James Stephens Brown diaries [typescripts]
Collection
Identifier: MS 0010
Scope and Contents
The James Stephen Brown papers (1849-1892) contain transcriptions of five of James Stephens Brown's journals. These journals cover fragments of more than forty-six years of his life, primarily those devoted to missionary work for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). It was his habit to keep several journals at once; hence, the journals at times overlap, and repeat themselves. Their contents are varied, not chronological, and individual journals often include diary entries, reminiscences, and financial ledgers.
This two volume collection contains five major journals. The first section was written from 1857 to 1863; the second in 1866; the third includes entries dated 1849, 1869, and 1875; the fourth was written between 1875 and 1877; and the fifth in 1872 and 1892.
Section I includes an account of Brown's journeys starting in the fall of 1858. In response to a call from the LDS Church he traveled from Salt Lake to Iowa to do missionary work and visit his aging parents. He preached in Iowa, Nebraska, and Missouri until spring, and then returned to Salt Lake as head of an emigration company. In February 1860 he received a call from President Brigham Young to go on a mission in England. Leaving Salt Lake in April 1860, he arrived in New York in July and booked passage for England. He stayed in Great Britain until 1862. Then he returned to Salt Lake with another emigration company in late September. At Brigham Young's request he moved his family from Ogden to Salt Lake City and resumed missionary work throughout the northern settlements. Only sketchy detail is given of his life from 1863 to 1865.
Section II is a weekly ledger of his expenses in 1866, including itemized credits and debits of his team of horses.
Section III includes the blessing given prior to his departure to England, a genealogical history of his father's family made in 1849 and another for his mother's family made in 1869. There is a brief sketch of his mission to the Navajo Indians and a diary of his preparations for that missionary settlement form October 1875 to April 1876.
Section IV begins in September 1975 with a more detailed account of preparations for a missionary settlement south and southeast of the Colorado River, adding detail to the last of Section III and continuing the account through September 1876. The journal then skips to February 1877, giving brief diary entries through August 1877.
Section V is an account of his call to a mission in Tahiti in March 1892, the voyage, and his experiences preaching on the island through November 1892.
The journals preserve the flavor of the life and attitudes of the pioneers. They present an account of the hardships of travel, of making a living, and record the attitudes and impressions of the period, especially the religious devotion which typifies many of the early Mormon missionaries whose personal lives were often set aside in service of their church.
This two volume collection contains five major journals. The first section was written from 1857 to 1863; the second in 1866; the third includes entries dated 1849, 1869, and 1875; the fourth was written between 1875 and 1877; and the fifth in 1872 and 1892.
Section I includes an account of Brown's journeys starting in the fall of 1858. In response to a call from the LDS Church he traveled from Salt Lake to Iowa to do missionary work and visit his aging parents. He preached in Iowa, Nebraska, and Missouri until spring, and then returned to Salt Lake as head of an emigration company. In February 1860 he received a call from President Brigham Young to go on a mission in England. Leaving Salt Lake in April 1860, he arrived in New York in July and booked passage for England. He stayed in Great Britain until 1862. Then he returned to Salt Lake with another emigration company in late September. At Brigham Young's request he moved his family from Ogden to Salt Lake City and resumed missionary work throughout the northern settlements. Only sketchy detail is given of his life from 1863 to 1865.
Section II is a weekly ledger of his expenses in 1866, including itemized credits and debits of his team of horses.
Section III includes the blessing given prior to his departure to England, a genealogical history of his father's family made in 1849 and another for his mother's family made in 1869. There is a brief sketch of his mission to the Navajo Indians and a diary of his preparations for that missionary settlement form October 1875 to April 1876.
Section IV begins in September 1975 with a more detailed account of preparations for a missionary settlement south and southeast of the Colorado River, adding detail to the last of Section III and continuing the account through September 1876. The journal then skips to February 1877, giving brief diary entries through August 1877.
Section V is an account of his call to a mission in Tahiti in March 1892, the voyage, and his experiences preaching on the island through November 1892.
The journals preserve the flavor of the life and attitudes of the pioneers. They present an account of the hardships of travel, of making a living, and record the attitudes and impressions of the period, especially the religious devotion which typifies many of the early Mormon missionaries whose personal lives were often set aside in service of their church.
Dates
- 1849-1892
Creator
Conditions Governing 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.
Conditions Governing Use
The library does not claim to control copyright for all materials in the collection. An individual depicted in a reproduction has privacy rights as outlined in Title 45 CFR, part 46 (Protection of Human Subjects). For further information, please review the J. Willard Marriott Library’s Use Agreement and Reproduction Request forms.
Biographical / Historical
James Stephens Brown (1828-1902) was born 4 July 1828, in Davidson County, North Carolina, to Daniel Brown and Elizabeth Stephens. He became a convert to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) and was baptized in 1844. He joined the as they were being driven from Illinois. After Brown arrived on the Missouri river he joined the Mormon Battalion and marched to California. In 1847 he was discharged and he and others of the Mormon Battalion found employment with a Mr. Sutter on the Sacramento River, where they discovered gold. In 1848 he arrived in Salt Lake Valley; he was ordained a Seventy and became a member of the third Quorum of Seventy. In the fall of 1849 he was called on a mission to the Society Islands, where he experienced several dangerous hardships. After a time in the Society Islands he was expelled by French authorities. He returned to Utah, and was for a number of years closely associated with Indian missions. 23 September 1862, he returned to Salt Lake City after having filled a successful mission to Great Britain. Soon after his return he met with a severe accident, losing one of his legs, and was thus maimed for the remainder of his days. Although Brown had a very limited education he was said to be an interesting speaker and spent much of his time lecturing in different parts of the Territory. In 1892-1893 he filled another successful mission to the Society Islands. In 1898 he was invited to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the discovery of gold in California; being one of the original discoverers, he was made a guest of honor. Brown married four wives. His first wife was Lybia Jane Tanner. The names of her children were Lybia J., Rachel Elizabeth, Emeretta, James T., Zina May, August, and Valentine. He then married Rebecca Ann McBride in September 1854; the names of her children were Deseret, Daniel, Alveretta, Vantile Mac, Burtina, Pauline, Homer, and Alphonso. O 31 January 1863 he married Elia Lester; she bore him nine children, their names were Leo, Zimania Wilford, Elando, Annie Eliza, Frank Lester, Charles, Sarah-Emma, and Ada. He married Elizabeth Clegg, his last wife, on 4 March 1872; her children were Mary Lillious, Gaurdello, Mark C., Benjamin Joseph, Louetta, and Myrtle J. At his death Brown was survived by three of his wives and twenty-one of the above named children. Brown died 25 March 1902, at his home in Salt Lake City, leaving a large posterity. Before his death he wrote an interesting sketch of his life which was published under the title Life of a Pioneer, being the Autobiography of James S. Brown, in which the details of Brown's life are depicted.
Extent
0.5 Linear Feet
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The James Stephens Brown diaries [typescripts] (1849-1892) contain transcriptions of five of James Stephens Brown's journals. These journals cover fragments of more than fourty-six years of his life, primarily those devoted to missionary work in Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri, Great Britain, Tahiti, and to a missionary settlement south and southeast of the Colorado River.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Louetta Brown Tanner in 1968.
Existence and Location of Originals
Originals held at Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah.
Existence and Location of Originals
Originals at Brigham Young University.
Processing Information
Processed by Elva C. Dean in 1970.
- Brown, James S. (James Stephens), 1828-1902 -- Diaries
- Diaries
- Latter Day Saints -- Diaries
- Latter Day Saints -- Indian missions -- Navajo
- Latter Day Saints -- Missionary experiences
- Latter Day Saints -- Missions -- England
- Latter Day Saints -- Missions -- Iowa
- Latter Day Saints -- Missions -- Tahiti
- Mormonism (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)
Creator
- Title
- Inventory of the James Stephens Brown diaries [typescripts]
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Finding aid created by Elva C. Dean.
- Date
- 2006 (last modified: 2019)
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English.
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