History Commons^™

Mormons In Victorian England, Jan G. Harris

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis is a study of the members of the Manchester Branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1838 – 1860. It is a social examination of the converts and reveals that Manchester Mormons were prototypes of many members who joined the Church throughout England.

Most Mormons were young, and were baptized in their twenties or early thirties. Many were single. The Mormon congregation was representative of the working class citizenry of town. Almost all worked with their hands. Living conditions varied. Some members were affluent by working class standards and some barely survived. However, the …

Hoary-Headed Saints: The Aged In Nineteenth-Century Mormon Culture, Brian D. Reeves

Theses and Dissertations

This study paints a picture of prevalent attitudes toward the Mormon elderly in the nineteenth century. It identifies some characteristics of the aged population, and discusses feelings expressed by individual older persons about different aspects of their lives. It is a first step in gaining a greater understanding of how they fit into the larger pictures of old age and the Mormon Church in nineteenth century America.

Hiram Page: An Historical And Sociological Analysis Of An Early Mormon Prototype, Bruce G. Stewart

Theses and Dissertations

Recent sociological studies propose a model for understanding early Mormonism in its cultural context. Such models, while experimental, suggest commonalities between Mormonism and contemporary millennial sects. Enthusiastic beginnings, early convert response to American millennialism, the containment of charisma through institutionalization, discomfiture of Mormon millenial expectation, and the process of apostasy within the church provide the parameters of this study.

The life of Hiram Page, an early convert, is used as a foil to this end. Page is prototypal of the original band of followers who were attracted to Joseph Smith. Drawn to Joseph for spiritual comfort, Page and his associates …

John Nock Hinton: The Reconstructed Life Of An English Born Mormon Convert Of Virgin City, Utah, Lenora Atkin Meeks

Theses and Dissertations

John Nock Hinton, an Englishman, was converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Birmingham, Warwickshire, England in 1856. The motivating factor in his life, thereafter, was his strong conviction that the Church was the literal kingdom of God on the earth, and its leaders were God's prophets, and its mission was to usher in the last dispensation on the earth, the Millennium, and the second coming of the Savior. His duty, as he saw it, was to labor unceasingly to help accomplish that mission, to work out his own salvation, and to teach his children the …

An Examination Of The Mormon Settlement Of Syracuse, Utah, J. Kent Tucker

Theses and Dissertations

The history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, commonly referred to as the "Mormon" church, has been well researched, yet little has been written about individual community histories. This work centers on the small Mormon community of Syracuse, Utah, located about twenty-five miles north of Salt Lake City on the eastern shore of the Great Salt Lake. From its inception in 1877 through 1987, the community of Syracuse continues to be dominated by the Latter-day Saint (Mormon) influence. This thesis examines the development of this LDS Church settlement, giving emphasis to the early history of the area, …

John C. Freemont's Expeditions Into Utah: An Historical Analysis Of The Explorer's Contributions And Significance To The Region, Alexander L. Baugh

Theses and Dissertations

John Charles Fremont conducted five expeditions to the West during a period of twelve years (1842-1854). On four occasions, during three of these expeditions (1843-1844, 1845, and 1854), the explorer entered the Utah region. His explorations in northern Utah in 1843 focused primarily on the scientific analysis and survey of the Great Salt Lake. In 1844, Fremont again entered the Utah area and made scientific observations and calculations about the region, including accurately defining the geographic region known as the Great Basin, the name given it by Fremont. In 1845, Fremont proceeded through Utah while enroute to California and spent …

Judicial Prosecution Of Prisoners For Lds Plural Marriage: Prison Sentences, 1884-1895, Rosa Mae Mcclellan Evans

Theses and Dissertations

The practice of polygamy among the Mormons during the nineteenth century was vigorously prosecuted by the federal government in response to the demands of those whose political and economic goals could best be served through exploitation of the national attitude toward polygamy. Hundreds of men served prison terms for practicing what they believed was their religious obligation. This study of the sentences from the prison admission records has focused on the comparative severity of the judges, examines age as an influencing factor in sentencing, and compares the sentences of the polygamists with those for crimes against person and property.

The …

The Girl Scouts In Utah: An Administrative History, 1921-1985, Jennifer L. Lund

Theses and Dissertations

Girl Scouting began in Utah in 1921 out of a desire of several wealthy women to help build the character of young girls in Ogden. Exhibiting many elements of the "social gospel" aspect of progressivism, they adopted the Girl Scout program which emphasized preparation for practical living, appreciation of nature, and development of character.
Since the first troops were organized in Ogden, Girl Scouting slowly spread throughout the rest of the state, resulting in several Councils and Lone Troops. After responding to a call for consolidation from the National Girl Scout Council the Utah Scouts made a dramatic change in …

A History Of The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints In Japan From 1948 To 1980, Terry G. Nelson

Theses and Dissertations

The history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Japan from 1948 to 1980 is a study in cross-cultural interaction. Compared to the earlier attempts of the Church in proselytizing the Japanese in the period 1901 to 1924, there are some significant contrasts. The earlier mission is seen as an attempt by a small, relatively unknown, provincial religion, in financial straits, just emerging into the twentieth century, trying to establish itself in a non-christian, fiercely nationalistic, culturally closed nation.

From very humble beginnings, starting with second and third generation Japanese in Hawaii, and with LDS members of …

From Babylon To Zion: The Life Of William Mclachlan, A British Convert To The Mormon Church, Winifred Morse Mclachlan

Theses and Dissertations

William McLachlan, a Scotsman, was converted to the L. D. S. Church, in Braintree, Essex, England in 1859. The motivating factor in his life was his faith that Joseph Smith was a prophet to whom the Lord had restored the precepts of the original Christian church. His journals, his letters, his speeches, his life, were oriented toward one ultimate goal, to build the Kingdom of God and to gain a place for himself and his family in that kingdom.
This thesis is a biography of his life and examines his emigration to Zion, his settlement and adjustment to the frontier, …

The Lds Temple Baptismal Font: Dead Relic Or Living Symbol?, Dale Verden Boman

Theses and Dissertations

The aim of this study, therefore, is to trace briefly the historical origins and development of the LDS temple baptismal font and to investigate the various iconographic meanings which may pertain to it and its role as a potential vital symbol in the Mormon Church.

Preserving The Source: Early Microfilming Efforts Of The Genealogical Society Of Utah, 1938-1950, Kahlile B. Mehr

Theses and Dissertations

The Genealogical Society of Utah initiated a worldwide microfilming program at the advent of modern microfilm technology. It succeeded in negotiating for and filming records because of the religious commitment of its leaders and workers, the financial assistance of the LDS Church, the increased concern for records loss as demonstrated by World War II, the maturation of microfilm technology after the war, and the concentration of many religious records in civil archives. Religious commitment enthused the Society's leaders to persist in their efforts in spite of seemingly insurmountable obstacles. The resources of the Church permitted the filming to continue without …

Warren Stone Snow, A Man In Between: The Biography Of A Mormon Defender, John A. Peterson

Theses and Dissertations

Warren Stone Snow was an early convert to the LDS church who during the Church's first four decades was often involved in defensive roles as Mormonism encountered various conflicts on the American frontier. While he protected the lives of Joseph Smith and Brigham Young and defended Illinois Saints from houseburning mobs and took a leading role in the Battle of Nauvoo, his greatest defensive contributions took place after the Mormons settled in Utah. As commander of the Sanpete Military District, he was one of the leading figures in Mormon defensive efforts during the Utah War in 1857 and later as …

The Mormon Waldensians, Diane Stokoe

Theses and Dissertations

The Waldensians are ancient Protestant Sectarians who have inhabited the Piedmont Region of the Cottian Alps for centuries. They claim to be the oldest Protestant Church in the world. Having survived 700 years of persecution, the Waldensians finally achieved religious liberty in 1848. Two years later Mormon church leader Lorenzo Snow and some other Elders entered the Protestant valleys on a proselyting mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. One hundred-eighty-seven Waldensians were converted to Mormonism. Twenty years later, one-third of these Mormon Waldensians had been excommunicated, one-third had emigrated to Utah and one-third became inactive or …

Women Homesteaders In Utah, 1869-1934, Jill Thorley Warnick

Theses and Dissertations

Much of Utah's history is the story of the relationship of humans and the land. Human perceptions of Utah's land have changed over time and affected the way it has been used. The homestead movement was an important phase in the use of Utah's land. Through federal settlement acts many Utahns obtained title to public land. This study is an attempt to learn more about the relationship between women and the land and about the lives of women in Utah.
The study is based on Utah land records from 1869-1934. Most homesteading activity in Utah took place during this period. …

The Impact Of The Mormon Migration On The Community Of Kirtland, Ohio, 1830-1839, Mark R. Grandstaff

Theses and Dissertations

In the early decades of the nineteenth-century, an era of cultural change and disorientation, many turned to revivals to displace insecure emotionalism and to insure themselves of a place in the emerging society. Others, such as the Mormons sought an all encompassing plan that would dispel confusion and restore order to a decadent society. This search led some Mormons to follow their Prophet to Kirtland, Ohio. Once in Kirtland, various sociological conflicts developed which affected how the citizens of Kirtland would perceive their Mormon neighbors. Tantamount to these conflicts was the rapidly increasing Mormon population which triggered a corresponding rise …

The Nonconformists Of Leeds In The Early Victorian Era: A Study In Social Composition, Susan L. Fales

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examined the Nonconformist denominational membership in the Borough of Leeds during the early Victorian era to determine the social composition of its members. The chapel goers of Old Dissent, represented by the Unitarians, Baptists, Independents, and the Society of Friends, and New Dissent, represented by the Wesleyan Methodists, Methodist New Connexion, Primitive Methodists and the Mormons were the basis for this study. The results of the occupational, residential, family, and migration analysis revealed a surprisingly high percentage of working classes (72) represented among the Dissenters. This fact flys in the face of contemporary observation and historical investigation, which …

Provo In The Jazz Age: A Case Study, Gary C. Kunz

Theses and Dissertations

Many historians have suggested in their writings that much of the social behavior that made the decade of the twenties unique had their origins in the urban centers, leaving the small towns taking no active participation in the Jazz Age.

The purpose of this paper is to show that Provo, Utah, a small, isolated community took a very active part in the Jazz Age, contrary to what has been suggested. There was a considerable quantity of drunkenness, bootlegging, wild dancing and partying in Provo during the decade, much more than historians suggest there should have been in a community the …

A History Of Mormon Periodicals From 1830 To 1838, Richard G. Moore

Theses and Dissertations

The "Mormon" Church has published over one hundred different periodicals since the purchase of its first printing press in 1831. The early Latter-day Saint newspapers set many precedents for the myriad of Mormon publications that would follow. This is a study of the periodicals of the Church from its origin in 1830 to the exile of its members from missouri in 1839. It discusses the reasons and purposes behind early Mormon journalism and the effects of this printed material on Mormon history.

This work also gives a history of the five church periodicals published during the era mentioned above, specifically, …

Mormon Stereotypes In Nineteenth Century German Literature: The Fiction Of Amalie Schoppe And Balduin M Ollhausen, Robert Lee Warthen

Theses and Dissertations

Leonard J. Arrington and Jon Haupt have identified seven stereotypes of Mormons in nineteenth century American fiction which influenced public opinion about them, ultimately resulting in anti-Mormon legislation. Since westerns were also extremely popular in Germany, the writings of two popular German novelists of the eighteen hundreds, Amalie Schoppe and Balduin Mollhausen, were analyzed to determine whether their Mormon characters are similarly stereotyped. Mormon stereotypes associated with adventure writing were found in the works of both authors, but not those associated with polemical novels. It was concluded that their writing still had an adverse effect on public opinion, though the …

A History Of The Development And Objectives Of The Lds Church News Section Of The Deseret News, Paul T. Roberts

Theses and Dissertations

The Church News supplement to the Deseret News has been part of the Salt Lake City newspaper for over fifty years. It has evolved from a weekly eight-page tabloid religious section of the daily newspaper to a weekly magazine of feature articles, photographs, editorials and news of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
An historical study of the Church News has not been done previously. Hence, the intent of this study is to observe how the Church News has served its purposes and goals over its history. The study briefly outlines how the publication has developed and will …

Marion To Montgomery: A Twenty Year History Of Alabama State University, 1867-1887, Joseph Darnel Caver

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

The Constituency Of Coya Knutson, 1954, Gretchen Urnes Beito

Theses and Dissertations

Women rarely seek political office and even more rarely achieve the office they seek. Only one woman has been elected to Congress from Minnesota or its adjacent states--Coya Knutson from the rural Ninth District in 1954 and 1956. While legal barriers to women's participation in politics have been abolished, personal and institutional barriers remain. How Coya Knutson overcame these obstacles--and the penalties she paid for doing so--is the subject of this paper.

Coya Gjesdal Knutson grew to maturity on a successful North Dakota farm, where she learned the value of hard work and perseverance. After completing four years at Concordia …

The Nonpartisan League Leadership And The Disloyalty Issue, Jack C. Carmichael

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Storm Over The Summit: A Political History Of Summit County To 1882, Rodney L. Peck

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to gain a more complete understanding of Mormon politics in territorial Utah by studying the growth and development of the political process in Summit County to 1882.

The study suggests that the county was governed by a relatively small but growing group of politically minded men, many of whom also ecclesiastical trust or who were among the pioneers of the area. The study also suggests that the Mormon teaching of unity in all things and fair representation among county offices from the county's major population centers were the governing principles of Mormon political action …

Concepts In American Local History: Community In Winder, Idaho, Lorine S. Goodwin

Theses and Dissertations

Recently the need for a more clearly defined structural basis for American local history has become acute. Concepts used in national history often fall short of the needs of local history. As a result, both professionals and amateurs are producing a rash of community histories without the benefit of adequate guidelines.

This thesis draws together a number of concepts useful in the development of American local history as a viable academic field of study. It tests these concepts in presenting the history of community in Winder, a small, rural population set in southeastern Idaho.

Mormon Land Ownership As A Factor In Evaluating The Extent Of Mormon Settlements And Influence In Missouri 1831-1841, Wayne J. Lewis

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this thesis has been to demonstrate as clearly as possible the full extent of Mormon Land in Missouri during the years 1831-1841. An identification has been made of the names of several thousand of these early Mormons and will further show the scope of Mormonism during this period. This study will add detail to what previous writers have stated about this trying period for Mormonism.

As accurately as possible, the author has identified where the Mormon settlements were, through graphs and charts. It has been demonstrated that the Mormon population extended beyond the traditional areas they have …

Printed Maps Of Utah To 1900: An Annotated Cartobibliography, Riley Moore Moffat

Theses and Dissertations

Old maps are valuable research tools in many fields. Finding and identifying them, however, is often difficult. This annotated cartobibliography attempts to identify all maps of Utah printed before 1900. Entries give the distinguishing features, peculiarities, inaccuracies, and a general description as well as the map's provenance and citations in other lists and bibliographies.

The maps are listed chronologically and include all maps located in research collections in Utah, and in the catalogs of the Library of Congress and the Bancroft Library. Although the first entry is dated 1777, the first map of Utah made from actual observation, earlier maps …

Ranching In Western North Dakota, 1887-1920, Scott R. Neevel

Theses and Dissertations

Several historians have dealt with the topic of ranching in the American West, but generally they have presented a broad overview of what took place over the entire western United States. Those who have dealt with ranching in western North Dakota generally have covered the early 1880s, but they have used the calamitous winter of 1886-1887 as a stopping point.

The period from 1887 on through the first two decades of the twentieth century was an era marked by recovery of the stock industry, the change from open to closed range, and the change from the old open range methods …

Historic Preservation In Utah: 1960-1980, John W. Haggerty

Theses and Dissertations

Historic preservation in Utah from 1960 to 1980 has reflected major national trends and trends peculiar to Utah. The most important event which increased the influence of the federal government in preservation activities in Utah was the passage of the Federal Historic Preservation Act of 1966. This law influenced the Utah State Historical Society to become active in preservation in Utah. The battles to save the L. D. S. tabernacles in the 1960s and 1970s led to the formation of the Utah Heritage Foundation. This organization has been responsible for the heightened awareness of historic preservation in Utah. During the …