George J. Taylor papers

Collection

Identifier: ACCN 1454

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The George J. Taylor papers (1843-1897) contain six volumes of photocopied materials including journals, correspondence, certificates, and legal documents. When John Taylor died, George J. Taylor became the executor of the estate and thereby received many of John Taylor's papers. When George J. Taylor died in 1914, his brother Samuel Y. Taylor received the papers of both John Taylor and George J. Taylor. In 1973, the nephew of Samuel Y. Taylor, Eugene T. Whitaker, turned the papers over to the LDS Church Historian's Office which provided Whitaker photocopies of all the documents. Whitaker managed the papers as President of the John Taylor Family Organization until he died and the papers were turned over to Lewis Taylor, the new President. The papers were then organized and bound before being donated to the J. Willard Marriott Library.

Dates

1843-1897

Creator

Taylor, George John, 1834-1914 (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

George John Taylor (1834-1914) was born in Toronto, Canada, to John and Leonora Taylor. After George's father converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the family left Canada and moved to Kirtland, Ohio. George would make two more moves within a decade with the Latter-day Saints, first to Nauvoo, Illinois, and then to the Salt Lake Valley. After seven short years in Salt Lake City, George once again followed his father to New York City. It was here that John Taylor published the newspaper The Mormon to counter popular notions about the LDS Church. George helped his father in the editorial office and did missionary work in the New York area before returning to Salt Lake in 1857. In 1860, he left Salt Lake City again, this time to serve a mission in England. When he returned, he became involved in various business ventures. Among these were the first bicycle shop in Utah as well as a nail factory, a glass factory, a shoe shop, and contracting for the Union Pacific railroad. In 1859, George became a regent of the University of Deseret (now University of Utah) and was also an instructor. When George's father died in 1887, George became the executor of the estate. George never married and spent most of the rest of his life in mining interests. He died in Salt Lake City.

Extent

1 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

German

Additional Description

Abstract

The George J. Taylor papers (1843-1897) contain six volumes of photocopied materials including journals, correspondence, certificates, and legal documents. Taylor (1834-1914) was a regent of the University of Deseret (now University of Utah) and the oldest son of John Taylor, third president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).