Thomas Earl Pardoe (1885–1971) was the first head of the

Brigham Young University Brigham Young University (BYU, sometimes referred to colloquially as The Y) is a private research university in Provo, Utah. It was founded in 1875 by religious leader Brigham Young and is sponsored by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day ...

(BYU) drama program. One of the main theaters in the

Harris Fine Arts Center The Franklin S. Harris Fine Arts Center (HFAC) is the main location for Brigham Young University's (BYU) College of Fine Arts and Communications, housing most of the college's departments and divisions. It consists of several named stages and ...

at BYU is named for him and his wife, Kathryn Bassett Pardoe, who was also an influential drama teacher at BYU. Pardoe was born and raised in

Ogden, Utah Ogden is a city in and the county seat of Weber County, Utah, United States, approximately east of the Great Salt Lake and north of Salt Lake City. The population was 87,321 in 2020, according to the US Census Bureau, making it Utah's eighth ...

. Pardoe was involved in high school and community dramatic productions, but when he went to

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, it was to study engineering. In his studies, he discovered that he was more suited to a career in theatre. He returned to Ogden and worked as a stagehand and back-up actor for the Ogden Opera Company before going to study at the

Leland Powers School The Leland Powers School, also known as the Leland Powers School of Communication, Leland Powers School of Radio, Theatre, and Television, Leland Powers Theatre School, the Leland Powers School of Expression, Leland Powers School of the Spoken Word ...

in Boston. While there he also served as a

missionary A missionary is a member of a Religious denomination, religious group which is sent into an area in order to promote its faith or provide services to people, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care, and economic development.Tho ...

for

the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, informally known as the LDS Church or Mormon Church, is a Nontrinitarianism, nontrinitarian Christianity, Christian church that considers itself to be the Restorationism, restoration of the ...

(LDS Church), in part because his uncle, Ben E. Rich, was the

mission president Mission president is a priesthood leadership position in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). A mission president presides over a geographic area known as a mission and the missionaries serving in the mission. Depending on ...

. While in Boston, Pardoe also performed with the Boston Grand Opera and was a correspondent for the ''

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''. Pardoe graduated from Leland Powers in 1913. Pardoe then returned to Ogden where he met Kathryn Bassett when he played the lead male role to her female lead in a comedic opera. They were married on June 3, 1914, with the ceremony performed by

David O. McKay David Oman McKay (September 8, 1873 – January 18, 1970) was an American religious leader and educator who served as the ninth president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from 1951 until his death in 1970. Ordain ...

. Pardoe then became a drama and speech teacher at Weber Academy, the predecessor of

Weber State University Weber State University (pronounced ) is a public university in Ogden, Utah. It was founded in 1889 as Weber Stake Academy. It is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. History Weber State University was founded ...

. In 1916, Pardoe taught at BYU's summer session. In 1919, he came to BYU working as a tennis coach and also to teach drama and public speaking. He also earned a bachelor's degree from BYU in 1925. In 1927, Pardoe left BYU to teach at the Major School of Theatre in Los Angeles. Pardoe later earned a

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psychology Psychology is the scientific study of mind and behavior. Psychology includes the study of conscious and unconscious phenomena, including feelings and thoughts. It is an academic discipline of immense scope, crossing the boundaries betwe ...

from the

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. During this time, he also served as director of the Long Beach Little Theatre. Pardoe then earned a Ph.D. in speech from

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. He returned to BYU where he served as head of the speech department. From 1952 until his death in 1971, Pardoe primarily worked with the BYU Alumni Association, serving as BYU Historian. Up until this point Pardoe had been the only head of BYU's drama department. He seems to have taught drama classes even after his appointment as historian, which in theory had meant he had retired. Pardoe was president of the Utah Speech Association, the Rocky Mountain Forensic League, and the Western Speech Association at various times during his career. Pardoe wrote multiple speech and drama textbooks, as well as ''The Sons of Brigham'', which is a history of the early presidents, professors, and graduates of BYU.Goodreads article on ''The Sons of Brigham''
/ref> Pardoe also later served as a member of the general board of the

Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association The Young Men (often referred to as Young Men's) is a youth ministry, youth organization and Auxiliary organization (LDS Church), official program of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). Its purpose is to assist the church ...

of the LDS Church. In 1954 and 1955, Pardoe served a second LDS mission in New England.

Notes

References

*Kathryn B. Pardoe, ''Family History of T. Earl and Kathryn B. Pardoe'', located in the L. Tom Perry Special Collections Library, Harold B. Lee Library, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah. as quoted, summarized and possibly augmented i
BYU College of Fine Arts and Communications Wiki
* Ernest L. Wilkinson, ed., ''Brigham Young University: The First 100 Years'' (Provo: BYU Press, 1975) Vol. 2, p. 285-286.
Register Biography of the Pardoe papersstandard L. Tom Perry library catalogue entry on T. Earl Pardoe PapersAbe Books listing of various books by Pardoe
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pardoe, T. Earl 1885 births 20th-century Mormon missionaries People from Ogden, Utah American leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints American Mormon missionaries in the United States Stanford University alumni BYU Cougars men's tennis coaches Brigham Young University alumni Weber State University faculty Brigham Young University faculty University of Southern California alumni Louisiana State University alumni 1971 deaths Young Men (organization) people Latter Day Saints from California Latter Day Saints from Louisiana Latter Day Saints from Massachusetts Latter Day Saints from Utah