Madeline R. McQuown papers
Collection
Identifier: MS 0143
Scope and Contents
The Madeline R. McQuown papers (1803-1976) is divided into two main sections. The first contains personal materials, correspondence, and manuscripts. The majority of the correspondence is from Dale L. Morgan. His numerous letters to Mrs. McQuown, spanning the years 1940 to 1968, are filled with information on Mormon history and advice for the biography on Brigham Young that she was writing. Also included is correspondence between Dale Morgan and Fawn Brodie, Juanita Brooks, Wallace Stegner, Charles Kelly, and others. The letters are a valuable insight into Dale Morgan's research, much of which he shared with Madeline McQuown.
The personal materials are scant and are composed mostly of awards, miscellaneous receipts, and notes. A charcoal portrait of Madeline, by Dale L. Morgan, and childhood photographs of Mr. Morgan are especially interesting.
Although there are few items that can be called personal, Madeline McQuown's poems and short stories offer an insight into her character. There are examples of her poetry from the years 1927 to 1966; many short stories, essays (complete and incomplete), and drafts for several novels; a complete copy of an unpublished novel, "The American Dream"; and six incomplete chapters to "The King of Deseret, The Life of Brigham Young." Madeline's personal reminiscences of LaConte Stewart, Dale Morgan, and Bernard DeVoto are among the short stories and essays.
The collection also contains several short stories by Dale Morgan; typed drafts and page and galley proofs for several of Mr. Morgan's books; a final draft of Jedediah Smith with Dale Morgan's editorial notes and revisions; and an unrevised first draft of the first three chapters of Dale Morgan's history of the Mormon church.
The second and largest section of the collection is composed of Madeline McQuown's research files that she collected over a period of years in preparation for her biography of Brigham Young. In the early 1940s, with the encouragement of friends, she began the biography, and though she worked on it until her death in 1975, it was never completed. The collection includes a complete manuscript for chapter one only and various incomplete and rough drafts of five additional chapters. Whether a complete manuscript ever existed is not known. Rinehart and Company contracted for publication of the book, but dropped their option in 1953 when no manuscript seemed imminent.
The research files reflect Madeline McQuown's method of investigation as well as information provided by associates and friends. Dale Morgan was the principal contributor, and the collection contains much of his valuable work. As state supervisor for the Utah Works Progress Administration Federal Writers' Project, Dale Morgan obtained a fairly complete file of the pioneer biographies gathered throughout the state. These sketches were collected through interviews or taken from diaries, journals, or memoirs, and are, for the most part, very brief, although there are complete transcripts of some lengthy ones. Madeline McQuown acquired a portion of these WPA biography files from Dale Morgan for use in her writing.
The biographical research information in the collection begins with Mrs. McQuown's notes, copies of some published works, and lists of materials available about Joseph Smith and Brigham Young. Two separate alphabetical files follow--the first contains the WPA biographies and the second a group of biographical notes and sketches from a variety of sources. The biographical sketches include photocopies of journals, extracts from diaries and journals, and brief notes.
Because Madeline McQuown's biography of Brigham Young was to be comprehensive and to view the man as a product of his times, she collected background materials about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and religions in America. Her research notes about the LDS Church come from a variety of manuscripts and published sources, including the "Journal History" of the LDS church, the Journal of Discourses, and material from numerous historical societies and libraries. The materials have been divided into several categories such as organization and doctrine; historical periods; schisms of the original church, especially following the death of Joseph Smith; emigration to Utah; and subjects relative to Utah, 1847 to 1900. Of particular interest are the files of anti-Mormon publications. Most of these are notes or typescripts of pamphlets dating from the early periods of the LDS Church, 1830 to about 1850. There are some photocopies of pamphlets and statements, and some copies of recent articles and publications. Some pro-Mormon pamphlets and scholarly works on the LDS Church are also included. Many of these pamphlets were provided by Dale Morgan.
Correspondence from individuals contemporary with the growth and development of the LDS Church is filed alphabetically. The letters copied by Dale Morgan from the National Archives files are divided by department and filed chronologically. Correspondence from other libraries or historical repositories include brief extracts, typescripts, and some photocopies.
Included in the collection are five boxes of extracts from newspapers. These are the result of research done by Dale Morgan for his projected multi-volume history of the LDS Church. He gave them to Mrs. McQuown to assist her research on Brigham Young. From eastern and California newspapers, the extracts are all related to the growth and development of the LDS Church. They have been, substantially, left as organized by Dale Morgan with a complete name and state index filed with the newspapers. One box of notes and extracts from eastern and Utah newspapers by Mrs. McQuown is also included.
Dale Morgan's references from the "Journal History" of the LDS Church and other miscellaneous notes are contained in Boxes 50 and 51. Notes showing the influence of Dale Morgan, Fawn M. Brodie, and others on Madeline McQuown's concept of the Brigham Young biography are also filed in Box 51.
The personal materials are scant and are composed mostly of awards, miscellaneous receipts, and notes. A charcoal portrait of Madeline, by Dale L. Morgan, and childhood photographs of Mr. Morgan are especially interesting.
Although there are few items that can be called personal, Madeline McQuown's poems and short stories offer an insight into her character. There are examples of her poetry from the years 1927 to 1966; many short stories, essays (complete and incomplete), and drafts for several novels; a complete copy of an unpublished novel, "The American Dream"; and six incomplete chapters to "The King of Deseret, The Life of Brigham Young." Madeline's personal reminiscences of LaConte Stewart, Dale Morgan, and Bernard DeVoto are among the short stories and essays.
The collection also contains several short stories by Dale Morgan; typed drafts and page and galley proofs for several of Mr. Morgan's books; a final draft of Jedediah Smith with Dale Morgan's editorial notes and revisions; and an unrevised first draft of the first three chapters of Dale Morgan's history of the Mormon church.
The second and largest section of the collection is composed of Madeline McQuown's research files that she collected over a period of years in preparation for her biography of Brigham Young. In the early 1940s, with the encouragement of friends, she began the biography, and though she worked on it until her death in 1975, it was never completed. The collection includes a complete manuscript for chapter one only and various incomplete and rough drafts of five additional chapters. Whether a complete manuscript ever existed is not known. Rinehart and Company contracted for publication of the book, but dropped their option in 1953 when no manuscript seemed imminent.
The research files reflect Madeline McQuown's method of investigation as well as information provided by associates and friends. Dale Morgan was the principal contributor, and the collection contains much of his valuable work. As state supervisor for the Utah Works Progress Administration Federal Writers' Project, Dale Morgan obtained a fairly complete file of the pioneer biographies gathered throughout the state. These sketches were collected through interviews or taken from diaries, journals, or memoirs, and are, for the most part, very brief, although there are complete transcripts of some lengthy ones. Madeline McQuown acquired a portion of these WPA biography files from Dale Morgan for use in her writing.
The biographical research information in the collection begins with Mrs. McQuown's notes, copies of some published works, and lists of materials available about Joseph Smith and Brigham Young. Two separate alphabetical files follow--the first contains the WPA biographies and the second a group of biographical notes and sketches from a variety of sources. The biographical sketches include photocopies of journals, extracts from diaries and journals, and brief notes.
Because Madeline McQuown's biography of Brigham Young was to be comprehensive and to view the man as a product of his times, she collected background materials about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and religions in America. Her research notes about the LDS Church come from a variety of manuscripts and published sources, including the "Journal History" of the LDS church, the Journal of Discourses, and material from numerous historical societies and libraries. The materials have been divided into several categories such as organization and doctrine; historical periods; schisms of the original church, especially following the death of Joseph Smith; emigration to Utah; and subjects relative to Utah, 1847 to 1900. Of particular interest are the files of anti-Mormon publications. Most of these are notes or typescripts of pamphlets dating from the early periods of the LDS Church, 1830 to about 1850. There are some photocopies of pamphlets and statements, and some copies of recent articles and publications. Some pro-Mormon pamphlets and scholarly works on the LDS Church are also included. Many of these pamphlets were provided by Dale Morgan.
Correspondence from individuals contemporary with the growth and development of the LDS Church is filed alphabetically. The letters copied by Dale Morgan from the National Archives files are divided by department and filed chronologically. Correspondence from other libraries or historical repositories include brief extracts, typescripts, and some photocopies.
Included in the collection are five boxes of extracts from newspapers. These are the result of research done by Dale Morgan for his projected multi-volume history of the LDS Church. He gave them to Mrs. McQuown to assist her research on Brigham Young. From eastern and California newspapers, the extracts are all related to the growth and development of the LDS Church. They have been, substantially, left as organized by Dale Morgan with a complete name and state index filed with the newspapers. One box of notes and extracts from eastern and Utah newspapers by Mrs. McQuown is also included.
Dale Morgan's references from the "Journal History" of the LDS Church and other miscellaneous notes are contained in Boxes 50 and 51. Notes showing the influence of Dale Morgan, Fawn M. Brodie, and others on Madeline McQuown's concept of the Brigham Young biography are also filed in Box 51.
Dates
- 1803-1976
Creator
- McQuown, Madeline Reeder, 1906-1975 (Person)
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 Sketch
Madeline Reeder McQuown (1906-1975) was born 31 March 1906 in Ogden, Utah. She was educated in the public schools in Ogden and then attended Weber College and the University of Utah. Although she spent several years in San Francisco and San Jose, California, she lived most of her life in Ogden. An early marriage to Jarvis Thurston, an instructor of mathematics at Weber College, ended in 1940. On 28 January 1941, she married Thomas McQuown. Throughout her life Madeline McQuown's greatest interest was writing. Her early years were spent writing poetry and fiction. In the early 1930s she attended the Breadloaf School for Writers at Middlebury College in Vermont. Her poem "To Those Unsuspecting" was published in 1939 in an anthology by the students and faculty of Breadloaf, including Robert Frost. Later her attention turned to researching and writing a biography of Brigham Young, which she never completed. In addition Mrs. McQuown wrote numerous essays on Utah and the Mormons and book reviews. Unfortunately, few of her published works are available. Dale Morgan and Madeline McQuown worked together on the Works Progress Administration (WPA) Federal Writers' Project, and during the 1930s and forties they corresponded frequently. In Morgan's correspondence there are commentaries on the works of Utah's most noted historians including Fawn M. Brodie, Juanita Brooks, and Bernard DeVoto, whom Mrs. McQuown greatly admired. It was with Dale Morgan's advice and support that Mrs. McQuown worked for thirty years on her biography of Brigham Young. Madeline McQuown also corresponded with LeConte Stewart, who had been her high school art instructor, and collected many of his paintings. With these historians, critics, and artists, Madeline McQuown shared a fascination and love for the history and culture of the West. Mrs. McQuown died in Ogden on 29 May 1975.
Extent
18 Linear Feet (52 boxes, 20 microfilm reels, and 3 oversize folders)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The Madeline R. McQuown papers (1803-1976) contain some of McQuown's research and works. While the collection does contain some of McQuown's more personal works, such as some of her poetry, the collection deals mainly with her research. Her research was focused on Brigham Young and the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the LDS Church).
Separated Materials
See also the Madeline Reeder McQuown photograph collection (P0143) and audio-visual materials (A0143) in the Multimedia Division of Special Collections.
Processing Information
Processed by Della L. Dye, Marlene Lewis and Susan Neel in 1977.
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- Autobiographies
- Biographies
- Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints -- History
- Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.)
- Diaries
- Facsimiles
- Federal Writers' Project (Utah) -- Archives
- Frontier and pioneer life -- Utah -- 19th century -- Sources
- Genealogical tables
- Interviews
- Latter Day Saint churches -- Doctrines
- Latter Day Saint churches -- History
- Latter Day Saint converts -- 19th century -- Archives
- Latter Day Saint pioneers -- 19th century -- Archives
- Latter Day Saint women -- 19th century -- Biography
- Latter Day Saints -- 19th century -- Archives
- Latter Day Saints -- 19th century -- Biography
- Literature -- Women authors
- Manuscript preparation (Authorship)
- Manuscripts
- McQuown, Madeline Reeder, 1906-1975 -- Archives
- Microfilms
- Morgan, Dale L. (Dale Lowell), 1914-1971 -- Archives
- Morgan, Dale L. (Dale Lowell), 1914-1971 (Author)
- Mormonism (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)
- Mountain Meadows Massacre, Utah, 1857
- Nauvoo (Ill.) -- Expulsion of the Latter Day Saints
- Newspapers
- Personal correspondence
- Poetry
- Polygamy -- Religious aspects -- Latter Day Saint churches
- Portraits
- Religious materials
- Short stories
- Women authors, American -- Utah -- Archives
- Women church historians -- Utah -- Archives
- Young, Brigham, 1801-1877
Creator
- McQuown, Madeline Reeder, 1906-1975 (Person)
- Title
- Inventory of the Madeline R. McQuown papers
- Author
- Finding aid prepared by Della L. Dye, Marlene Lewis, and Susan Neel.
- Date
- 1977 (last modified: 2019 and 2024)
- 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