Manuscripts

Diary of Robert S. Bliss, Private, company B, Mormon Battalion, U.S. Army [microform] : 1848

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Description: Microfilm of a typescript of the diary of Robert S. Bliss, covering January to May 1848. The diary recounts Bliss's time in Salt Lake City and his overland travel toward Garden Grove, with the final entry made when he was forty-two miles from Winter Quarters. The original diary is included later on the microfilm reel, along with a typescript copy of Bliss's 1846-1847 diary. The microfilm also includes letters reading the diary dated 1915-1928, and addressed to and from the Gallery of California, Panama-California Exposition, in San Diego, the Daughters of the Mormon Battalion, Margaret V. Allen, George I. Putnam, and Mary J. Clawson.
Type: Manuscripts(Opens in new tab)
Date: 1848
Call number: MSS MFilm 00424
Creator: Bliss, Robert S

Diary of Robert S. Bliss, company B, Mormon Battalion, U.S. Army [microform] : 1846-1847

Manuscripts

Microfilm of a diary kept by Robert S. Bliss while he was serving with Company "B" of the Mormon Battalion, United States Army. It traces the Company's travels from Colorado through Sonora, California, to San Diego, and Bliss's return trip as far as Fort Hall, Idaho. The diary details the months the Company spent at the San Luis Rey Mission, and includes observations, both positive and negative, on local Indians and Spaniards. The second microfilm reel contains a typescript of the diary.

MSS MFilm 00412

Auotobiography and diary of James Pace [microform] : 1832-1888

Manuscripts

Microfilm of a typescript of James Pace's autobiography and diary, made from the original by Brigham Young University in 1946.The autobiography covers Pace's early life in Tennessee, his move to Illinois in 1832, his baptism into the Mormon Chuch, the births of his children, serving in the Nauvoo Legion and Nauvoo police department, his mission to Arkansas (1844), fleeing Nauvoo and traveling to Pisgah (1846), joining the Mormon Battalion and marching to California, including references to traveling through Arizona, Nevada, and Idao, passing through Utah on his way back to Winter Quarters (1847), working in Missouri and finally emigrating to Utah in 1850, his mission to England (1852-1855), his being called to Wahsington County (1861), his family's move to Arizona (1882), and added notes on his death in 1888. Also included is Pace's Mormon Battalion diary (1846-1847), which includes references to his enlistment, overland travels, interactions with Mexican villagers, arriving in San Bernardino, rationing and camp life, travel to the "Spanish settlement" in Tucson, trading with Maricopa Indians, difficult travels down the Gila and Colorado Rivers, arrival at Warner's Ranch, travels to San Diego, drunkenness among Mormon soldiers, marching to the Cajon Pass, inspecting the Donner Party valley, traveling through Nevada, and setting course for Salt Lake City.

MSS MFilm 00187

Diary of Patty Bartlett Sessions [microform] : 1846-1866

Manuscripts

Microfilm of a typescript of Patty Bartlett Sessions' diaries, beginning while she was living in Nauvoo in 1846 and ending in Utah in 1866. It covers her overland travels from Illinois, her time in Winter Quarters, and her arrival in Utah. Most of the diary consists of entries on daily activities and events in Utah, and refers throughout to Sessions' work as a midwife.

MSS MFilm 00631 item 01

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Diary of Thomas S. Terry [microform] : 1857-1860

Manuscripts

Microfilm of a typescript of Thomas S. Terry's diary, kept from 1857-1860 while he was leading a company of Mormons across the plains to Utah following his eastern states mission (it is identified as "Book 4." Terry writes of the death of Parley P. Pratt, of his company's progression across the plains, of meeting Jesse B. Martin's company, of moving the Springville upon his return to Utah, and of the family's move back to Cottonwood in July 1858. The rest of the diary describes Terry's daily life in Utah.

MSS MFilm 00162

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Mormon Battalion diary of Henry Standage

Manuscripts

Typescript of Henry Standage's diary, kept while he was serving in the Mormon Battalion from 1846-1847. The diary opens with his departure from Council Bluffs, Iowa, with the Mormon Battalion in July 1846. It traces their travels across the plains, including stopping at Fort Leavenworth, arriving in Santa Fe (where he recalls General Kearney's bloodless encounter with Mexican troops, and concludes "the Lord is...opening the way before us"), trading with Alpacha Indians, the taking of "Spanish prisoners," and the difficulties of marching and moving supplies. Once the Battalion had arrived in California, Standage records stopping in San Diego only to be ordered to march to San Luis Rey ("It does seem as though we should never have rest in the service of the United States," Standage complained), drilling in San Luis Rey before preparing to march to Los Angeles, derogatory remarks about the "Spaniards" in Los Angeles, a description of the city, and his interest in Roman Catholic ceremonies. The diary ends on July 19, 1847, while Standage was still in Los Angeles.

mssHM 16998

Diary of Walter S. Tolton [microform] : 1896-1934

Manuscripts

Microfilm of the diary of Walter Smith Tolton, covering the years 1896-1934. The diary opens when Tolton was leaving Beaver City for a mission to the Southern States, and briefly covers his experiences in Alabama, Mississippi, and North Carolina from 1896-1897. It then tracks his trek through Arizona and Mexico on his way to an exploring or missionary trip to Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Colombia from 1900-1901. There are a also a variety of notes on the trip made after Tolton had returned to Utah, including lists of "some of the most important fruits we found." The remainder of the volume covers Tolton's daily life, primarily in Beaver City from 1925-1934. The last few frames of the microfilm include monthly records for the West Field Canal Co.

MSS MFilm 00056

Diary of Robert S. Bliss, Private, company B, Mormon Battalion, U.S. Army [microform] : 1848

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Diary of Robert S. Bliss, company B, Mormon Battalion, U.S. Army [microform] : 1846-1847

Auotobiography and diary of James Pace [microform] : 1832-1888

Diary of Patty Bartlett Sessions [microform] : 1846-1866

Diary of Thomas S. Terry [microform] : 1857-1860

Mormon Battalion diary of Henry Standage

Diary of Walter S. Tolton [microform] : 1896-1934