Erastus and Artimesia Snow papers [typescripts]
Collection
Identifier: MS 0385
Scope and Contents
The Erastus and Artimesia Snow papers (1818-1880) consists of one volume compilation of letters written by Artimesia to her husband, Erastus and eight journals of Erastus arranged into one volume.
The Artimesia Snow volume is a carbon copy of a typescript of her letters. It is 63 pages in length covering the period of time when Apostle Snow was performing missionary work for the LDS Church in the United States and Europe. These letters indicate that as the first wife Artimesia had the responsibility for overseeing his business affairs as well as the affairs of the other wives and their children while he was away on his many missions for his church. It was a role she reluctantly assumed, doing so only because of her faith in the teachings of her church.
Her letters contain some general information about conditions in the Valley such as Indian problems, illnesses suffered by the populace, and prices and crops, but most of the content has to do with concerns of their particular family illness, business worries and the difficulties of living in a polygamous situation.
The Erastus Snow volume is a 273 page carbon copy of a typescript. It was made from copies of Snow's journals which had been hand-written by Stanley S. Ivins, a grandson of Snow. These writings vividly portray the growth of Snow from a young, impressionable farm boy to his position of leadership as an apostle in the LDS Church. At age 14 he accepted the teachings of LDS Missionaries and felt so convinced of the truth of their message that with great willingness he began his life's work of spreading the church's gospel. His missionary assignments kept him away from his family for years on end but he apparently never hesitated to accept them.
His Journals provide excellent descriptions of his early missions in the eastern United States, life in Nauvoo, the trek west in Brigham Young's first party in 1847 and 1848, church progress in England, and the opening of the Danish Mission in 1850.
The excerpts from both volumes retain the typescript's punctuation, spelling and capitalization except in the instance of double s's. The typescript has used "fs" but for easier reading this has been changed to "ss."
The Artimesia Snow volume is a carbon copy of a typescript of her letters. It is 63 pages in length covering the period of time when Apostle Snow was performing missionary work for the LDS Church in the United States and Europe. These letters indicate that as the first wife Artimesia had the responsibility for overseeing his business affairs as well as the affairs of the other wives and their children while he was away on his many missions for his church. It was a role she reluctantly assumed, doing so only because of her faith in the teachings of her church.
Her letters contain some general information about conditions in the Valley such as Indian problems, illnesses suffered by the populace, and prices and crops, but most of the content has to do with concerns of their particular family illness, business worries and the difficulties of living in a polygamous situation.
The Erastus Snow volume is a 273 page carbon copy of a typescript. It was made from copies of Snow's journals which had been hand-written by Stanley S. Ivins, a grandson of Snow. These writings vividly portray the growth of Snow from a young, impressionable farm boy to his position of leadership as an apostle in the LDS Church. At age 14 he accepted the teachings of LDS Missionaries and felt so convinced of the truth of their message that with great willingness he began his life's work of spreading the church's gospel. His missionary assignments kept him away from his family for years on end but he apparently never hesitated to accept them.
His Journals provide excellent descriptions of his early missions in the eastern United States, life in Nauvoo, the trek west in Brigham Young's first party in 1847 and 1848, church progress in England, and the opening of the Danish Mission in 1850.
The excerpts from both volumes retain the typescript's punctuation, spelling and capitalization except in the instance of double s's. The typescript has used "fs" but for easier reading this has been changed to "ss."
Dates
- 1818-1880
Creator
- Snow, Erastus Fairbanks, 1818-1888 (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 / Historical
Erastus Snow (1818-1888) was born at St. Johnsbury, Caledonia County, Vermont on 9 November 1818. He was the son of Levi and Lucina Snow. In 1832 two Elders from the LDS Church visited the area of Vermont where the Snow family lived. The Family consisted of seven brothers and two sisters. With the exception of two brothers and the father the rest of the family joined the LDS Church.
In 1834 when Erastus was 16 he began preaching the LDS gospel and extending his missionary labors into the states of New York and New Hampshire. In 1835 he traveled to Kirtland Ohio where he met the Mormon Prophet, Joseph Smith Jr. Snow continued preaching and traveling and converting many to this new faith. Performing extensive missionary work for his church was to be the pattern of his life. He often went for years on end leaving behind his wives and children.
His first wife was Artimesia Beaman. In 1846 he married a second wife, Minerva, and afterwards took additional wives. Later in 1846 he, along with other in the pioneer camp, left for what was to become Great Salt Lake City entering the valley on 21 July 1847. For about six weeks this advance party plowed and planted Fields and built cabins around the Fort Block. On 12 February 1849 he was called and ordained an Apostle by Brigham Young. He helped to organize the provisional government for the State of Deseret. In the October 1849 Conference he was called on a mission to Denmark to introduce the gospel. He left Salt Lake on 19 October 1849.
At the October Conference in 1853 he was called, along with George A. Smith, to strengthen the settlements in Iron County, Utah. In 1854 he organized a Stake of Zion in St. Louis Missouri and assisted in the emigration of the Saints across the Plains. He performed an additional mission to Europe and spent the last years of his life engaged in traveling among the Saints in Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado continuing to build the church. He died in Salt Lake on 27 May 1888.
Artimesia Beaman Snow (1819-1882) was born on 3 March 1819 at Livonia, Livingston County New York to Alva Beaman and Sarah Burtts. She was baptized into the LDS Church in an early day and moved with her parents to Kirtland, Ohio where her father died in 1837. Her mother and two sisters, Mary and Louisa moved with the Saints to Missouri. She was married to Erastus Snow at Far West on 13 December 1838 by Apostle Heber C. Kimball. She became the mother of eight sons and three daughters. She died on 22 December 1882. Her funeral was held in the St. George tabernacle.
In 1834 when Erastus was 16 he began preaching the LDS gospel and extending his missionary labors into the states of New York and New Hampshire. In 1835 he traveled to Kirtland Ohio where he met the Mormon Prophet, Joseph Smith Jr. Snow continued preaching and traveling and converting many to this new faith. Performing extensive missionary work for his church was to be the pattern of his life. He often went for years on end leaving behind his wives and children.
His first wife was Artimesia Beaman. In 1846 he married a second wife, Minerva, and afterwards took additional wives. Later in 1846 he, along with other in the pioneer camp, left for what was to become Great Salt Lake City entering the valley on 21 July 1847. For about six weeks this advance party plowed and planted Fields and built cabins around the Fort Block. On 12 February 1849 he was called and ordained an Apostle by Brigham Young. He helped to organize the provisional government for the State of Deseret. In the October 1849 Conference he was called on a mission to Denmark to introduce the gospel. He left Salt Lake on 19 October 1849.
At the October Conference in 1853 he was called, along with George A. Smith, to strengthen the settlements in Iron County, Utah. In 1854 he organized a Stake of Zion in St. Louis Missouri and assisted in the emigration of the Saints across the Plains. He performed an additional mission to Europe and spent the last years of his life engaged in traveling among the Saints in Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado continuing to build the church. He died in Salt Lake on 27 May 1888.
Artimesia Beaman Snow (1819-1882) was born on 3 March 1819 at Livonia, Livingston County New York to Alva Beaman and Sarah Burtts. She was baptized into the LDS Church in an early day and moved with her parents to Kirtland, Ohio where her father died in 1837. Her mother and two sisters, Mary and Louisa moved with the Saints to Missouri. She was married to Erastus Snow at Far West on 13 December 1838 by Apostle Heber C. Kimball. She became the mother of eight sons and three daughters. She died on 22 December 1882. Her funeral was held in the St. George tabernacle.
Extent
0.25 Linear Feet (1 Folder)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The Erastus and Artimesia Snow papers [typescripts] (1818-1880) consists of one volume compilation of letters written by Artimesia to her husband, Erastus and eight journals of Erastus arranged into one volume. Erastus Snow was a Mormon apostle and missionary, an associate of Joseph Smith and Brigham Young, and a Mormon pioneer in Utah. Artimesia Snow was the first of his several wives.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of A. Russell Mortensen in 1972.
Existence and Location of Originals
Original letters located at the Utah State Historical Society, Salt Lake City, Utah.
Processing Information
Processed by Nancy V. Young in 1984.
- Correspondence
- Diaries
- Latter Day Saint pioneers -- Emigration
- Latter Day Saints -- Apostles -- Diaries
- Latter Day Saints -- Diaries
- Latter Day Saints -- Missionary experiences -- Scandinavia
- Latter Day Saints -- Missions -- Scandinavia
- Missionaries
- Mormonism (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)
- Pioneers
- Snow, Artimesia -- Correspondence
- Snow, Erastus Fairbanks, 1818-1888 -- Diaries
- Utah -- Biography
Creator
- Snow, Erastus Fairbanks, 1818-1888 (Person)
- Title
- Inventory of the Erastus and Artimesia Snow papers [typescripts]
- Author
- Finding aid prepared by Nancy V. Young
- Date
- 1984 (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