 | The B. H. Roberts Papers Ms0106 |
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The Manuscripts Librarian is Dr. Stan Larson.
For further information, email: stan.larson@library.utah.edu, or call (801) 585-3076. |
Scope and Content
The B. H. Roberts Papers (1869-1965) contain a variety of materials documenting the life and work of Roberts, widely regarded as the foremost LDS Church historian and theologian. The personal materials have been arranged chronologically as far as is practical. Roberts's autobiography is a photocopy of a typescript by Georgia Roberts Livingston, a daughter of B. H. Roberts. Included in the personal materials are journals, temple records from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, two of Roberts's subject notebooks, and a number of certificates.
The correspondence has been divided into three categories and arranged alphabetically, then chronologically within the alphabetical designation. The family letters include a few to and from his children and wives and a great many written by B. H. Roberts to his mother, Ann Reed Everington Roberts Nichols Dustin Woolley, between 1877 and 1906. Most of these letters discuss the routine affairs of everyday life, although a few contain remarks on more philosophical subjects. The general correspondence includes letters from friends, antagonists, and business associates. These are also arranged alphabetically with the subject matter ranging from politics to religion. The final portion of the correspondence deals with the Book of Mormon. Beginning with a series of five questions by a Mr. Couch regarding discrepancies in the Book of Mormon, the file contains answers and musings from various people. It was this series of questions that prompted B. H. Roberts to begin his investigations into the Book of Mormon, a standard scripture of his religion. The research he did and its resultant manuscripts are in the third division of the collection.
The Book of Mormon research section contains typescripts of "Book of Mormon Difficulties," and "A Book of Mormon Study." The first manuscript was written in answer to Mr. Couch's questions and deals primarily with these questions. The second study resulted when Roberts found additional questions raised by his beginning study. Roberts especially emphasizes parallels found between the Book of Mormon and Ethan Smith's <i>View of the Hebrews</i>. Included with the manuscripts are some pamphlets, articles, and notes used in the research.
In the fourth division is a sampling of the writings of B. H. Roberts. There are publication lists, manuscripts, and speeches. Most of the manuscripts and speeches deal with the political role of the LDS Church. Roberts writes about the powerful influence exerted by the dominant religion in Utah politics. The speeches deal mainly with the reelection of Senator Reed Smoot.
Items comprising the fifth portion of the collection include materials about Roberts's stint as a chaplain in World War I, newspaper clippings, and a few other pieces such as bills and poetry. As a chaplain during World War I, Roberts was interested in the role of religion and the possible breakdown of the Christian culture in a war as extensive as this one. He wrote notes and articles on the subject which are filed with his justification for going to war written to his two oldest sons. The newspaper clippings also include a number of articles by and about Roberts, his actions in World War I, his religious activities, and his family.
The final section of original material consists of six books, three of which are in the Special Collections Department safe because of their value. These three books--B. H. Roberts's personal, annotated copies of a first edition of the Book of Mormon (1830), the Doctrine and Covenants, and a small Methodist camp meeting hymn book--can be used for serious research by making prior, special arrangements. The other three books are two written by Roberts and a bound volume of pamphlets relating to James Jesse Strang.
The seventh division of the collection consists of photographic copies of the original material. Except for special research needs, the photocopies will be used by researchers rather than the delicate originals. The copies are arranged in the exact order of the original material. Some material has not been copied. The inventory of the original material indicates where corresponding copies are located or if there is no duplicate.
The eighth portion of the collection consists of duplicated materials acquired from Brigham Young University. Any original material in this section is specially noted. Personal materials include letters from and to Roberts's children, an eleven-page letter to Moses Thatcher concerning Thatcher's politics and standing in the LDS Church, tributes to Roberts, and biographical sketches of Roberts's mother and his wife Celia. Filed under the heading "Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association" are form letters from Roberts as chairman of the General Board's Committee of Vocations and Industries.
A portion of the materials, dealing with Roberts's role as president of the Eastern States Mission, includes some correspondence and form letters of instructions to missionaries. Menus, form letters, and other information about the 1923 LDS Church conference arranged by Roberts at the Hill Cumorah in New York are included. Finally there are a number of letters from friends and missionaries congratulating him on his sixty-sixth birthday in 1923. Nine notebooks were included with these exchange items from Brigham Young University. These are small books with remarks or outlines on a variety of subjects which interested Roberts. Most of these are on religious subjects, although there are remarks about World War I and sayings and quotations.
Photocopies of Roberts's publications have been filed with the collection. Some of these publications include annotations and lengthy remarks by Roberts. One of the books is a bound volume of six tracts prepared by Roberts for use by missionaries. There are also a number of articles on religious subjects written by Roberts, and clippings from the <i>Deseret News</i>.
Roberts's personal copy of the Pearl of Great Price, another of the LDS Church's religious works, has been photocopied complete with Roberts's annotations. Other materials are four manuscripts by unidentified authors and a few miscellaneous items.
The addendum to the collection is contained in Boxes 14 through 17. Carbon copies of portions of Roberts autobiography, a letter from Heber M. Holt, and three scrapbooks of newspaper clippings are filed in the first box. The "Book of Mormon Difficulties" and "A Book of Mormon Study" manuscripts (carbon copies) are filed in the second box. The third box of the addendum contains research materials on the Book of Mormon including a photocopy of Ethan Smith's <i>View of the Hebrews</i> with annotations by Roberts, copies of Roberts's comparisons of the <i>View of the Hebrews</i> and the Book of Mormon, and other research notes. Also there is an evaluation of the collection by H. Michael Marquardt. The final box of the addendum contains photocopies of portions of a typescript of "The Truth, the Way, the Life," by B. H. Roberts.
The correspondence has been divided into three categories and arranged alphabetically, then chronologically within the alphabetical designation. The family letters include a few to and from his children and wives and a great many written by B. H. Roberts to his mother, Ann Reed Everington Roberts Nichols Dustin Woolley, between 1877 and 1906. Most of these letters discuss the routine affairs of everyday life, although a few contain remarks on more philosophical subjects. The general correspondence includes letters from friends, antagonists, and business associates. These are also arranged alphabetically with the subject matter ranging from politics to religion. The final portion of the correspondence deals with the Book of Mormon. Beginning with a series of five questions by a Mr. Couch regarding discrepancies in the Book of Mormon, the file contains answers and musings from various people. It was this series of questions that prompted B. H. Roberts to begin his investigations into the Book of Mormon, a standard scripture of his religion. The research he did and its resultant manuscripts are in the third division of the collection.
The Book of Mormon research section contains typescripts of "Book of Mormon Difficulties," and "A Book of Mormon Study." The first manuscript was written in answer to Mr. Couch's questions and deals primarily with these questions. The second study resulted when Roberts found additional questions raised by his beginning study. Roberts especially emphasizes parallels found between the Book of Mormon and Ethan Smith's <i>View of the Hebrews</i>. Included with the manuscripts are some pamphlets, articles, and notes used in the research.
In the fourth division is a sampling of the writings of B. H. Roberts. There are publication lists, manuscripts, and speeches. Most of the manuscripts and speeches deal with the political role of the LDS Church. Roberts writes about the powerful influence exerted by the dominant religion in Utah politics. The speeches deal mainly with the reelection of Senator Reed Smoot.
Items comprising the fifth portion of the collection include materials about Roberts's stint as a chaplain in World War I, newspaper clippings, and a few other pieces such as bills and poetry. As a chaplain during World War I, Roberts was interested in the role of religion and the possible breakdown of the Christian culture in a war as extensive as this one. He wrote notes and articles on the subject which are filed with his justification for going to war written to his two oldest sons. The newspaper clippings also include a number of articles by and about Roberts, his actions in World War I, his religious activities, and his family.
The final section of original material consists of six books, three of which are in the Special Collections Department safe because of their value. These three books--B. H. Roberts's personal, annotated copies of a first edition of the Book of Mormon (1830), the Doctrine and Covenants, and a small Methodist camp meeting hymn book--can be used for serious research by making prior, special arrangements. The other three books are two written by Roberts and a bound volume of pamphlets relating to James Jesse Strang.
The seventh division of the collection consists of photographic copies of the original material. Except for special research needs, the photocopies will be used by researchers rather than the delicate originals. The copies are arranged in the exact order of the original material. Some material has not been copied. The inventory of the original material indicates where corresponding copies are located or if there is no duplicate.
The eighth portion of the collection consists of duplicated materials acquired from Brigham Young University. Any original material in this section is specially noted. Personal materials include letters from and to Roberts's children, an eleven-page letter to Moses Thatcher concerning Thatcher's politics and standing in the LDS Church, tributes to Roberts, and biographical sketches of Roberts's mother and his wife Celia. Filed under the heading "Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association" are form letters from Roberts as chairman of the General Board's Committee of Vocations and Industries.
A portion of the materials, dealing with Roberts's role as president of the Eastern States Mission, includes some correspondence and form letters of instructions to missionaries. Menus, form letters, and other information about the 1923 LDS Church conference arranged by Roberts at the Hill Cumorah in New York are included. Finally there are a number of letters from friends and missionaries congratulating him on his sixty-sixth birthday in 1923. Nine notebooks were included with these exchange items from Brigham Young University. These are small books with remarks or outlines on a variety of subjects which interested Roberts. Most of these are on religious subjects, although there are remarks about World War I and sayings and quotations.
Photocopies of Roberts's publications have been filed with the collection. Some of these publications include annotations and lengthy remarks by Roberts. One of the books is a bound volume of six tracts prepared by Roberts for use by missionaries. There are also a number of articles on religious subjects written by Roberts, and clippings from the <i>Deseret News</i>.
Roberts's personal copy of the Pearl of Great Price, another of the LDS Church's religious works, has been photocopied complete with Roberts's annotations. Other materials are four manuscripts by unidentified authors and a few miscellaneous items.
The addendum to the collection is contained in Boxes 14 through 17. Carbon copies of portions of Roberts autobiography, a letter from Heber M. Holt, and three scrapbooks of newspaper clippings are filed in the first box. The "Book of Mormon Difficulties" and "A Book of Mormon Study" manuscripts (carbon copies) are filed in the second box. The third box of the addendum contains research materials on the Book of Mormon including a photocopy of Ethan Smith's <i>View of the Hebrews</i> with annotations by Roberts, copies of Roberts's comparisons of the <i>View of the Hebrews</i> and the Book of Mormon, and other research notes. Also there is an evaluation of the collection by H. Michael Marquardt. The final box of the addendum contains photocopies of portions of a typescript of "The Truth, the Way, the Life," by B. H. Roberts.