to publish material from the Eldon J. Gardner papers must be obtained from the Special Collections Manuscript Curator.

Preferred Citation:

Initial Citation: Eldon J. Gardner papers, Ms 478, Box [ ]. Special Collections and Archives. University of Utah, J. Willard Marriott. Salt Lake City, Utah.

Following Citations:Ms 478.

Processing Note:

Processed by Suzanne M. Stauffer and Allesen Peck in 1988.

Creator:

Gardner, Eldon John, 1909-

Language:

Collection materials are in English.

Quantity:

25 linear feet

Language of the Finding Aid:

Finding aid encoded in English in Latin script.

Author of the Finding Aid:

Finding aid created by Suzanne M. Stauffer and Allesen Peck

EAD Creation Date:

2007

Subarea: