Skip to main content

B. Carmon Hardy papers

 Collection
Identifier: ACCN 3034

Scope and Contents

The B. Carmon Hardy papers consist of his writings and research materials regarding American history and Mormon polygamy. Included in the collection are his academic teaching materials.

Boxes 228-251 were processed in 2022. As a result of the donation, the papers were divided into two series: 1. B. Carmon Hardy and 2. Kamillia M. Hardy. The addenda consists primarily of diaries written by B. Carmon Hardy and Kamillia M. Hardy. Loose materials such as entries, printed materials, and correspondence were often placed between diary pages. Kamillia's diaries are written in English, French, and shorthand. The general materials in B. Carmon Hardy's series includes correspondence, greeting cards, printed materials, clippings, and writings. These items were originally grouped together and maintained.

Dates

  • 1765-2021

Creator

Language of Materials

Collection materials are in English.

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 Note

B. (Blaine) Carmon Hardy (1934-2016) was born in Vernal, Utah on December 24, 1934 and graduated from High School in Washington in 1953. He married Kamillia Compton on July 31, 1954 and received his B.A. from Washington State University in 1957 and an M.A. Degree from Brigham Young University in 1959. Thereafter he was a Teaching Fellow and completed further graduate work at Wayne State University in Detroit. He was awarded a Ph.D. degree from Wayne State in 1963.



In 1961 Carmon began teaching as Assistant Professor of the History and Philosophy of Education at Brigham Young University. In 1966 he resigned from Brigham Young University and accepted an appointment as Assistant Professor of History at California State University, Fullerton. Carmon taught at Fullerton (where he became a Professor and Department Chair) until 1998. Because of his love for teaching he continued to teach on a part time basis as Professor Emeritus until 2016. He also taught courses at the University of California, Irvine; California State University, Los Angeles; Chapman University, El Toro Campus; and Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, California.



During his career Carmon was recognized for his outstanding teaching skills and for his mentoring of students. He received California State University's Meritorious Performance Award for Excellence in Teaching (1988); and the History Student's Association Award for Outstanding Mentoring of Students (2002). Carmon mentored and inspired many students throughout his more than half century of teaching.



Carmon was a recognized scholar, meticulous researcher, and gifted writer on a wide range of topics including the Third and Fourth Amendments to the United States Constitution. A sample of his articles include: "The Emperor Julian and his School Law"; "Privacy: A Constitutional Right?"; and "The Third Amendment." He also co-authored a textbook on world history and published six other books on a variety of subjects.



Carmon wrote ground breaking works on Mormon polygamy, beginning with his dissertation "The Mormon Colonies in Northern Mexico, 1885-1912" (1963); his masterful and award-winning Solemn Covenant: The Mormon Polygamous Passage (1992); and his distinguished book Doing the Works of Abraham. Mormon Polygamy: Its Origin Practice and Demise (2007). These works are recognized as the most balanced and nuanced works ever written on this controversial topic.



Carmon received many awards for these and other scholarly works. These included Dialogue's (a Journal of Mormon Thought) Best Article Award (1991) and the Mormon History Association's Best Book Award (1993). In addition The Utah State Historical Society awarded Carmon its Dale Morgan Best Article Award (1981); and it's Best Documentary Book Award (2007). In 2008 the Society awarded Carmon its highest honor when he was installed as a Fellow of the Utah State Historical Society.



Carmon also wrote eloquent and forthright accounts that reflect his own journey as a historian including "Self-Blame and the Manifesto" (1991); "Lords of Creation: Polygamy, the Abrahamic Household, and Mormon Patriarchy (1994) and "Polygamy, Mormonism, and Me (2008).

Kamillia Marlene Hardy was a professor in the Art and Design department at Santa Ana College. She earned her B.A. in English and minored in Spanish and French. She earned her Master's in Drawing and Painting from a California State University in 1987.

Extent

105 Linear Feet (251 boxes)

Abstract

The B. Carmon Hardy papers consist of his writings and research materials regarding American history and Mormon polygamy. Hardy was a professor of history at California State University, Fullerton.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Donated by Kamillia Hardy in 2017 and 2019.

Separated Materials

See also the B. Carmon Hardy photograph collection (P2260) in the Multimedia Division of Special Collections.

Processing Information

Processed by Elizabeth Rogers from 2018-2019 and Gina C Giang in 2022.

Click here to read a statement on harmful language in library records.

Title
Inventory of the B. Carmon Hardy papers, 1765-2016
Author
Finding aid created by Elizabeth Rogers.
Date
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.

Revision Statements

  • 2022: Boxes 228-251 were processed by Gina C Giang in 2022.

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