Samantha Tryphena Brimhall Foley autobiography [photocopy]
Collection
Identifier: MS 0591
Scope and Contents
The Samantha Tryphena Brimhall Foley autobiography (ca. 1930) is entitled "Why I Studied Spanish," by Foley. It begins around 1878 when Foley (1858-1948) left the Salt Lake area with her husband and young child in an oxen-train headed for Arizona. It ends around 1930 when Foley, then settled in southern California, was active in church work connected with the Mexican Mission of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The manuscript provides a personal account of the activities of the Southern States Mission in the last two decades of the nineteenth century.
Dates
- 1930s
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 Sketch
Samantha Tryphena Brimhall Foley was born in Ogden, Utah, on 22 March 1858. She was a member of the "community of saints" who settled the San Luis Valley of Southern Colorado, and spent ten years in the villages of Los Cerritos and Manassa. In the Spring of 1888 or 1889, Samantha and her family left Colorado and, traveling in two horse-drawn wagons, followed the Rio Grande to Albuquerque, New Mexico. They arrived in Albuquerque at the time of a diptheria epidemic, and two of her five children died of the disease within a few days of one another. Griefstricken, Samantha prayed, and heard a "sweet small voice," which directed her to study Spanish. She began her study of Spanish while riding on the wagon seat, as she and her family continued on their journey to Mexico. Her knowledge of the language provided purpose and meaning to her life, the remainder of which was spent working with Mexican converts. She helped found the colony of Dublan in the Mexican province of Chihuahua, where she was widowed within the first year. Samantha lived in the colony of Juarez, in Casa Grandes, and in "the city of Mexico" for the next several years, teaching school and acting as an interpreter. She married Andrew L. Foley on 5 January 1899. Their son, Andrew B. Foley, was born two years later. The Foleys returned to Salt Lake City in 1904, where Samantha studied nursing at LDS University. She was certified by the Utah State Medical Board in 1905. As her health was too poor for the practice of nursing, she taught Spanish and worked as a translator. After the death of Andrew L. Foley, Samantha settled in Southern California with her son. While in Southern California, she served as Director of Theology for the Relief Society, did genealogical work, and was active in the movement to include Spanish-taught classes in the local Sunday schools. She died on 5 November 1948, in Rosemead, California.
Extent
0.25 Linear Feet (1 folder)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The Samantha Tryphena Brimhall Foley autobiography (ca. 1930) is entitled "Why I Studied Spanish," by Foley. It begins around 1878 when Foley (1858-1948) left the Salt Lake area with her husband and young child in an oxen-train headed for Arizona. It ends around 1930 when Foley, then settled in southern California, was active in church work connected with the Mexican Mission of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The manuscript provides a personal account of the activities of the Southern States Mission in the last two decades of the nineteenth century.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Sterling M. McMurrin in 1981.
Processing Information
Processed by Karen Carver in 1991.
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- Autobiographies (literary works)
- Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Southern States Mission
- Dublán (Mexico) -- History -- Sources
- Foley, Samantha Tryphena Brimhall, 1858-1948
- Frontier and pioneer life -- 19th century -- Biography
- Frontier and pioneer life -- 20th century -- Biography
- Juárez (Chihuahua, Mexico) -- Biography
- Latter Day Saint pioneers -- 19th century -- Biography
- Latter Day Saint pioneers -- 20th century -- Biography
- Latter Day Saint women -- West (U.S.) -- 20th century -- Biography
- Mexico -- Emigration and immigration -- Religious aspects -- Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints -- 19th century
- Mormonism (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)
- Photocopies
- Pioneers
- Relief Society (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)
- San Luis Valley (Colo. and N.M.) -- Biography
- Typescripts
Creator
- Title
- Inventory of the Samantha Tryphena Brimhall Foley autobiography [photocopy]
- Author
- Finding aid created by Karen Carver.
- Date
- 1991 (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