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Brigham Young papers

 Collection
Identifier: MS 0566

Scope and Contents

The Brigham Young papers (1857, 1876-1877, 1908) mainly consist of copied documents and typescripts relating to the religious and civic activities of Brigham Young. Included are correspondence, diaries from 1837-1857, proclamation, three holograph pages from his will, and microfilm of letter books and official papers from his time as governor of Utah Territory (1849-1857).

The original items in box 1, folders 7 and 21 have been removed and placed in Reserve. Access must be given by the Manuscripts Curator and by appointment. An archivist must remain with the items if being used.

Dates

  • 1857
  • 1876-1877
  • 1908

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.

The original items in box 1, folders 7 and 21 have been removed and placed in Reserve. Access must be given by the Manuscripts Curator and by appointment. An archivist must remain with the items if being used.

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

Brigham Young (1801-1877) was born in the state of Vermont. He later moved to New York where he first encountered the Mormon movement. In 1835 he was one of the first twelve men to be called apostles in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS). Due to the death and apostacy of the two apostles that had seniority over him, Brigham Young quickly became a major force in the LDS Church and articulate defender of Joseph Smith, the Mormon leader. When Smith was killed in 1844, Brigham Young stepped forward to lead the LDS Church. Due to unfavorable political conditions against the Mormon population, Young led several thousand Latter-day Saints across the Great Plains and into what is now Utah. Having established Salt Lake City in 1847, he quickly moved to settle the Intermountain West. He was so successful that by the time the Transcontinental Railroad pulled into Utah in 1869, Mormons were the dominant political influence in the region. He wore the hats of a religious leader and a political leader, becoming the second Mormon prophet and the first governor of the Utah Territorry. Many of his stances and statements were loved and hated yet he proved himself as a shrewd political and religious leader. He died in Salt Lake City in 1877.

Extent

2 Linear Feet (1 box, 1 oversize map case folder, 8 reels of microfilm)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

The Brigham Young papers (1857, 1876-1877, 1908) consist of documents relating to the religious and civic activities of Brigham Young. Included are correspondence, diaries (1837-1857), proclamations, three holograph pages from his will, and microfilm of letter books and official papers from his time as governor of Utah Territory (1849-1857). Brigham Young was the second leader of the LDS Church and was responsible for the movement of the Mormons to the Salt Lake Valley.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Purchased from James Cannon in 1990.

Donated by Nannette Poll Allen in 1998.

Transferred from Salt Lake City Public Library in 2010.

Existence and Location of Originals

Original letter books and governor's papers in LDS Church Historical Department, Salt Lake City, Utah.

Processing Information

Processed by Lisa DeMille in 2000.

Addenda processed by Karen Carver in 2011.
Title
Inventory of the Brigham Young papers
Author
Finding aid created by Lisa DeMille.
Date
2000 (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