The funds to launch such an oral history program were generously provided by a prominent businessman who is a scholar in his own right and very much interested in the acquisition and dissemination of historical materials to scholars, researchers, and the public. It became apparent, however, that a much broader program was needed in order to document the activities of local leaders in business, communications, politics, education, and other areas. A small amount of funding was secured and a limited number of individuals were interviewed.
Cooley proposed an oral history project to chronicle the development of the University of Utah and provide a more comprehensive view of its history than is found in the written records that have been preserved. While director of Special Collections at the Marriott Library, Dr.
