Manuscripts

The Deseret News and Utah, 1850-1867 [microform], 1949

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Description: Microfilm of Arlington Russell Mortensen's doctoral thesis from the University of California, Los Angeles, entitled "The Deseret News and Utah, 1850-1867," written in 1949. The preface to the paper notes that "in addition to being a history of the birth and early years of a western newspaper, this study proposes to examine significant events and conditions in pioneer Utah as reflected in the pages of its oldest newspaper." The paper is divided into six sections: Genesis and Early Problems, News Gathering and Later Editors, Federal Relations 1850-1856, The News and the Utah War, Federal Relations 1859-1867, the Breaking of Isolation, and Zion Grows. Includes bibliography.
Type: Manuscripts(Opens in new tab)
Date: 1949
Call number: MSS MFilm 00185
Creator: Mortensen, A. Russell (1911-1995)(Opens in new tab)
Provenance: Microfilm of original loaned by Arlington Russell Mortensen, December 8, 1949.

Early Records of Utah [microform]: 1852-1867

Manuscripts

Microfilm of a record book kept by the Church Historian's Office tracing the early history of Mormon settlement in Utah, also referred to as history of Brigham Young (it may have been kept in Young's name). The volume opens with a section entitled "Early Records of Utah," which covers 1847-1851 and begins with Orson Pratt and Esratus Snow's arrival in Salt Lake City. Subsequent sections are entitled "Incidents in Utah History" (1852-1854) and Utah Historical Incidents (1855-1867). Topics covered include a history of the Mormon Church, history of Mormon settlement in Utah, establishment of political and religious councils, experiences of Church leaders, interactions with local Indians, and colonization missions.

MSS MFilm 00273

Correspondence and manuscripts related to John Milton Bernhisel [microform]: 1825-1912 (bulk 1850-1864)

Manuscripts

Microfilm of miscellaneous manuscripts and letters related to John Milton Bernhisel. The reel contains an autobiography of Bernhisel by an unknown author; a variety of letters and certificates primarily addressed to Bernhisel, including on his appointment as President of the Board of Examination Doctors (1864), his election as a delegate to Congress (1851), his certificates of election as delegate (1853, 1855, 1861), recommendations of appointment for "several officers sent the President" (1850), a recommendation for appointment of governor, secretary, and chief justice of territory (1850), a letter concerning room in the council house for federal offices (1847), a copy of a letter to the President concerning appointment of office for Utah (1850), a letter concerning pay for the territorial secretary (1855), a letters concerning an advance to Marshall Heywood for costs of the Territorial Commission (1854), a letter concerning the cost account of the Territorial Library (1855), a letter "concerning bids for and gifts to the Utah Library of Book, etc." (1850), a letter concerning the erection of the capitol building, probably at Fillmore, Utah (1854), a letter concerning the building of the Utah Penitentiary (1859), a letter concerning the military road from Bridger's Pass to Salt Lake City (1859), a protest against the Cullen Bill concerning polygamy (1870), a letter concerning pay for Dr. Bernhisel as territorial agent by Stephan A. Douglas (1850), newspaper clippings and a letter from Brigham Young (1850), a letter concerning the use of camels for transporting army stores (1852), a letter concerning the use of camels in the west (1852), a printed Appellant's Statement of the Case and Argument in Bernhisel vs. Daniel R. Firman (1874), a letter from Millard Fillmore and some assorted calling cards (1853), a printed obituary for Bernhisel (1881), 5 letters from Bernhisel to his wife Elizabeth (1862), a letter to Brigham Young (1850), an unsigned letter regarding property in Alabama (1825), a speech at a family reunion in Lewiston, Utah (undated), and the text of "Dr. John Milton Bernhisel: Utah's First Delegate to the National Congress," a paper read at the Genealogical Society of Utah by David M. Bernhisel (1912).

MSS MFilm 00360

The general trends and characteristics of Utah pioneer dress from 1847 to 1875 [microform] : 1947

Manuscripts

Microfilm of a thesis entitled "The General Trends and Characteristics of Utah Pioneer Dress from 1847-1875," written by Fairfax Proudfit Walkup for her M.A. from the University of Utah in 1947. Based on research from the Utah Pioneer Costume and Manners Research Project, the paper set out to "discover in what particulars Utah pioneer dress followed the prevailing general lines and characteristics of current fashions and why it did so". The study focused on women's dress, including "whole costumes ... to items of women's underwear- chemises ... corsets, drawers ... nightgowns, petticoats, and stockings; and to certain items of children's clothing." Includes illustrations and bibliography.

MSS MFilm 00215

Diary of Martha Spence Heywood [microform] : 1850-1856

Manuscripts

Microfilm of a typescript of Martha Spence Heywood's diary, kept from 1850-1856. It begins when Martha was living in Kanesville, Iowa, after joining the Mormon Church and while waiting to travel westward. She gives a brief account of her baptism in Canada and sojourns with various Mormon families in New York State. She also recounts her travels to St. Louis in 1849 and teaching school in Springville. Martha departed with the Joseph Heywood company for Utah in 1850 and gives a detailed account of the company's journey across the plains. The majority of the diary recounts in detail Martha's life in Nephi, Utah, from 1850-1856. She writes personal and insightful insights on polygamy (shortly after her marriage to Heywood she wrote "Tis rather trying to a woman's feelings not to be acknowledged by the man she has given herself to and desires to love with all her heart"), the birth and raising of her children, her illnesses from childbirth, the death of her daughter Serepta Maria from measles in 1856, her loneliness in Nephi (she wrote that she "could not bear" to be left alone by her husband and taught school in 1854 since it was "of much benefit to me as the activity ... and its responsibility prevented lonesomeness that otherwise would have been disagreeable"), and politics within the Mormon settlement at Nephi. She also writes of Indian troubles, including Mormons killed by Indians in 1853, and of the discovery of two bodies dressed in United States livery who were shot to death in November 1852. Martha also writes frequently of her acquaintances in Nephi, visits by Brigham Young, and a variety of other domestic concerns.

MSS MFilm 00161

Diary of A.H. Hill [microform] : 1865-1867

Manuscripts

Microfilm of the diary of A.H. Hill, begun while he was serving on a mission to England from 1865-1866. The diary records his experiences in England and Scotland, including at Liverpool, Edinburgh, Birmingham, Newbury, London, Portsmouth, and Reading. It includes an account of his return voyage to the United States and overland travels to Utah. The second half of the diary covers Hill's daily life in Utah. It closes with various notes he made on his English trip, including a list of people baptized, itineraries, and a list of letters sent.

MSS MFilm 00423

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Diary of unidentified Utah man [microform]: approximately 1894

Manuscripts

Microfilm of a portion of a diary kept by an unidentified Utah man (probably a relative of William Richardson). The diary was mainly kept in 1894, although portions are dated 1884-1885 and 1890 and some pages may be out of order on the reel. It primarily chronicles daily activities in Utah such as agricultural work, attendance of religious meetings, and Church and community affairs. The first half of the diary is included on MSS MFILM 00180.

MSS MFilm 00160

The Deseret News and Utah, 1850-1867 [microform], 1949

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Early Records of Utah [microform]: 1852-1867

Correspondence and manuscripts related to John Milton Bernhisel [microform]: 1825-1912 (bulk 1850-1864)

The general trends and characteristics of Utah pioneer dress from 1847 to 1875 [microform] : 1947

Diary of Martha Spence Heywood [microform] : 1850-1856

Diary of A.H. Hill [microform] : 1865-1867

Diary of unidentified Utah man [microform]: approximately 1894