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George Teasdale papers

 Collection
Identifier: MS 0678

Scope and Contents

The George Teasdale papers (1770-1984) contain information regarding George Teasdale, an apostle of the LDS Church. Included are diaries, patriarchal blessings, correspondence, certificates, agreements, tax and financial documents, property deeds, notes, genealogy charts, and memorabilia. The collection is divided into three sections: personal, family, and religious materials.

Section I of the collection consists entirely of original correspondence which are located in boxes 1-3 and dates 1854-1936. This section reflects the Teasdale, Picton, and Thomas family relationships. An early LDS polygamist, Teasdale married women from both the Picton and Thomas families. His first wife, Emily Brown, died in 1874 before he took other wives. The first box includes a great deal of correspondence between George Teasdale and his wives, namely Emily, Lily, Tilly, Letitia, and Marion. Much of it was written while Teasdale served missions for the LDS Church in Mexico and Great Britain and carried out his apostolic duties throughout Utah. He tells of his various experiences while serving in these capacities and his wives respond with updates on their state of health and general well-being of the family. Although the second and third boxes of this section contain some correspondence with Teasdale, the bulk of it is between the individual listed and other family members.

Section II includes various documents pertaining to Teasdale, his family and descendants, and the LDS Church. These materials can be found in boxes 4-6 and dates from 1770-1984. Most of the documents relating to Teasdale and his family include patriarchal blessings, tax and financial documents, certificates, stock information, and biographical and genealogical materials. Other materials, relating mostly to the LDS Church, include memorabilia, writings, and publications. All of the newspaper publications are photocopies or reprints of the originals. Included are editions of the Deseret News, The Salt Lake Tribune, The Eureka Democrat, The Republic, The Salt Lake Herald, and other papers.

Section III consists entirely of photocopies, located in boxes 7-31; the originals are located at the LDS Church Archives in Salt Lake City. Included are copies of diaries, letterpress books, financial records, day books, notes, and publications that Teasdale wrote and collected. They date from 1853-1906. The diary copies not only contain a record of Teasdale's thoughts and feelings, but may also include memoranda, cash account summaries, names and addresses, and other types of records. The letterpress books largely reflect Teasdale's missionary activities while in England and his duties as an apostle. He corresponds with various people, including his wives, his sons, Brigham Young, Wilford Woodruff, George Q. Cannon, and other members of the LDS Church. The record books contain information on missionary work in England and emigration to the United States. Several of these record books also contain recipes and food and supply lists. Some of the various record books in this section may also include correspondence, notes, receipts, or other documents. The nineteen microfilms from which these materials were copied can be found in the Manuscripts Division microfilm cabinet.

Dates

  • 1770-1984

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.

Some items from boxes 4 and 5 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. Photocopies are available in the collection for research use.

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

George Teasdale (1831-1907) was an apostle for the LDS Church from 1882 until his death in 1907. He spent most of his life preaching the beliefs of the LDS Church in England, Scotland, the United States, and in Mexico.

George Teasdale, the son of William Russell Teasdale and Harriet Henrietta Tidey, was born on 8 December 1831 in London, England. He ventured into the area of architecture, then upholstery after getting his education, but didn't stay long in either. In 1852, he joined the LDS Church and began his lifelong endeavors to share the teachings of his newfound faith. A year later, while preaching around England, Teasdale met and married his first wife, Emily Emma Brown. She died in 1874. Teasdale continued with his teachings and in 1857 was called to devote all of his time to the ministry by presiding over the Cambridge Conference in England. Two years later he was given charge over the Scottish mission.

Teasdale was released from his duties, in Great Britain in 1861, so he could join other members of the LDS Church in their trek to the Salt Lake Valley. However, before reaching the valley, he was called to assist in keeping the accounts of LDS emigration. He finally reached his destination in September of the same year. For the next seven years, Teasdale's activities included teaching school, managing Brigham Young's merchandise store, and managing the LDS Church's General Tithing Store. In 1868, he was called back to England to serve another mission, this time in the Millennial Star office. A year later, Teasdale returned to the United States to assist in the LDS emigration business in New York, returning to Salt Lake City in 1869.

Teasdale was employed by Zion's Co-operative Mercantile Institution for the next few years until he again was called to serve a mission, this time to the Southern States, namely Tennessee, North Carolina, and Virginia. He served there from 1875 to 1876. From that time until he was called to serve as an apostle in 1882, Teasdale took charge of the Juab Stake, worked in the Nephi tithing office, acted as president of the Nephi Co-operative Store, and served in the 1880 and 1882 sessions of the Utah legislature.

In October 1882, Teasdale was called as an apostle of the LDS Church under President John Taylor. For the next few years, he spent time traveling around Utah, Nevada, and Arizona teaching the saints and Indians in those areas. In 1886, he was called on a mission to Europe as an assistant to mission president Daniel H. Wells. Teasdale succeeded this president the next year and remained in that capacity until 1890 when he returned home to Utah.

In addition to his travels as a missionary, Teasdale shared his faith by writing tracts such as Glad Tidings of Great Joy and The Restoration of the Everlasting Gospel. These and other writings of his were distributed all over the world. He also shared the gospel with younger generations by teaching primary and Sunday school classes in the various stakes he attended. He served as Stake Superintendent of Sabbath Schools in the Juab Stake and was a member of the Deseret Sunday School Union Board. George Teasdale died in 1907 in Salt Lake City.

Extent

16.5 Linear Feet (31 boxes and 1 oversize folder)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

The George Teasdale papers (1770-1984) contain information regarding George Teasdale, an apostle for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS). Included in the collection are diaries, patriarchal blessings, correspondence, certificates, agreements, tax and financial documents, property deeds, notes, genealogy charts, and memorabilia. The collection is divided into three sections: personal, family, and religious materials.

Arrangement

Organized in three series: I. Correspondence; II. Personal and Family Documents; III. Diaries and Letterpress Books.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Stan Larson in 2001.

Existence and Location of Originals

Originals of diaries and letterpress books located at the LDS Church Archives, Salt Lake City, Utah.

Separated Materials

Photographs were transferred to the Multimedia Section of Special Collections (P0532).

Processing Information

Processed by Lisa DeMille in 2001.
Title
Inventory of the George Teasdale papers
Author
Finding aid created by Lisa DeMille.
Date
2001 (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