James David Wardle photograph collection

Collection

Identifier: P1023

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The James D. Wardle photographs (1901-1997) contain materials relating to the religious interests of James D. Wardle (1915-1997). James D. Wardle followed his father in the barber business and was a champion skater. His family had a long history with the LDS and RLDS church, and Wardle held many positions in the RLDS Church (now the Community of Christ). In 1970 he became disaffected from the mainstream RLDS Church, and from that time until his death he participated in local expression of RLDS fundamentalism or restorationism. The 1970s were an exciting time for Mormon history researchers and Wardle's barber shop was a center for the circulation of ideas and texts.

Dates

1901-1997

Creator

Wardle, James D. (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

James Durward Wardle was born on 1 November 1915 in Magna, Utah, to Allan Clyde Wardle and Gretchen Mayberry Wardle. He passed away on 1 November 1997. As a young man Wardle served in the army for a few years. While there he lost all interest in traveling, having been shipped from pillar to post across the country. This sedentary outlook related to his chosen profession: at age 21 he followed his father in the barbershop business when he founded the Wardle Barbershop in downtown Salt Lake City. He operated for sixty-two years. Wardle was also a skater and achieved Utah State championship for three years in dance and figure skating. He married at age 36 and gave up skating. Wardle's grandparents converted to the LDS Church in Europe and migrated with the pioneer companies in the late 19th century. While in Utah they changed affiliation to the RLDS Church. Wardle's parents were strong local members and raised him in the faith. Wardle was an active participant from his youth in the RLDS Church in Utah. From a young age he formed friendships with local church luminaries such as J. W. A. Bailey and with more distant ones like J. T. Curtis. He was an elder in the RLDS Church and served in various positions, including branch president. An intense interest in religion led him into what he termed his avocation, collecting information on the Restoration (Mormon) churches. In 1938 he began issuing a single-sheet periodical called "Sketches" (the name was later changed to "Thoughts" (For Today)). It carried brief articles treating doctrinal and historical issues which often challenged the avowed views of the LDS Church. In the 1960s he wrote a series of articles called "Beliefs of Our Neighbors" for the Priesthood and Leaders' Journal, an organ of the RLDS Church, in which he outlined the basic belief structures of a number of American Christian faiths. By 1975 he described himself as "a member of the RLDS Church, an Elder and one time the Pastor of the Church here in Salt Lake City...More than all that, I am the local Heretic." He became disaffected from the mainstream RLDS Church in the 1970s and from that time until his death he participated in the local expression of RLDS fundamentalism or restorationism. The 1970s were an exciting time for Mormon history researchers and Wardle's shop was a center for the circulation of ideas and texts. At this time various historians' methodologies were being applied for the first time to Mormon historical and scriptural texts, often urging doubt on orthodox interpretations of the Mormon past. Furthermore, at this time many new historical documents were being discovered and released to the public. The barbershop was a gathering place common to a few networks of historians, writers, researchers, and others interested in Mormon history; by agency of Wardle, many documents saw public light. Wardle is remembered by many for his oddball behavior, his knowledge of things Mormon, and his enormous, open, and always growing collection of Mormon and religion-related books and manuscripts.