Journals and Diaries, 1887-1905
Series
Scope and Contents
From the Collection:
The Rudger Clawson papers (1870-1943) consists of memoirs, autobiographical accounts, diaries, letter books, loose letters, scrapbooks, newspaper and periodical clippings, printed books and miscellaneous documents. Clawson served in many official capacities in the LDS Church, including missionary, stake president, apostle, and second counselor to the president of the church.
When Clawson was almost seventy years old, he began to dictate his memoirs to his secretary. This process began in 1926 and continued into the 1930's. The memoirs recount numerous experiences from his early life to the end of his term as president of the European Mission in 1913. The collection also includes an account of his life, which is part of the celebration for his seventieth birthday.
Clawson was sentenced to prison for the practice of polygamy and was kept in the Utah Territorial Prison for over three years. He worked on several drafts of his account of prison experiences during his incarceration from November 1884 to December 1887. His first-hand accounts provide valuable insights into prison life during this period, including an inmate's suggestion on how best to rob a house and a description of the "sweat box" used to discipline prisoners.
The diaries of Rudger Clawson cover the period from his release from the penitentiary through December of 1905 a period of eighteen years. The first diary is a large leather volume which covers events from December 1887 until April 1892. There are ten smaller diaries which cover the period April 1892 to May 1899. On the front end-papers Clawson would occasionally list important events recorded within the diary. For example, book nine shows "Bishop F. Durfey's dream page 4," which refer to a dream in which a personage announced that the millennium would begin in thirty years. The remaining diary entries are typewritten sheets and continue through December 1905. The diaries are centered on the meetings Clawson attended and provide attended and provide insights into how the church meetings were structured, the favorite hymns sung, scripture recitations or talks during the passing of the sacrament and the contents of speeches to members.
Clawson was called to preside over the European Mission in April of 1910, and served in that position for three years. During that time a number of items were generated, including a letter book of correspondence with the church leaders in Salt Lake City, and two Letter books of correspondence with church leaders and members in editorials published in the Millennial Star from June 1910 to April 1913. Near the end of the latter year he presented to the church leaders a Report on the European Mission, a copy of which is included in the collection.
The collection includes various biographical sketches of Clawson and of his plural wife's relatives and ancestors, including Margaret Gay Judd Clawson, Hiram B. Clawson, George Cutcliffe, John Cutcliffe, Mary Jane Cutcliffe, Daniel Spencer, and Samuel G. Spencer. The collection includes a letterpress book of Clawson's father, Hiram B. Clawson, of business letters from May 1872 to June 1874. The personal diary of Clawson's son, Rudger Remus Clawson, provides daily entries from January to August of 1904.
A number of the notes and drafts of his talks delivered at various church functions are preserved in the collection, as well as speeches presented at general conferences from 1898 to 1942. The collection contains numerous blessings Clawson gave church members to the priesthood, settings apart to a church office, appointment blessings, missionary blessings, blessings before leaving home to attend school, and blessings before traveling.
Because Clawson was such a dedicated diarist, one is able to view through his eyes various developments during this transitional period in LDS history. Information is presented on the following subject: Theological speculation among the brethren; changes in church policy and doctrine; questions about post-manifesto polygamy; variations in emphasis on the Word of Wisdom; use of wine in the sacrament; rulings concerning colonization and emigration; financial disclosures concerning church assets; political aspirations of George Q. Cannon and Reed Smoot; conflicts between the Deseret News and the Salt Lake Tribune; differing attitudes toward Freemasonry, Elks, and other secret societies; priesthood regulations and the need for church courts; denial of the priesthood to blacks; and the evils of dancing, card playing, chess, and checkers.
The Rudger Clawson collection is of considerable importance to both the serious historian and the amateur researcher because of the wealth and variety of data provided. The collection provides valuable insights from a man who lived half of his long life in the nineteenth century and half in the twentieth century.
When Clawson was almost seventy years old, he began to dictate his memoirs to his secretary. This process began in 1926 and continued into the 1930's. The memoirs recount numerous experiences from his early life to the end of his term as president of the European Mission in 1913. The collection also includes an account of his life, which is part of the celebration for his seventieth birthday.
Clawson was sentenced to prison for the practice of polygamy and was kept in the Utah Territorial Prison for over three years. He worked on several drafts of his account of prison experiences during his incarceration from November 1884 to December 1887. His first-hand accounts provide valuable insights into prison life during this period, including an inmate's suggestion on how best to rob a house and a description of the "sweat box" used to discipline prisoners.
The diaries of Rudger Clawson cover the period from his release from the penitentiary through December of 1905 a period of eighteen years. The first diary is a large leather volume which covers events from December 1887 until April 1892. There are ten smaller diaries which cover the period April 1892 to May 1899. On the front end-papers Clawson would occasionally list important events recorded within the diary. For example, book nine shows "Bishop F. Durfey's dream page 4," which refer to a dream in which a personage announced that the millennium would begin in thirty years. The remaining diary entries are typewritten sheets and continue through December 1905. The diaries are centered on the meetings Clawson attended and provide attended and provide insights into how the church meetings were structured, the favorite hymns sung, scripture recitations or talks during the passing of the sacrament and the contents of speeches to members.
Clawson was called to preside over the European Mission in April of 1910, and served in that position for three years. During that time a number of items were generated, including a letter book of correspondence with the church leaders in Salt Lake City, and two Letter books of correspondence with church leaders and members in editorials published in the Millennial Star from June 1910 to April 1913. Near the end of the latter year he presented to the church leaders a Report on the European Mission, a copy of which is included in the collection.
The collection includes various biographical sketches of Clawson and of his plural wife's relatives and ancestors, including Margaret Gay Judd Clawson, Hiram B. Clawson, George Cutcliffe, John Cutcliffe, Mary Jane Cutcliffe, Daniel Spencer, and Samuel G. Spencer. The collection includes a letterpress book of Clawson's father, Hiram B. Clawson, of business letters from May 1872 to June 1874. The personal diary of Clawson's son, Rudger Remus Clawson, provides daily entries from January to August of 1904.
A number of the notes and drafts of his talks delivered at various church functions are preserved in the collection, as well as speeches presented at general conferences from 1898 to 1942. The collection contains numerous blessings Clawson gave church members to the priesthood, settings apart to a church office, appointment blessings, missionary blessings, blessings before leaving home to attend school, and blessings before traveling.
Because Clawson was such a dedicated diarist, one is able to view through his eyes various developments during this transitional period in LDS history. Information is presented on the following subject: Theological speculation among the brethren; changes in church policy and doctrine; questions about post-manifesto polygamy; variations in emphasis on the Word of Wisdom; use of wine in the sacrament; rulings concerning colonization and emigration; financial disclosures concerning church assets; political aspirations of George Q. Cannon and Reed Smoot; conflicts between the Deseret News and the Salt Lake Tribune; differing attitudes toward Freemasonry, Elks, and other secret societies; priesthood regulations and the need for church courts; denial of the priesthood to blacks; and the evils of dancing, card playing, chess, and checkers.
The Rudger Clawson collection is of considerable importance to both the serious historian and the amateur researcher because of the wealth and variety of data provided. The collection provides valuable insights from a man who lived half of his long life in the nineteenth century and half in the twentieth century.
Dates
- 1887-1905
Conditions Governing Access
Access to original diaries restricted.
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.
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.
Extent
From the Collection: 13 Linear Feet
Language of Materials
From the Collection: English
Creator
- From the Collection: Clawson, Rudger, 1857-1943 (Person)
Repository Details
Part of the J. Willard Marriott Library Special Collections Repository
Contact:
295 South 1500 East
Salt Lake City Utah 84112 United States
801-581-8863
special@library.utah.edu
295 South 1500 East
Salt Lake City Utah 84112 United States
801-581-8863
special@library.utah.edu