Manuscripts
Letter book, docket, and correspondence of Oliver Cowdery, bulk (1833-1838)
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Oliver Cowdery transcription of a letterbook to Warren and Lyman Cawdery : Far West, Mo
Manuscripts
The transcription consists primarily of copies of letters written by Oliver Cowdery. They cover subjects such as his duties as and problems associated with being the editor of the Evening and Morning Star, his political aspirations, the persecution of Mormons in Missouri, discussion on church doctrine, and his excommunication from the church.
mssHM 70170
Oliver Cowdery Letter Book
Manuscripts
The unbound letter book consists primarily of copies of letters written by Oliver Cowdery. They cover such subjects as his duties as editor of the Evening and Morning Star, problems regarding the procurement of printing equipment, his political aspirations, the persecution of Mormons in Missouri, discussion on church doctrine, and his excommunication from the church. Some of the addressees are Richard M. Johnson (1780-1850), Sidney Rigdon (1793-1876), Martin Van Buren (1782-1862), and Newel Kimball Whitney (1795-1850).
mssHM 63646
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Olive Helms Mulholland correspondence
Manuscripts
The correspondence of Olive Helms Mulholland chiefly contains letters by her to her husband and daughter, as well as letters to her from her parents, in-laws, sisters, college friends, and colleagues in YWCA and church groups. The correspondence describes various aspects of women's lives in the Midwest and Southern California including professional activities, charity and church work, etc. The letters from her father, R. E. Helms, contain accounts of his various business pursuits. The letters from her daughter Rachel Isabel Mulholland Cramer describe her studies at Knox College and Mills College.
mssMulholland
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Martin Harris : One of the three witnesses of the Book of Mormon
Manuscripts
Typescript of a brief biographical account of Martin Harris and his involvement with the translation of the Book of Mormon and organization of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Describes the arrival of a teenaged Joseph Smith in Palmyra, New York, in 1816, and his finding of the tablets later used to write the Book of Mormon; Harris' taking of a transcript of the tablets to Columbia University; his assistance to Smith in translating the tablets; and his inclusion as one of three witnesses (along with Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer) who were permitted to view the tablets. Also briefly recounts Harris' involvement with selecting the Twelve Apostles of the Mormon Church and helping Joseph Smith find holy ground in Missouri, as well as Harris' disillusionment with the Mormon Church following Smith's death. Includes a transcript of a portion of Martin Harris' sworn testimony taken at the time of his death in 1845, in which he describes witnessing the angel Moroni and hearing the voice of God.
mssHM 72353
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Mercantile letter and account book recording correspondence addressed to merchants in the city of Albany, New York and in Jamaica
Manuscripts
This manuscript letter and account book is written in multiple hands and divided into several sections; the first section covers Goddard's trade with New York, mainly Albany, the middle section covers his contacts with Jamaica, especially Malcolm Laing, and the final section contains inventories of goods shipped, with prices and quantities. The correspondence includes copies of letters sent by Goddard to his American business partners; these letters constitute a valuable record of Anglo-American trade during this period of political volatility. They include commentary on the state of the London market for furs and ginseng, notes on changing prices, the effect of the Stamp Act on trade, and details concerning duties and taxes. The tone of some of the letters is quite contentious as Goddard seemed to have some sort of financial disagreement with some of his business partners; there are also letters of seeking patronage for help to resolve this conflict. He seems to have ceased trading with Albany in approximately 1767, as the text of several of the letters contain comments suggesting his debts led him to bankruptcy in that same year.
mssHM 83398
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James Trott to C.S. Trott
Manuscripts
Autograph letter by James Trott from Galena, Illinois to his sister C.S. Trott, on January 11, 1843. Trott starts the letter with a joke concerning a sketch of a wagon in the letter. He begins, "This is a wagon used by the western people & is called a prairie schooner...sometimes horses are used. I saw one at Chicago...which had a stove on it & must therefore I think have been a prairie steamer" (p. 1). Next, Trott briefly touches upon family matters concerning letters received and sent. The bulk of the letter is in regards to religion. He discusses a very fine preacher named Mr. Holbrook from Dubuque, Iowa, but had one critical observation. "The only improvemn't w'd have been for him to have clearly understood the consequences flowing from this doctrine - the phrase 'Christian duties' seems to be an unfortunate one for it implies that some duties, as being a s.s. teacher, are Christian, while others are not Christian duties..." (p. 1). In another event, while attending a Methodist church one evening, Trott mentions a preacher that once "...knock a man down - a Methodist preacher had to do so once it was the only way in which he c'd maul the grace of God into the man." (p. 2). He also writes about a threatening blacksmith turned preacher and his thoughts on Sunday school. In the second half of the letter, Trott introduces his friend William Tell Wynkoop and the abundance of mining in the region. He writes about descending approximately 55 feet into a lead with only a rope on his left foot. Once at the bottom he writes, "The ore appeared to be quite plenty although the mine had been worked a year we ascended again & got some fine specimens from one of the windlass hands. We then went to another digging found one man who said he had worked a year and had not raised mineral enough to pay for his tobacco" (p. 2-3). Trott also briefly discusses the life of a miner and provides a description of the country. "The country about here is more beautiful than that around Bos. [Boston] such beautiful succession of hills. You w'd be delighted with the views..." (p. 3). He concludes the letter with a story about an American or Canadian smuggling goods that were seized by a customs officer.
mssHM 80952