Digital Commons Network^™

Lydia Dunford Alder: The Life Of The Mormon Poet, Suffragist, And Missionary, Sarah Kate Johnson Stanley

Undergraduate Honors Theses

This thesis examines the life of Lydia Dunford Alder (1846–1923), who was a prominent but now nearly forgotten early Mormon writer, women’s rights activist, missionary, and leader of various women’s clubs. A respected member of the late-nineteenth– and early-twentieth-century Salt Lake City, Utah community, Alder was the colleague and friend of various distinguished Mormon leaders. While these leaders have been studied in-depth by scholars, Alder’s similar achievements have never been examined in scholarship. As the first comprehensive biography ever written on Alder, this thesis explores her birth in England (1846), her immigration to the United States (1850), her return to …

Image Of Yoga: Instagram, Identity, And Western Imagination, Brigid Nell Boll

Senior Projects Spring 2017

Senior Project submitted to The Division of Social Studies of Bard College.

Frank Lloyd Wright: Influences And Worldview, Brock Stafford

M.A. in Philosophy of History Theses

Wright was uniquely qualified to see the changing face of America. Born two years after the assassination of Abraham Lincoln and the end of the Civil War, Wright lived to nearly ninety-two years of age. During his lifetime, he lived through the American Industrial Revolution, both World Wars, the Wright Brothers flight, the invention of television.... Architecturally, he straddles the gap between the neoclassical period of the 19th century, marked by the admiration of Greek and Roman architecture, and the modernism of the 20th. Philosophically, he was a product of the early 19th century Romanticism, but followed his own, often …

John B. Fairbanks: The Man Behind The Canvas, Rachel Cope

Theses and Dissertations

A biographical sketch of artist John B. Fairbanks, this thesis primarily probes Fairbanks' evolution as an artist. From amateur, to art missionary, to professional artist, Fairbanks influenced his cultural surroundings in Utah and in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His commitment to his career and his impact on others significantly affected Utah and Mormon art. Thus it is important to understand and recognize the full portrait of John B. Fairbanks.

John B. Fairbanks, born on 27 December 1855, developed an interest in art while still young. Until reaching the age of thirty-four, he often worked as an …

A Biographical Study Of Elizabeth D. Kane, Darcee D. Barnes

Theses and Dissertations

This is a biographical study of Elizabeth D. Kane (1836-1909), travel writer and wife of Thomas L. Kane, non-Mormon friend of the nineteenth-century Mormons of Utah. Primary source materials are mainly Elizabeth's fourteen diaries (spanning the years 1853 to 1909), letters and narrative accounts. Elizabeth was greatly influenced by Thomas, while maintaining her independence. She was interested in religion and feminist issues, and those interests, combined with her marital relationship, shaped her life's direction. Thomas Kane's interest in the Mormons also influenced Elizabeth's religious and feminist views, and she initially struggled with accepting Thomas's work for them because of their …

Folly In The Garden: The Religious Satire Of Erasmus And Voltaire, John M. Beller

Honors Theses

In his introductory editorial comments on Erasmus' letters, literary critic Robert M. Adams commented that "Like Voltaire, with whom it's commonplace to compare him, Erasmus was a prodigious correspondent." Erasmus and Voltaire shared much more than an affinity for writing letters. A list of their similarities reads much like one of those supposedly eerie lists of coincidences between the presidencies of Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy. The dates of their respective births remain uncertain. Both may have been illegitimate during times when ancestry mattered a great deal, and neither was born noble. Both rose above their beginnings by means …

The Sound Of Utah: The Presence Of Geographical Elements In Music Written About The State Of Utah, Kamia Walton Holt

Theses and Dissertations

Music is a by-product of place and time. Musicians have opportunities to use the idea of place in their music. Thus, music has regionally distinctive characteristics which reflect human perceptions of the physical environment. Artists of the past and present focus on geographical themes, and paint a picture of ‘place’ in their music. This thesis focuses on the music of a geographical location: Utah. Musicians wrote of Utah in hymns of the past, and contemporary musicians continue to write music about Utah. This thesis answers the questions: Is music characterized by geography? How have the local musicians been influenced by …

A Rethinking Of The Social Gospel And Its Implications For The Church In Modern America, Kyle M. Wiggins

Honors Theses

The Church in America is at a turning point in her history. This author believes, like Rauschenbusch, that the future health of the Church in the United States depends primarily on how it responds to the growing sense of class consciousness in the United States, the dichotomy between "them" and "us," the "poor and lazy" and the "thrifty and productive."

Churches are responding in a number of ways. Political conservative churches have chosen to limit their focus to a few scattered social causes, namely abortion, homosexuals, and prayer in schools. They generally take the traditional position that the United States …

Aberrant Mormon Settlers: The Homesteaders Of Highland, Utah, David T. Durfey

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis is a history of the original thirty-seven homesteaders of Highland, Utah. It covers a period of about twenty-five years, 1875-1900. The study provides an example of a aberrant community which was not established in the same, distinctive style of settlement as the typical Mormon village. In addition it describes the relationship between the original residents and non-residents of Highland with the surrounding villages of Lehi, American Fork, and Alpine.

Study Of The Pioneers Of Providence, Utah And Their Children, Hazel Mclean Tibbitts

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis poses a number of questions about the pioneers and their decendants: Where did the pioneer settlers of Providence come from? What skills and resources did they bring with them to "tame" the wilderness? Did they come as family units or as single men? What happened as the community grew and the resources were limited? Where did the settlers go or what did they do as the land became scarce? Was limited land the reason for the movement out of the community or were there other considerations? What effects did emigration have on the family ties of the second …

Belle S. Spafford: Leader Of Women, Gayle Morby Chandler

Theses and Dissertations

This historical/descriptive study analyzes the speaking career of Belle S. Spafford and attempts to document the relationship between her speaking and her influence with her peers. For over fifty years, the dedicated woman served as a spokesman for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the National Council of Women, briding the gap between the secular and religious world of women. A rhetorical analysis of four speeches indicates the following findings: Mrs. Spafford appealed to her audiences through a focus on shared values; she had credibility because of her positions of authority and used it wisely; she effectively …

A Life Of Humble Fear: The Biography Of Daniel Sommer, 1850-1940, James Stephen Wolfgang

Graduate Thesis Collection

No abstract provided.

Some Demographic Aspects Of One Hundred Early Mormon Converts, 1830-1837, Laurence Milton Yorgason

Theses and Dissertations

Questions regarding the conditions of the origin of Mormonism have been asked repeatedly since Joseph Smith first made his claims public regarding his religious experiences. The same questions have been asked by both proponents and opponents of Smith's story: "How did Mormonism begin?", "Who was Joseph Smith?", "What was Joseph Smith?", "What did he do?" If it could be shown that Joseph Smith was an honest, upright, and sincere person, then the religion he produced was more likely to be reliable and truthful. If it could be shown that Joseph Smith was a fraud and a deceiver, then presumably, the …

George Romney In 1968, From Front-Runner To Drop-Out, An Analysis Of Cause, Richard M. Eyre

Theses and Dissertations

The meteoric political decline of George Romney is unparalleled in political history and in the history of presidential campaigning. In the space of one year, the man evolved from the overwhelming presidential favorite of Republicans, Democrats, and Independents alike to a presidential drop out, criticized severely and even mocked by press and public alike.

There are many opinions as to why this phenomenon occurred. The press has opinions, the public has opinions, and the people closest to George Romney have opinions.

A step by step analysis of Romney's campaign casts light on these opinions and completely discredits some while validating …

A Study Of The Life Of John Hafen: Artist With An Analysis And Critical Review Of His Work, William Lee Roy Conant Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

This study presents the life facts of John Hafen and examines his attitude changes as well as the changes in his art throughout his life. It catalogs with photographs the majority of Hafen's paintings.

John Hafen's personal letters were searched, as well as books, manuscripts and newspapers for information germane to this thesis. Personal interviews were held with people who knew him best and his paintings were found, photographed, and examined for use in this thesis.

John Hafen's life of fifty-four years was dedicated to his family, his church, and his art.

Adam Samuel Bennion, Educator, Businessman And Apostle, John Andrew Braithwaite

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to provide a biography of Adam Samuel Bennion. Special emphasis has been given to his contributions in the fields of education, business, civic affairs, and church responsibilities.

Adam S. Bennion was born in 1886 in Taylorsville, Utah. He became active in educational and Church activities early in his life. He attended Taylorsville public schools, the University of Utah, Columbia University in New Yourk and graduated from the University of California with his Ph.D. degree. He served as Superintendent of the LDS Church Schools and was instrumental in the establishment of the LDS seminary program …

A History Of The Manti Temple, Glen R. Stubbs

Theses and Dissertations

The history of the Manti temple, in a sense, began the first winter the Mormon Pioneers spent in Sanpete Valley. Because of the extreme cold they move to "temple hill" for protection. This same hill later became the site of the temple.

It had been predicted by Heber C. Kimball that a temple would someday be built on this spot. By 1873 plans were being made to this end. Preparations for construction were soon in progress and on April 25, 1877, the site was dedicated by President Brigham Young.

The Versatile W.W. Phelps: Mormon Writer, Educator, And Pioneer, Walter D. Bowen

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study has been to write a biography on the life of the versatile William Wines Phelps in conjunction with his contributions to and influence on the issues and problems of Mormon Pioneer History from Kirtland, Ohio, to the Great Basin.

Prior to the year 1831, W.W. Phelps was active in the State of New York as an Anti-Masonic newspaper editor. The Anti-Masonic movement had grown out of the political enviornment that existed throughout the nation and especially in the State of New York during that period of time.

During the year of 1831, W.W. Phelps completely …

John J. Mcclellan, Tabernacle Organist, Annie Rosella Compton

Theses and Dissertations

In order to understand the significance of music in our culture, we must learn of music history. This history includes not only a few men who have been revered through the centuries, but many who, during their lifetime and in their locality or country, exerted influence to some degree.

Such a man was John Jasper McClellan. He studied under some of the world's great teachers and received their praise; founded the University of Michigan Symphony Orchestra; directed the Salt Lake Opera Company, the Salt Lake Choral Society, and the Salt Lake Symphony Orchestra; founded the Utah Conservatory of Music; taught …

History Of Erastus Snow, Joseph William Olson

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this Thesis has been to write, for the first time, an authentic, unbiased "Biography of Erastus Fairbanks Snow, Missionary, Pioneer, and Colonizer."

Biography was chosen at the suggestion of Dr. Lowry Nelson, Professor of Rural Social Economics, of Brigham Young University, and because of a natural fondness for western history, and a sincere appreciation for the men and women who made "The West" liveable. For the particular subject chosen, I am indebted to Dr. William J. Snow, Professor of History at Brigham Young University.